Ne jamais ouvrir le couvercle avant d'attacher le filet.
Never open the lid before attaching the net.
Breakdown of Ne jamais ouvrir le couvercle avant d'attacher le filet.
ne
not (used before the verb)
ouvrir
to open
jamais
never / ever
le
him, it (masculine direct object pronoun)
Questions & Answers about Ne jamais ouvrir le couvercle avant d'attacher le filet.
Why is the verb ouvrir in the infinitive instead of an imperative form like ouvrez?
This sentence uses an impersonal command. In French, manuals, recipes, and public warnings use the infinitive to give general instructions that apply to anyone reading them, rather than addressing a specific person directly.
Why are ne and jamais placed right next to each other before the verb?
When negating an infinitive verb, both parts of the negative structure (like ne pas or ne jamais) must stay together directly in front of the verb. If this were a standard conjugated command, they would wrap around the verb as in N'ouvrez jamais.
Why does the French use the infinitive attacher instead of translating the English word "attaching"?
When you want to say "before doing something" in French, you must use the phrase avant de followed by the infinitive of the verb. While English uses a gerund (the "-ing" form) after most prepositions, French almost always requires the infinitive.
If the instruction changed to "after attaching the net", would we use après d'attacher?
No, "after doing something" follows a different rule. You would use après without de, followed by the past infinitive: après avoir attaché le filet. The structure avant de + infinitive used in this sentence is a specific combination you just have to memorize.