How to use the negative

In the French language, to form a negative two words are used: the word "ne" and the word "pas". The word "ne" usually goes before the conjugated verb and the word "pas" usually after. Of course, as I'm sure you are familiar now, there always is an exception. In this case the exception arises with verbs in the infinitive, in which case both words "ne" and "pas" go before the infinite, in order to form a negative. Examples : I do not want your book. Je ne veux pas ton livre. The teacher told me not to run. Le professeur m'a dit de ne pas courir. As a rule of thumb, the "ne" and "pas" often come before the verb in indirect speech.