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French Phrase of the Day

je ne sais pas



Definitions

French > English
je ne sais pas
     1. Phrase. I don't know
Analysis
je
     1. pron. I
ne
     1. part. (literary) not (used alone to negate a verb; now chiefly with only a few particular verbs: see usage notes)
     2. part. not, no (used before a verb, with a coordinating negative element usually following; see Usage Notes, below)
     3. part. (Used in a subordinate clause before a subjunctive verb (especially when the main verb expresses doubt or fear), to provide extra overtones of doubt or uncertainty (but not negating its verb); the so-
     4. part. In comparative clauses usually translated with the positive sense of the subsequent negative
           Apprendre le français est plus facile qu'on ne pense. - Learning French is easier than you (might) think.
sais
     1. v. first-person singular present indicative of savoir
     2. v. second-person singular present indicative of savoir
     savoir
          1. v. to know (something)
                Savais-tu qu'il parle si bien l'anglais? - Did you know that he speaks English so well?
                Comment savait-il que j'étais là? - How did he know that I was there?
                Il est difficile de savoir si elle ment. - It's difficult to know if she's lying.
                Il tire cette approche en inventant une situation initiale, dans laquelle on interrogerait les individus sur la forme qu'ils voudraient d'une société sans qu'ils sachent quelle place ils y aura
pas
     1. n-m. step, pace, footstep
     2. n-m. (geography) strait, pass
           Pas de Calais - Strait of Dover
     3. n-m. thread, pitch (of a screw or nut)
     4. adv. The most common adverb of negation in French, typically translating into English as not, don't, doesn't, etc.



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