je n'en avais pas

I didn't have any

→ je

phrase Rare #37,332

I didn't have any “En” refers to something already mentioned or understood. Before a noun, the phrase can mean “I didn't have [noun]” or “I didn't have any [noun].”

FR: Je n'en avais pas assez pour tout le monde.

EN: I didn't have enough for everyone.

Bien sûr, avant je n'en avais pas besoin.

Of course, I didn't need one before.

— Ip Man (2008)

Je n'en avais pas la moindre intention.

I had no intention of doing so.

Je n'en avais pas envie.

I didn't want to.

Et si je n'en avais pas ?

What if I didn’t have any?

— Avengers (2012)

Je n'en avais pas la moindre idée.

I had absolutely no idea.

— Rebecca (1940)

J'ai réalisé que même si je voulais manger, je n'en avais pas le temps.

I realized that even though I wanted to eat, I didn't have time.

Je n'en avais pas conscience.

I wasn't aware of it.

Moi, je n'en avais pas.

I didn’t have one.

Je n'en avais pas, mais ma thèse portait sur l'économie de l'Amérique latine.

I didn't have one, but my thesis was on the economy of Latin America.

— Rushmore (1998)