Whilst in English we use the words "no" and "not" to express negation:
In German, there are three main words to use:
Nein
The word nein
is used to answer direct questions, where a yes / no response is called for.
Fortunately for us, it's never used in the middle of a sentence, and so is pretty straightforward.
Sentence | Ich werde das Angebot annehmen. |
Negation | Nein, ich werde das Angebot nicht annehmen. |
Translation | No, I won't accept the offer. |
Sentence | Ich kann alles mitnehmen. |
Negation | Nein, ich kann nicht alles mitnehmen. |
Translation | No, I can't take it all. |
Sentence | Ich werde an der Veranstaltung teilnehmen. |
Negation | Nein, ich werde nicht an der Veranstaltung teilnehmen. |
Translation | No, I'm not going attend the event. |
Kein/e/en
The word kein
is always placed before a noun, to negate it.
Sentence | Ich habe Ideen. |
Negation | Ich habe keine Ideen. |
Translation | I have no ideas. |
Sentence | Es sind Gäste hier. |
Negation | Es sind keine Gäste hier. |
Translation | There are no guests here. |
Sentence | Sie haben einen Bleistift. |
Negation | Sie haben keinen Bleistift. |
Translation | You have no pencil. |
Nicht
The word nicht
can be placed before:
or after:
Sentence | Ich rede mit Jenny. |
Negating verb | Ich trinke nicht mit Jenny. |
Translation | I'm not talking to Jenny. |
Sentence | Das ist lecker. |
Negating adjective | Das ist nicht lecker. |
Translation | That is not tasty. |
Sentence | Wir kennen seinen Namen. |
Negating sentence | Wir kennen seinen Namen nicht. |
Translation | We don't know his name. |
Sentence | To Negate: | Negated Sentence |
---|---|---|
Der Affe klettert auf den Baum | den Baum | |
Ich habe Socken | Socken | |
Ja, ich gehe zu der Party | Ja + der Party | |
Ich schreibe einen Brief | einen Brief | |
Ich mache meine Hausaufgaben | declarative sentence |
Well done 🎉!
You have learned how to negate German sentences with nein
, kein
, and nicht
!
Continue reading for more negation words and phrases.
Let's put all the new words and phrases we have just learned to use, by tackling the exercise below. Read each English sentence, carefully. Then, try your hand at translating them, by tapping on the words below to construct a German sentence.
Well done 🎉! You are now well equipped with multiple ways to negate German sentences! Continue to the next lesson, on Telling Time, when you are ready.
Download our free pdf for German learners, with 99 German words & idioms. Each idiom comes with an example, a translation & helpful vocabulary.
Leave a comment & let us know what you think, or what other materials you might find helpful.