je ne l'avais

I hadn't

→ je

phrase Uncommon #16,147

I hadn't A negative past-perfect form meaning “I had not,” with l’ standing for “it,” “him,” or “her.” It is usually followed by a past participle, such as je ne l'avais jamais vu(e) (“I had never seen it/him/her”).

FR: Je ne l'avais pas compris avant que tu me l'expliques.

EN: I hadn't understood it before you explained it to me.

Je ne l'avais pas détesté.

I hadn't hated it.

Je ne l'avais pas cru.

I didn't believe it.

Je ne l'avais pas vu.

I hadn't seen it.

Le colis est arrivé plus tôt que je ne l'avais imaginé.

The package arrived earlier than I had imagined.

Je ne l'avais jamais dit à personne.

I had never told anyone.

La maison était plus coûteuse que je ne l'avais espéré.

The house was more expensive than I had hoped.

Je ne l'avais jamais vue avant.

I had never seen her before.

Je ne l'avais pas remarqué.

I hadn't noticed it.

— Crime 101 (2026)

Cela a été beaucoup plus difficile que je ne l'avais pensé.

It was much more difficult than I had thought.

Je ne l'avais pas entendue celle-là.

I hadn't heard that one.

C'était plus difficile que je ne l'avais imaginé.

It was more difficult than I had imagined.

Je ne l'avais pas demandé.

I hadn’t asked for it.

— Le repentir (1987)

Je ne l'avais pas vue.

I hadn't seen her.

Je ne l'avais jamais entendue.

I had never heard of it.

Je ne l'avais jamais vue comme ça.

I had never seen her like this.

Je ne l'avais pas vu depuis longtemps.

I hadn't seen him in a long time.

Je ne l'avais pas remarqué jusqu'à ce que tu le dises.

I hadn't noticed it until you pointed it out.

Je ne l'avais pas dit ?

Hadn't I said that?

— The Captain : L'usurpateur (2018)

Je ne l'avais vue qu'en photo.

I had only seen her in photos.

Je ne l'avais jamais remarqué.

I had never noticed it.

Je ne l'avais jamais vue.

I had never seen her.

— La Légende du pianiste sur l'océan (1998)

Je ne l'avais pas vu venir.

I didn't see that coming.

— Demon Slayer : Kimetsu no Yaiba - Le film : La Forteresse infinie (2025)

Je ne l'avais pas remarqué jusqu'à ce que vous le disiez.

I hadn't noticed it until you mentioned it.

Si je ne l'avais pas retrouvé, j'aurais passé la journée à ressasser.

If I hadn’t found it again, I would have spent the day dwelling on it.

— Aquarius (2016)