Negation in German

Part ofGermanWord order

Key points about negation

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  • Sentences can be made negative in German by using nichtnot, nienever and nichtsnothing.

  • There are specific rules about where to place these words in a sentence.

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Using nicht in German

The word nichtnot is used to make a sentence negative.

There are some key rules about where to place nicht in a sentence. nicht is always used before:

:

  • - I am not shy.

  • - The weather is not good.

:

  • - I don’t live in a town.

  • - I don’t come from Stuttgart.

:

  • - He doesn’t play tennis well.

  • - We don’t run fast.

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Using nicht with verbs

To make a simple sentence negative, put nicht at the end of the sentence:

- I drink coffee.
- I don’t drink coffee.

- I like table tennis.
- I don’t like table tennis.

- I understand German.
- I don’t understand German!

This also applies to :

  • - He doesn't shave.

  • - I don’t wash.

If a sentence contains more than one verb (eg a + or an + a ) nicht goes before the infinitive or past participle at the end of the sentence.

  • - I can’t swim.

  • - I don’t want to come.

  • - I haven’t done my homework.

  • - He hasn’t read the book.

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Remember:

If there is more detail in the sentence, the rule that nicht always goes before an adjective, preposition or adverb applies.

For example, in this sentence nach is a preposition so nicht must be placed before it.

Ich bin nicht nach Deutschland gefahren.
I didn’t travel to Germany

Mini quiz

Make the sentences negative.

  1. I can find my trainers.

  1. I worked in a restaurant.

  1. We will order sausage and chips.

  1. I bathe at the weekend.

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Using nie and nichts

nienever is an . It is used to show that an action never happens and goes after the verb:

  • - I never eat meat.

  • - I never travel by bus.

  • - The student never does his homework.

nichts nothing is an and is used to show the absence of something:

  • - I see nothing.

  • - I eat nothing for breakfast.

  • - I drank nothing.

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Remember:

Do not confuse nichtnot with nichtsnothing.

  • Ich esse nicht → I don’t eat.
  • Ich esse nichts. → I eat nothing.

Mini quiz

Translate the sentences into German

A pen and a piece of paper with question marks on it.
  1. I never go to the cinema.

  1. My sister bought nothing.

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Using sondern

sondern is a which means but or rather/instead. It is used to contradict or negate the first part of a sentence.

sondern does not affect word order.

For example:

  • - The dress is not expensive, but (it is) cheap.

  • - My brother not only plays football, but also badminton.

  • - I am not flying to Germany, but (I am flying to) Austria.

The words in brackets can be left out:

  • - The dress is not expensive, but cheap.

Mini quiz

Translate the following sentences into German

A pen and a piece of paper with question marks on it.
  1. I am not learning Spanish, but German.

  1. My cat is not only funny, but also intelligent.

  1. We don’t travel by car, but instead we cycle.

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Quiz

Take this quiz on negation to check your understanding.

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