Personne ne parle dans la salle.

No one is speaking in the room.

Breakdown of Personne ne parle dans la salle.

• dans: in
• parler: to speak
• la salle: the room
• personne: no one

Questions & Answers about Personne ne parle dans la salle.

What does the word "personne" mean here?

Here, personne is an indefinite pronoun meaning nobody / no one. It is not the noun meaning “a person” (which would need an article, e.g., une personne, des personnes). It is capitalized only because it starts the sentence, not because it’s a proper noun.

Why is it "ne" without "pas"?

French uses different negative words instead of pas:

• ne ... pas (not)
• ne ... personne (nobody)
• ne ... rien (nothing)
• ne ... jamais (never), etc.

With personne, the pattern is either Personne ne + verb (when personne is the subject) or ne + verb + personne (when it’s the object).

Where do I put "ne" and "personne" in this sentence type?

• Subject negative: Personne ne parle.
• Object negative: Je ne vois personne.
  The ne always goes before the verb; personne goes where the subject or object would go.

Can I drop "ne" in speech?

In casual speech, many speakers drop ne:

• Personne parle dans la salle. (informal)
• Very common colloquial variant: Y a personne qui parle (dans la salle).
  In writing and careful speech, keep ne: Personne ne parle...

Why is it "parle" and not "parlent"?

Because personne takes a singular verb. So it’s personne ne parle, not parlent.

Does "personne" always make past participles masculine or feminine?

With personne as a negative pronoun, agreement is singular; gender can follow the real referent. Default writing is often masculine:

• Personne n’est venu.
  If you know they’re all women, you can write:
• Personne n’est venue.

How do I say “No one is speaking right now” vs. “No one ever speaks”?

French present can mean both, so add an adverb to clarify:

• Right now: En ce moment, personne ne parle.
• Habitually/ever: Personne ne parle jamais.

Is this the same as “There is no one in the room”?

Not exactly.

• Personne ne parle dans la salle. = No one is speaking (they might still be present, just silent).
• Il n’y a personne dans la salle. = There is nobody in the room (it’s empty).

Can I say “Il n’y a personne qui parle dans la salle”?

It’s understandable but heavier. Prefer Personne ne parle dans la salle. You could also say Il n’y a personne pour parler dans la salle if the idea is “no one available to speak.”

How do I say “I don’t hear anyone in the room”?

Use personne as the object: Je n’entends personne dans la salle.

Can I combine personne with rien?

Yes. French allows multiple negative words:

• Personne ne dit rien. = Nobody says anything.

Why “dans la salle” and not “en la salle”?

For a specific enclosed place with a definite article, use dans + article: dans la salle.
En doesn’t take the article here. Note set phrases like en salle (“indoors,” “in the dining room/service area,” “in theaters” for films) are different.

Is “salle” the right word for “room”?

• salle: a room used for an activity/public space (classroom, meeting room, hall).
• pièce: a room in a house/apartment (generic).
• chambre: bedroom.
  So use salle for places like a classroom or meeting room; specify if needed (e.g., salle de classe, salle de réunion).

Can I move “dans la salle” to the front?

Yes, for emphasis/topicalization: Dans la salle, personne ne parle. Meaning unchanged.

How does elision work with “ne” before a vowel?

Before a vowel or mute h, ne becomes n’:

• Personne n’écoute.
  Here, parle starts with a consonant, so it stays ne: Personne ne parle.

How would I say “none of them speaks”?

Use aucun with singular agreement:

• Aucun d’eux ne parle.
  Or specify a group: Aucun des étudiants ne parle. (Verb usually singular in careful style.)

Can “personne” be positive, meaning “a person”?

Yes, but then it’s a regular noun and needs an article:

• Une personne parle dans la salle. = A person is speaking in the room.
  Without ne and without an article, personne does not mean “a person.”

What’s a natural short answer to “Who is speaking in the room?”

Personne. (Nobody.)