Negation is an essential part of constructing sentences in German, allowing you to express the opposite meaning or deny statements. The two primary tools for negation are "nicht" and "kein."
1. Nicht
"Nicht" is used to negate verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and specific parts of a sentence. It usually translates to "not" in English.
Examples:
- Ich verstehe nicht.
(I do not understand.)
- Das Auto ist nicht teuer.
(The car is not expensive.)
- Er spielt nicht gut.
(He does not play well.)
- Wir gehen nicht ins Kino.
(We are not going to the cinema.)
2. Kein
"Kein" is used to negate nouns and functions like the English "no" or "not any." It is used when negating the presence or existence of something. "Kein" changes according to the gender, number, and case of the noun.
Examples:
- Ich habe kein Geld.
(I have no money.)
- Sie hat keine Schwester.
(She has no sister.)
- Wir sehen keinen Film.
(We are not watching a film.)
- Er besitzt kein Auto.
(He does not own a car.)
Declension of "Kein":
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | kein | keine | kein | keine |
| Accusative | keinen | keine | kein | keine |
| Dative | keinem | keiner | keinem | keinen |
| Genitive | keines | keiner | keines | keiner |
3. Nicht vs. Kein
The choice between "nicht" and "kein" depends on what you are negating. Use "nicht" to negate verbs, adjectives, adverbs, or specific sentence parts. Use "kein" to negate nouns.
Comparison:
- Ich habe kein Buch.
- (I have no book.) – Negating the noun "book."
- Das ist nicht mein Buch.
- (That is not my book.) – Negating the possession or identity of the book.
4. Examples in Context
Using "Nicht":
- Der Film war nicht interessant.
(The film was not interesting.)
- Sie kommt nicht heute.
(She is not coming today.)
- Wir wohnen nicht in Berlin.
(We do not live in Berlin.)
Using "Kein":
- Er hat keinen Hund.
(He has no dog.)
- Das ist kein Problem.
(That is not a problem.)
- Hast du keine Zeit?
(Do you have no time?)
5. Practice Sentences
Try to form negative sentences using "nicht" or "kein" based on the context provided:
- The book is not on the table.
- She doesn’t play football.
- We have no homework.
- He is not a teacher.
- They do not live here.
By understanding when to use "nicht" and "kein," you can accurately negate sentences in German, making your communication clear and precise.