Stage 2 · A1+–A2
Level A1+–A2
Negative recent past — use it independently in context
Reuse the negative recent past in short dialogues to deny or correct a supposedly recent action.
1. Objective
By the end, you will use the negative recent past in natural replies and corrections.
2. I discover
Answer Vous venez d’arriver? if you have been there for an hour.
3. I understand
In real conversation, the negative recent past can correct an assumption: Tu viens de manger? — Non, je ne viens pas de manger. It can also clarify that something did not happen just now.
— Tu viens de manger ? — Non, je ne viens pas de manger.— Elle vient d’appeler ? — Non, elle ne vient pas d’appeler.Nous ne venons pas de réserver.Je ne viens pas d’arriver.Ils ne viennent pas de partir.Vous ne venez pas de payer.
Watch out
In informal speech ne may disappear, but this lesson keeps the complete standard written form: je ne viens pas de…
4. Guided practice
5. Independent practice
6. I write / I speak
Now apply the feature in three personal sentences and briefly justify each choice.
7. Check my learning
8. What I remember
To deny a supposedly recent action: Non, subject + ne + venir + pas + de/d’ + infinitive.
9. Now I can…
- I can move from the rule to a real sentence.
- I can explain why my form is correct.
