Restrictive

You can think of ne... que as a sandwich. Your verb is the delicious filling. The ne and the que are the bread. They wrap around the action. But there is a twist! The que does not go right after the verb every time. It actually slides right before the thing you are restricting. It acts like a spotlight. Whatever comes after que is the only thing that matters. If you only eat apples, que sits before "apples." If you only work on Mondays, que sits before "Mondays." It is like a pointing finger. It tells the listener: "Look here, and nowhere else." It is a very flexible tool. You can restrict objects, people, or even time. It is not a heavy rule. It is just a specific way to frame your thoughts. It feels like a little dance around the verb. Once you find the rhythm, it is easy.

1. 1Building this pattern is a simple process. Just follow these four steps:
2. 2Start with your subject (like je, tu, or Marie).
3. 3Add the ne right after the subject.
4. 4Put your conjugated verb next.
5. 5Place que immediately before the word you want to limit.
6. 6If your verb starts with a vowel, ne becomes n'. For example, n'ai or n'aime. If the word after que starts with a vowel, que becomes qu'. For example, qu'une or qu'un. It keeps the language flowing smoothly. Think of it like a puzzle. You are just slotting the verb into the gap.
7. 7Example: Je (Subject) + ne + mange (Verb) + que + du pain (Restriction).
8. 8Result: Je ne mange que du pain. (I only eat bread.)
9. 9It is a neat, tidy little package. No extra words needed.

Use this whenever you want to set a limit. Imagine you are at a cafe. The waiter asks if you want dessert. You say: "I only want a coffee." In French, that is Je ne veux qu'un café. It sounds polite and clear. Use it when talking about your schedule. "I only work on Tuesdays" becomes Je ne travaille que le mardi. It is perfect for talking about money too. "I only have five euros" is Je n'ai que cinq euros. It emphasizes the small amount. You are highlighting a boundary. You are excluding all other options. Use it to be humble. "I only speak a little French." Je ne parle qu'un peu le français. It shows you are being honest about your skills. It works in almost every daily scenario. Ordering food? Use it. Checking the time? Use it. Talking about your family? Use it. It is a universal tool for A1 learners.

Do not use this for total negatives. If you have nothing, use ne... pas. Je ne mange pas means you aren't eating at all. Je ne mange que means you are eating *something*. Don't confuse the two! Also, avoid using it with verbs that have no object. You can't just say Je ne mange que. The sentence feels unfinished. It needs a target. Que always needs a friend to follow it. Don't use it if you want to say "the only one" as an adjective. For "the only girl," use la seule fille. Ne... que is for actions. It is a verbal restriction. If you are just starting out, keep it simple. Don't try to wrap it around complex, multi-word verbs yet. Stick to one action at a time. Also, don't use it if you are trying to be extremely informal. In very casual slang, people sometimes just use seulement. But ne... que is the gold standard. It works in both formal and friendly settings.

The biggest trap is the ne... pas habit. Many learners try to say Je ne mange pas que.... That actually means "I don't only eat..." which is the opposite! Keep pas out of the building. Another mistake is the que placement. Don't put it right after the verb if the object is far away. Put it right before the noun.

✗ Je ne veux que manger une pomme. (I only want to eat an apple - weird focus on eating).

✓ Je ne veux manger qu'une pomme. (I want to eat only an apple).

Also, don't forget the apostrophes. ne and que love to shrink. Je ne ai que un is a bit clunky. Je n'ai qu'un is music to French ears. Lastly, don't forget the ne. In spoken French, people sometimes drop it. But for your exams and clear speaking, keep it in. It anchors the whole structure. It signals that a restriction is coming.

How does this compare to seulement? Both mean "only." Seulement is a simple adverb. You can put it anywhere. Je mange seulement des pommes. It is easy but a bit "textbook." Ne... que is more integrated. It feels more native. It flows better with the rhythm of the language.

Think of seulement like a sticky note. You just slap it on.

Think of ne... que like a custom frame. It is built into the sentence.

What about uniquement? That is very formal. You might see it on a sign. "Staff only" is Personnel uniquement. You wouldn't usually say it while hanging out with friends. Stick to ne... que for your daily conversations. It gives you that authentic French flavor. It shows you understand the structure of the language. It is like choosing a real croissant over a frozen one. Both work, but one is clearly better.