Basically, negation is double in French:
Je ne parle pas. I don't.
The word ne comes before the verb, pas after the verb.
The word pas is not used if there is a negative word in the sentence:
| personne | nobody |
| rien | nothing |
| jamais | never |
| aucun | none |
| nul | none |
| aucunement | no way |
| nullement | no way |
| null part | nowhere |
Je n'ai jamais été à Paris. I've never been to Paris.
Je ne vois personne. I can't see anyone.
Also, there are several other constructions with ne without using pas:
ne ... que - only
ne ... guère - almost not
ne ... point - not at all
ne ... plus - not anymore
ne ... goutte - not at all.
Il n'achète que les fleurs. He only buys flowers.
Je ne l'aime point. I don't love her at all.