French Phrase
Qu'est-ce qu'on n'a plus ?
Meaning
Literally, “What is it that we no longer have?” It is used to ask what item or resource has run out or is missing.
When to use
Use this sentence when you notice something is missing—e.g., in the kitchen, at work, or during a group activity—and you want the group to identify what’s no longer available.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Qu'est-cequ'onn'aplus?
Qu'est-ce
Standard interrogative phrase meaning 'what is it that...'. It introduces a question.
qu'on
Contraction of "que + on"; "on" is the informal pronoun for "we" or "people".
n'…plus
Negative construction meaning "no longer"; "ne" is often dropped in spoken French, leaving just "plus" after the verb.
a
Third‑person singular of the verb "avoir" (to have).
plus
When used after a negative, it means "anymore" or "no longer".
🗨In Conversation
Qu'est-ce qu'on n'a plus ?
What have we run out of?
Il ne reste plus de lait.
There's no milk left.
✕Common Mistakes
Qu'est‑ce que on n'a plus ?
Missing the contraction "qu'on"; the correct form merges "que" and "on" with an apostrophe.
Qu'est‑ce qu'on n'a pas ?
"Pas" changes the meaning to a simple negation ("What don't we have?") rather than "no longer have".
Qu'est‑ce qu'on n'a plus
Leaving out the question mark can make it sound like a statement; the intonation and punctuation are essential for a question.
↔Alternatives
Qu'est-ce qui manque ?
What is missing?
Qu'est‑ce qu'il n'y a plus ?
What isn’t there any more?
On n'a plus quoi ?
We have no more what?
Cultural Tip
In everyday spoken French, the "ne" of the negative is frequently omitted, so you’ll often hear "Qu'est‑ce qu’on a plus ?" or even "Qu’est‑ce qu’on plus ?" The formal written form keeps the "ne". Also, "on" is preferred over "nous" in casual conversation, giving the phrase a friendly, collective tone.