Why is ne + plus wrapped around as instead of besoin in the following sentence:
Tu n'as plus besoin de ta voiture.
Shouldn't it be wrapped around besoin as that is the verb word?
Add a comment
|
1 Answer
Besoin is a noun. The verb is as (from the verb avoir). Avoir besoin is a phrasal verb (literally “to have need”), which determines its meaning, but does not change the grammar. Even if besoin was a verb form, the second negation word would still be after the auxiliary:
Tu ne manges pas tes carottes.
Tu n'a pas mangé tes carottes.
answered Dec 5, 2013 at 15:24
Gilles 'SO nous est hostile'Gilles 'SO nous est hostile'
56.9k8 gold badges110 silver badges231 bronze badges
-
The first part of the answer (i.e. besoin being a noun) automatically means that the negation goes around 'as', and so my question is answered, but I don't get why the term auxiliary was used as I my sentence didn't contain any compound tenses so I am confused as to why this term (and the examples given) were used.– user2966Commented Dec 5, 2013 at 16:37
-
Gilles is giving the general rule of the place of the negation when avoir is used, whether as verb or an auxiliary.– NoneCommented Dec 6, 2013 at 7:48
-
@user2966 Even if you weren't sure whether you had a verb and a complement or an auxiliary verb and a main verb, the negation would still be in the same place. Commented Dec 6, 2013 at 9:24