Je cherche mon portefeuille, mais je ne le trouve nulle part.

I am looking for my wallet, but I cannot find it anywhere.

Breakdown of Je cherche mon portefeuille, mais je ne le trouve nulle part.

• je: I
• mon: my
• mais: but
• trouver: to find
• le: it
• chercher: to look for
• le portefeuille: the wallet
• nulle part: anywhere

Questions & Answers about Je cherche mon portefeuille, mais je ne le trouve nulle part.

What does the pronoun in je ne le trouve nulle part refer to, and why is it le (not la, lui, y, or en)?

It replaces mon portefeuille. Since portefeuille is masculine singular, the direct object pronoun is le.

• Not la: that would be for a feminine noun.
• Not lui: that’s an indirect object pronoun (to him/her).
• Not y: that typically replaces places or “à + thing.”
• Not en: that replaces “de + thing” or quantities.

Why is there no preposition after chercher? In English we say “look for.”

In French, chercher already includes the idea of “for,” so you say chercher quelque chose, not “chercher pour quelque chose.”
Correct: Je cherche mon portefeuille.
Incorrect: “Je cherche pour mon portefeuille.”

How does the negation with nulle part work?

Nulle part means “nowhere/anywhere (in negatives)” and is a negative adverb. In standard French it pairs with ne:

• Je ne le trouve nulle part. = “I can’t find it anywhere.”
  Similar patterns:
• ne… jamais (never), ne… plus (no longer), ne… rien (nothing), ne… personne (nobody).

Can I drop ne and say Je le trouve nulle part in speech?

In casual spoken French, people often drop ne:

• Je le trouve nulle part. (very informal)
  In writing or formal speech, keep ne:
• Je ne le trouve nulle part.

Why can’t I say Je ne le trouve pas nulle part?

Because nulle part already carries the negative force. Adding pas creates an ungrammatical double negation in standard French. Use one negative structure:

• Correct: Je ne le trouve nulle part.
• Also correct (without “anywhere”): Je ne le trouve pas.

Where do object pronouns go with negation?

They go before the conjugated verb and after ne:

• Pattern: Subject + ne
  • object pronoun + verb + negative word
• Example: Je ne le trouve nulle part.
  With passé composé: Je ne l’ai trouvé nulle part.

Why use both chercher and trouver here?

They express two different actions:

• Je cherche mon portefeuille = I am looking for it.
• …mais je ne le trouve nulle part = but I can’t find it anywhere.
  French commonly contrasts the attempt (chercher) with the (lack of) result (trouver).

Could I keep the noun and say Je ne trouve mon portefeuille nulle part instead of using le?

Yes, that’s grammatical, but many speakers prefer the smoother version with the pronoun:

• More idiomatic: Je ne le trouve nulle part.
• Also possible: Je ne trouve mon portefeuille nulle part.

Is Je ne peux pas le trouver a good alternative?

It’s correct and means “I can’t find it,” but it doesn’t include the idea of “anywhere.” For that nuance, prefer:

• Je ne le trouve nulle part.
• Or very idiomatic: Je n’arrive pas à le trouver.
  Avoid combining pas with nulle part in the same clause.

What’s the difference between nulle part, quelque part, partout, and n’importe où?

• nulle part = nowhere/anywhere (in negatives): Je ne le trouve nulle part.
• quelque part = somewhere: Il est quelque part.
• partout = everywhere: Je l’ai cherché partout.
• n’importe où = anywhere/wherever (no restriction): Je peux aller n’importe où.
  Note: English “anywhere” in negative sentences maps to French nulle part.

Why is it nulle part (feminine) and not nul part?

Because part is grammatically feminine in this fixed expression, so the adjective agrees: nulle part. It’s a set phrase; don’t change its form.

Can nulle part move within the sentence?

It typically sits at the end of the clause:

• Je ne le trouve nulle part.
  You can add place details after it:
• Je ne le trouve nulle part dans la maison.
  Fronting nulle part is rare and sounds literary or marked.

How would I say this in the past?

• J’ai cherché mon portefeuille, mais je ne l’ai trouvé nulle part.
  Agreement tip: With avoir, the past participle agrees with a preceding direct object. Here l’ = le portefeuille (masculine), so no added -e: trouvé.
  If it were feminine (e.g., la carte): Je ne l’ai trouvée nulle part.

Pronunciation tips for the sentence?

Rough guide:

• Je cherche mon portefeuille ≈ [zhuh shersh mon port-uh-FOY]
• mais je ne le trouve nulle part ≈ [meh zhuh nuh luh troov null par]
  Notes:
• The final -e of ne/le is often very light or elided in rapid speech.
• feuille in portefeuille sounds like “foy.”

Is portefeuille definitely “wallet”? What about porte-monnaie?

• un portefeuille = a wallet (often bills/cards; can be a billfold).
• un porte-monnaie = a coin purse.
  Both are masculine nouns.

Is the comma before mais necessary?

When mais links two independent clauses, French usually sets a comma before it. So Je cherche…, mais je ne le trouve… is punctuated correctly.