§. A / General The conjunction "ni" is fixed, and is used to coordinate sentences but also sub-phrases is to say, not necessarily containing a verb. It avoids duplication that needlessly complicate the text: They say "ni" is the conjunction used in negative sentences. While "et" is the conjunction used in positive sentences: exemple: * Il n'a obtenu ni une augmentation ni des avantages matériels > phrase négative. * Il a obtenu une augmentation et des avantages matériels > phrase positive. ==== **** "ni" used only once: (your second example): - When the coordinated elements are verbs, we find in front of each verb negation "ne" (and as i said in the first in this case we use "ni" only once): exep: - Ce bateau n'appareillera ni ne naviguera plus jamais - Arthur ne veut ni ne peut chanter. ====== *******"ni" used several times (your first example) : - The conjunction "ni" is repeated at each element that coordinates (it's names in general): example: * Arthur ne parle ni l'anglais ni l'espagnol - When "ni" is used to coordinate verbs, usually we don't put it in frontof the first: exemple: * - Je ne bois, ni ne fume, ni ne vais au cinéma. (we don't say : ni je ne bois, ni ne fume, ni ne vais au cinéma). ps: i'm sorry for my english.