N'étant (en. Not being)

/n'e.tã/

Meaning & Definition

EnglishFrench

verb

Indicates a state of non-existence or absence.

Not being there, I missed the meeting.

N'étant pas là, j'ai manqué la réunion.

Expresses a dependent condition.

Not being prepared, I could not answer the questions.

N'étant pas préparé, je n'ai pas pu répondre aux questions.

Used to emphasize an absence.

Not being any of them, they had to look elsewhere.

N'étant aucun d'entre eux, ils ont dû chercher ailleurs.

Combination of 'ne' (negation) and the present participle 'being' of the verb 'to be'.

Not being in a position

Indicates an inability to do something.

N'étant pas en mesure

Not being just passing through

Expresses that one is stopping only briefly.

N'étant de passage

Not being in agreement

Indicates a disagreement on a topic.

N'étant pas en accord

being

Present participle of the verb 'to be'.

étant

to be

A verb that expresses existence or a state.

être

non-being

Philosophical concept meaning absence of existence.

non-être

Used casually to signal one's absence.

I can’t come, not being really around.

Je peux pas venir, n'étant pas vraiment dans le coin.

Used to justify inactivity.

Not being motivated, I won’t do anything today.

N'étant pas motivé, je ne ferai rien aujourd'hui.