Negation
Negation in German is formed using 'nicht' (not) or 'kein' (no/not a).
The choice between 'nicht' and 'kein' depends on what you're negating.
This lesson covers how to use negation correctly in German sentence structure.
Explanation
Use 'kein' (keine, kein, keine) to negate nouns with indefinite articles or no article: 'Ich habe kein Auto' (I have no car), 'Ich sehe keine Katze' (I see no cat).
Use 'nicht' to negate verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and nouns with definite articles: 'Ich komme nicht' (I'm not coming), 'Das ist nicht gut' (That is not good), 'Ich sehe das Auto nicht' (I don't see the car).
'Kein' declines like 'ein': kein (masculine/neuter nominative), keine (feminine/plural), keinen (masculine accusative), etc.
'Nicht' usually comes at the end of the sentence, but can be placed before specific elements to negate them: 'Ich fahre nicht mit dem Auto' (I'm not traveling by car).
Nicht vs Kein - Usage Guide
| Use | Word | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Negate nouns (no article/indefinite) | kein | Ich habe kein Auto | I have no car |
| Negate verbs | nicht | Ich komme nicht | I'm not coming |
| Negate adjectives | nicht | Das ist nicht gut | That is not good |
| Negate nouns (definite article) | nicht | Ich sehe das Auto nicht | I don't see the car |
| Negate adverbs | nicht | Er fährt nicht schnell | He doesn't drive fast |
Examples
Ich habe kein Auto.
I have no car. (kein - no article)
Ich komme nicht.
I'm not coming. (nicht - negates verb)
Das ist nicht gut.
That is not good. (nicht - negates adjective)
Ich sehe das Auto nicht.
I don't see the car. (nicht - with definite article)
Ich trinke keinen Kaffee.
I drink no coffee. (keinen - accusative masculine)
Er fährt nicht mit dem Auto.
He doesn't travel by car. (nicht - negates prepositional phrase)
Common Mistakes
Ich habe nicht Auto
Ich habe kein Auto
When negating a noun without article, use 'kein', not 'nicht'.
Ich komme kein
Ich komme nicht
When negating a verb, use 'nicht', not 'kein'.
Ich sehe kein das Auto
Ich sehe das Auto nicht
When negating a noun with definite article, use 'nicht' at the end, not 'kein'.
Practice Exercises
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.