Question 1

Why are there no articles before affection or aide? Shouldn't it be de l'affection?

Accepted Answer

This is the core rule of the ni... ni... (neither... nor...) structure. When you use ni... ni..., you completely drop indefinite articles (un, une, des) and partitive articles (du, de la, de l'). Since you would normally say ils reçoivent de l'affection (some affection), the partitive article de l' simply vanishes here.

Question 2

Why is there no pas in this negative sentence?

Accepted Answer

The structure ne... ni... ni... stands on its own. Just like jamais (never) or rien (nothing), the ni... ni... acts as the second half of the negative, replacing pas. Adding pas here would be grammatically incorrect.

Question 3

Is misérables a false friend here? Does it mean they are just grumpy or unhappy?

Accepted Answer

It is often a false friend! While it can mean "wretched" emotionally, in French misérable very often means "destitute," "poverty-stricken," or "living in squalor." Here, it describes their severe poverty or tragic living conditions, not just a bad mood.

Question 4

Why is there a cedilla (ç) in reçoivent but not in the infinitive recevoir?

Accepted Answer

In French, the letter c makes a hard "k" sound when followed by a, o, or u. To keep the soft "s" sound from the infinitive recevoir (where the c is followed by an e), a cedilla must be added before the o in reçoivent. You'll see this same pattern in je reçois and il reçoit.

Ces enfants misérables ne reçoivent ni affection ni aide.

Breakdown of Ces enfants misérables ne reçoivent ni affection ni aide.

Questions & Answers about Ces enfants misérables ne reçoivent ni affection ni aide.

Learn Ces enfants misérables ne reçoivent ni affection ni aide and more in French