In the series Tout sur moi, we hear another example of a reflexive verb (s’occuper) used informally in a negative sentence.
Here, Macha says occupe-toi pas de lui to another character. This is her informal way of saying, “don’t worry about him” or “don’t mind him.”
If this had been said in the affirmative, it would’ve been:
Occupe-toi de lui.
Informally, Macha made it negative by just adding pas after occupe-toi:
Occupe-toi pas de lui.
If she hadn’t spoken informally, it would have been:
Ne t’occupe pas de lui.
Remember, what Macha said (occupe-toi pas de lui) is an informal usage. Francophones will avoid this in careful writing and speech. Ne t’occupe pas de lui is the preferred written form (unless a deliberately informal style is sought, of course), and probably the form you’ll want to consider sticking with for now yourself.
[This entry was inspired by the character Macha in Tout sur moi, “Les entartées,” season 4, episode 7, Radio-Canada, Montreal, 27 October 2010.]
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