N'avais (en. Hadn't)

/n'avais/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

Indicates a lack or absence of possession in the past.

I didn't have a car when I was a student.

Je n'avais pas de voiture quand j'étais étudiant.

Expresses an unmet condition in the past.

If I had known, I wouldn’t have come.

Si j'avais su, je ne serais pas venu.

Used to talk about state or feelings in the past.

I had never felt that before.

Je n'avais jamais ressenti cela auparavant.

Comes from the verb 'avoir', from Latin 'habere'.

did not have a choice

Indicates that there was no other option.

n'avais pas le choix

had no idea

Means that one was not informed or aware of something.

n'avais aucune idée

had nothing to lose

Expresses that one had no risk in a situation.

n'avais rien à perdre

have

Verb meaning to possess or hold.

avoir

had

Third person singular of the imperfect of the verb avoir.

avait

does not have

Negative form of 'a', third person singular of the present of the verb avoir.

n'a pas

Indicate a regret about the past.

At that time, I had no reference points.

À l'époque, je n'avais pas de repères.

Used to imply dissatisfaction.

I didn’t feel like I belonged.

Je n'avais pas l'impression d'être à ma place.