Negation (Leaving Cert German): Revision Notes
Negation
Overview
Negation in German allows you to make statements negative, such as saying "I don't have money" or "He is not here". German uses two main words to create negative statements: kein and nicht. Understanding when to use each word is essential for clear communication, as they follow different rules and are used in different situations.
The key to German negation is choosing the correct word based on what you're negating. This decision depends on the type of word or phrase you want to make negative.
Rules & formation
German negation works differently from English because you must choose between two negation words based on what you're negating. The choice depends on the type of word or phrase you want to make negative.
Using "kein"
The word kein means "no" or "not a/any" and behaves like the indefinite article "ein". You use "kein" to negate:
- Nouns that would normally use ein/eine/einen (indefinite articles)
- Nouns that have no article at all
Kein changes its ending based on the gender, number, and case of the noun it modifies, just like "ein" does. This means you need to learn the different forms: kein, keine, keinen, keiner, keinem, keines.
Kein follows the exact same declension pattern as "ein". If you know how to use "ein", you can apply the same rules to "kein"!
Using "nicht"
The word nicht means "not" and is used to negate everything else:
- Verbs (actions)
- Adjectives (describing words)
- Adverbs (manner, time, place)
- Proper nouns (names of people, cities, etc.)
- Nouns with definite articles (der/die/das)
- Nouns with possessive pronouns (mein/meine, etc.)
Tables of key forms
"Kein" conjugation table
| Type | Statement | Negation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indefinite article | Das ist ein Haus. | Das ist kein Haus. | That is not a house. |
| Indefinite article | Ich habe eine Schwester. | Ich habe keine Schwester. | I have no sister. |
| Indefinite article | Sie hat einen Hund. | Sie hat keinen Hund. | She has no dog. |
| No article | Wir verkaufen Autos. | Wir verkaufen keine Autos. | We don't sell cars. |
| No article | Ich habe Fieber. | Ich habe kein Fieber. | I don't have a fever. |
"Nicht" usage examples
| Type | Statement | Negation | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verb | Ich schlafe. | Ich schlafe nicht. | I don't sleep. |
| Adjective | Das Haus ist alt. | Das Haus ist nicht alt. | The house is not old. |
| Adverb | Sie fahren schnell. | Sie fahren nicht schnell. | They don't drive fast. |
| Proper noun | Das ist Bernd. | Das ist nicht Bernd. | That is not Bernd. |
| Definite article | Das ist der Professor. | Das ist nicht der Professor. | That is not the professor. |
| Possessive pronoun | Das ist meine Freundin. | Das ist nicht meine Freundin. | That is not my girlfriend. |
Example sentences
Here are practical examples showing how negation works in context:
Practical Examples: "Kein" in Action
- Ich habe kein Geld. → I have no money.
- Sie hat keine Schwester. → She has no sister.
- Er trinkt kein Bier. → He doesn't drink beer.
- Wir haben keine Zeit. → We have no time.
Notice: Each example uses "kein" because the positive form would use "ein" or no article.
Practical Examples: "Nicht" in Action
- Ich höre dich nicht. → I don't hear you.
- Er ist nicht hier. → He is not here.
- Das Haus ist nicht alt. → The house is not old.
- Das ist nicht der Professor. → That is not the professor.
Notice: Each example uses "nicht" because we're negating verbs, adjectives, or nouns with definite articles.
Each example demonstrates the fundamental rule: use "kein" when you would normally use "ein" or no article, and use "nicht" for everything else.
Common mistakes & tips
Position of "nicht" in sentences
The position of "nicht" can be tricky and follows specific rules:
Rule 1: "Nicht" always follows the verb "sein" (to be)
- Ich bin Thomas. → Ich bin nicht Thomas.
Rule 2: "Nicht" usually follows the main verb
- Exception: With separable verbs, "nicht" goes before the prefix
- Ich gehe nicht. → I don't go.
- Ich sehe nicht fern. → I don't watch TV.
Rule 3: With complex verb forms, "nicht" goes before the second part
- Modal verbs: Ich muss jetzt nicht gehen.
- Future tense: Ich werde jetzt nicht gehen.
- Past tense: Ich habe dich nicht gesehen.
Additional placement rules:
4. "nicht" can follow pronouns or objects that can be replaced by pronouns:
- Ich sehe dich nicht. → I don't see you.
- Sie kennt Mr Wolf nicht. → She doesn't know Mr Wolf.
5. "nicht" can follow specific time expressions:
- Wir kämpfen heute nicht gegen euch.
- Exception: With prepositions for specific time (um, am), "nicht" comes first
- Ich komme nicht um 8.00 Uhr.
Special cases and tips
Emphasis negation: You can place "nicht" at the beginning of a sentence for special emphasis, but this is advanced usage and should be used sparingly.
Gap text strategy: When choosing between "kein" and "nicht" in exercises, first convert the sentence to positive form. If the positive form uses "ein" or no article, use "kein". Otherwise, use "nicht".
Remember the endings: "Kein" follows the same pattern as "ein", so if you know "ein/eine/einen", you can form "kein/keine/keinen" correctly.
Key Points to Remember:
- German has two negation words: kein (for nouns with ein/no article) and nicht (for everything else)
- Kein changes endings like "ein" based on gender, number, and case
- Nicht position depends on what you're negating - it usually follows "sein" and simple verbs
- With complex verbs, nicht typically goes before the second part
- When unsure, convert to positive form first to see if "ein" or no article is used