Negation
How to say 'not' and 'no' — and which one to choose.
German has two ways to say 'no': nicht (not) and kein (no/not a/not any). Choosing between them is the whole game. This chapter teaches the rule (it's easier than it looks), where nicht goes in a sentence, and how kein agrees with the noun it negates. Vocabulary theme: shopping and preferences — the perfect place to practice saying what you don't want.
What this chapter covers
- I can use nicht to negate verbs, adjectives, and adverbs.
- I can use kein to negate nouns without an article or with the indefinite article.
- I can choose correctly between nicht and kein in context.
- I can place nicht in the right position in a sentence.
- I can use 20 new words for shopping and expressing preferences.
What you will practise in the app
The full chapter includes 8 interactive exercises covering these formats:
- Multiple choice questions
- Word order tasks
- Fill-in-the-blank sentences
- Translation practice
- Vocabulary matching
- Listening comprehension
- Guided writing task
Vocabulary: Shopping & Preferences
A small sample from this chapter's vocabulary set.
This is only a small sample. The full vocabulary set — with audio, example sentences, and grammar details — is available in the free app.
Why this matters in Germany
This chapter helps you build German you can use in everyday situations in Germany — from understanding simple sentences to handling basic conversations, messages, appointments, study, work, and daily life. Practical language learned in context is easier to remember and use when it matters.
Practise the full chapter for free
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