Language/German/Grammar/Negation

German Grammar - Negation

Hi German learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will dive into the realm of negation in German grammar. It's a crucial element in any language and essential to learn. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't hesitate to get help and practice with native speakers. You can find many native speakers on Polyglot Club. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

Negation with "nicht"

Negation in German is indicated by the word "nicht". When we negate an expression in German, we simply use "nicht" after the verb or auxiliary verb. Let's take an example:

• Ich spreche Deutsch = I speak German
• Ich spreche nicht Deutsch = I don't speak German

As you can see, we simply added "nicht" to negate the expression. There are some exceptions where we have to add "nicht" differently, such as when we negate a noun or pronoun. For instance, we say:

• Das ist ein Hund. (This is a dog)
• Das ist kein Hund. (This is not a dog)

The word "kein" is the negation for "ein". So, if you want to negate a noun, you should use "kein" instead of "nicht".

Negation with "kein"

We have already learned that "kein" is used for the negation of a noun. But it's also used for negation with a verb if we want to express the opposite of "ein" or "eine". "Kein" is a contraction of "k+ein", which means "not one". For instance:

• Ich habe einen Hund = I have a dog
• Ich habe keinen Hund = I don't have a dog

In the negation with "kein", notice that it follows the same rule as with "nicht", we put it after the verb.

It's important to know that "nicht" doesn't change the meaning of the sentence, but rather its polarity. For instance:

• Ich trinke Wein. = I drink wine.
• Ich trinke nicht Wein. = I don't drink wine.

In this example, the subject remains the same, the verb remains the same, and only the polarity is negated.

However, "kein" negates the meaning of the sentence, and it requires a different construction, as we've seen before. If you use "kein", it means that the object doesn't exist, and you can't use "nicht". For instance:

• Ich habe keine Zigaretten. = I don't have any cigarettes.
• Ich habe nicht Zigaretten. = I don't have cigarettes.

In the second sentence, we are negating the fact of owning cigarettes, but in the first sentence, we are negating the existence of cigarettes.

Negation of the verbs "sein" and "haben"

The verbs "sein" (to be) and "haben" (to have) are the most commonly used verbs in any language. And, of course, we can also negate them in German.

• Ich bin da. = I am here.
• Ich bin nicht da. = I am not here.

• Ich habe kein Auto. = I don't have a car.
• Ich habe nicht viel Geld. = I don't have much money.

It's noteworthy that "nicht" follows the verb "sein", but with "haben", "kein" is used.

Double Negation

In English grammar, the use of double negation is controversial, but in German grammar, it's quite common. Double negation is the repetition of "nicht" (or "kein") to emphasize the negation.

For example:

• Ich habe keine Zeit. = I have no time.
• Ich habe keine Zeit. Ich kann nicht kommen. = I have no time. I can't come.
• Ich habe keine Zeit. Ich kann nicht nicht kommen. = I have no time. I can't not come.

In the last example, the double negation emphasizes that it's impossible to come. It's like saying, "I have no time. It is not possible for me to come."

Here's another example:

• Sie ist nicht nur glücklich. Sie ist nicht einmal zufrieden. = She is not just happy. She is not even content.

Here again, we used "nicht" twice to convey a stronger negation.

Word Order

In German, the position of "nicht" is essential in the sentence, and it determines the meaning.

For example:

• Ich sehe ihn nicht. = I don't see him.
• Ich nicht sehe ihn. = It's not me who sees him.

As you can see, the only difference here is the position of "nicht", which entirely changes the meaning of the sentence. In the first sentence, "nicht" negates the verb "sehen", meaning that I don't see him. In the second sentence, "nicht" negates the subject, meaning that it's not me who sees him.

Exercises

Here are some exercises to practice negation:

German	Pronunciation	English
Er ist krank.	Air ist krank	He is sick.
Ich habe viel Geld.	Ich habe viel gelt.	I have a lot of money.
Sie spricht Deutsch.	Sie shprict doytsch.	She speaks German.
Ich esse Fleisch.	Ich esse Flaysh	I eat meat.
Sie hat eine schöne Wohnung.	Sie hat eye-ne shö-ne voon-oong	She has a beautiful apartment.
Wir spielen Fußball.	Veer shpee-lin fuß-ball	We play soccer.
Du kennst ihn.	Doo kennst ihn	You know him.
Sie haben einen Hund.	Sie haben eye-nen hund	They have a dog.
Wir sehen einen Film.	Veer zayen eye-nen film	We watch a movie.
Ich trinke gerne Tee.	Ich trinke gayrne tay	I like to drink tea.

Translate the following sentences into German:

• She doesn't have any brothers or sisters.
• They don't eat vegetables.
• He doesn't speak French.
• We don't have time to go to the cinema.
• I don't like cucumbers.

Dialogue

Here is a small dialogue that illustrates the use of negation in context.

• Person 1: Kannst du am Samstagabend ausgehen? (Can you go out on Saturday night?)
• Person 2: Nein, ich kann nicht ausgehen. Ich muss arbeiten. (No, I cannot go out. I have to work.)
• Person 1: Willst du etwas trinken gehen? (Do you want to go out for a drink?)
• Person 2: Nein, danke, ich trinke nicht gerne Alkohol. (No, thank you. I don't like drinking alcohol.)

Summary

In conclusion, negation is a crucial aspect of German grammar, and it's important to get it right. Don't hesitate to practice, and if you encounter difficulties, remember that you can always seek help from native speakers. Keep in mind that the position of the negation word "nicht" or "kein" is critical, and it can entirely change the meaning of the sentence.

Sources

• German grammar
• German language