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The Negative Determiner aucun(e)

HigherHigher tier onlyAQA

Learn The Negative Determiner aucun(e) for GCSE French with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Higher tier exam-style practice with worked answers for AQA GCSE French (8652). Aucun(e) means no or not any and is used with ne before the verb.

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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA specification. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.

This is a Higher tier only topic, so there's no Foundation paper — only the Higher worksheet and mark scheme below.

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WorksheetHigher · PDFMark SchemeHigher · PDF

Topic overview

Aucun means not any or none, and it works as a negative determiner replacing pas. This is a Higher-only topic.

It is used with ne but without pas: je n'ai aucune idée means I have no idea. Writing je n'ai pas aucune idée is wrong — the two negatives cannot combine, and aucun does the job pas would otherwise do.

It agrees with its noun, giving aucun for masculine and aucune for feminine, and it is almost always singular even where English would use a plural. Je n'ai aucun ami means I have no friends, using the singular ami despite the English plural.

Revision notes

Used with ne but not pas

Je n'ai aucune idée — I have no idea.

Aucun replaces pas rather than joining it. Je n'ai pas aucune idée is wrong. The ne is still required, as with every French negative.

Agreement

Aucun for masculine, aucune for feminine.

It agrees with the noun that follows: aucun problème, aucune difficulté. The plural forms exist but are rare at GCSE.

Almost always singular

Je n'ai aucun ami means I have no friends.

French uses the singular where English uses a plural, because aucun means not even one. Aucune erreur means no mistakes, again singular in French.

Key points

  • Aucun means not any or none.
  • It is used with ne but not pas.
  • Aucun replaces pas in the sentence.
  • It agrees with its noun.
  • Aucune is the feminine form.
  • It is almost always singular.

Worked examples

Example 1

Translate: I have no idea. [2 marks]

Working

Je n'ai aucune idéeuse ne with aucune and no pas
Aucune is feminine to agree with idée, and pas is omittedexplain the agreement and the missing pas

Example 2

Explain what is wrong with je n'ai pas aucun ami. [2 marks]

Working

Aucun replaces pas rather than being used alongside itstate the rule
so the correct form is je n'ai aucun amigive the correction

Example 3

Translate: no mistakes. [2 marks]

Working

aucune erreuruse the feminine singular form
French uses the singular here even though English uses a pluralexplain the number difference

Common mistakes

  • Using pas alongside aucun.

    Aucun replaces pas; they cannot both appear.

  • Omitting the ne.

    Ne is still required with aucun.

  • Making the noun plural.

    Aucun takes a singular noun even where English uses a plural.

  • Forgetting the agreement.

    Aucun for masculine, aucune for feminine.

Exam tips

  • Use ne but never pas with aucun.
  • Keep the noun singular.
  • Match aucun or aucune to the noun's gender.
  • Remember this is a Higher-only topic.

Key terms

Aucun
Not any or none, a negative determiner.
Negative determiner
A word replacing pas and making the sentence negative.
Ne
The particle required with every French negative.
Agreement
Matching aucun to the gender of its noun.

Related topics

Written and reviewed against the current AQA specification. Spotted an error? Let us know.