res, degun

Nothing and Nobody

Level 2

Pas res means nothing, and pas degun means nobody.

How It Works

Res stands for a thing and degun for a person. With a verb, they come after pas, and the sentence is a plain negative, as in Sabi pas res (I know nothing).

OccitanEnglish
Vesi pas res.I see nothing.
Vesi pas degun.I see nobody.
Coneissi pas degun aicí.I know nobody here.

Choose the word from what is missing. A missing object, sound or fact calls for res, and a missing person calls for degun. They do not take a noun after them. For a noun, use pas de: Ai pas de pan. The words for something, someone and nothing are compared in the Level 3 entry quicòm, degun, res.

Examples (4)

  1. Vesi pas res.

    I see nothing.

    Res stands for a thing.

  2. Coneissi pas degun aicí.

    I know nobody here.

    Degun stands for a person.

  3. Sabèm pas res.

    We know nothing.

    Pas goes after the verb.

  4. Compreni pas res.

    I understand nothing.

    Res works with any verb.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the French word for nobody.

    Vesi pas personne.
    Vesi pas degun.

    Occitan says degun. Personne is French.

  • Using the French word for nothing.

    Sabi pas rien.
    Sabi pas res.

    Occitan says res. Rien is French.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

res, degunLevel 2Nothing and Nobody

Learn This First

Pas res and pas degun are negatives with pas, so negation with pas comes first.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

resdegunpas