Learn French: Le sociologue n'a interrogé personne. - The sociologist didn't interrogate anyone.

Le sociologue n'a interrogé personne.

The sociologist didn't interrogate anyone.

Breakdown of Le sociologue n'a interrogé personne.

avoir

to have

not (used before the verb)

Questions & Answers about Le sociologue n'a interrogé personne.

Why does personne come after the past participle interrogé, instead of right after the auxiliary verb a?

Unlike most negative words like pas, rien, or jamais which sandwich the helping verb in the passé composé, personne is a structural exception. It always follows the past participle. Therefore, you must say n'a interrogé personne rather than the incorrect n'a personne interrogé.

Why isn't there a pas in this negative sentence?

In French, the negative word personne (meaning nobody or anyone in a negative context) replaces pas. Using both together to say n'a pas interrogé personne would be an incorrect double negative, much like saying didn't interrogate not nobody in English.

Does interrogé always imply a harsh police interrogation?

Not at all! While it can translate to interrogated, in contexts involving sociologists, journalists, or academic researchers, interroger usually just means to interview, to question, or to survey. The sociologist in this sentence is simply conducting research.