What about negative sentences referring to body parts?

Question

Which is correct and what references can you provide to convince my teacher?
Elles n'ont pas les yeux verts?
Elles n'ont pas des yeux verts?
Elles n'ont pas d'yeux verts?

Accepted Answer

Bonjour Bruce !

This case is actually quite different, as the affirmative sentence would be "Elle a les yeux bleus", so the negative equivalent would still be "Elle n'a pas *les* yeux bleus".
Look at our related lesson:
Using le, la, les with body parts and clothing (definite articles)

I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !

Answer

Bonjour!
Merci bien pour votre réponse.
I had reviewed the lesson you mention. I suppose it could be inferred that a definite article should be used for one's own body parts in the negative but it didn't specifically address it. It was my understanding that a definite article should be used, even in the negative, but my teacher says that this is wrong. Can you provide a reference that I can use to show my teacher? L'Académie française, peut-être?

Merci.

Bruce