What do you see? Negation: kein + indefinite article vs nicht + definite article
I can explain what I see or don't see, using 'kein' or 'nicht' appropriately to negate words or sentences.
- Year 9
What do you see? Negation: kein + indefinite article vs nicht + definite article
I can explain what I see or don't see, using 'kein' or 'nicht' appropriately to negate words or sentences.
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- 'Nicht' means 'not' and 'kein' means 'no, not a' with a noun.
- 'Nicht' is used when the noun is preceded by the definite article, a possessive adjective, or before a proper noun.
- 'Kein' is used if the noun is preceded by the indefinite article.
- 'Kein' goes before the noun it negates.
- 'Nicht' goes before the element it negates, or at the end of the phrase if it negates the whole phrase.
Keywords
Kein - negative article ‘no’, ‘not a, an, any’ - negates nouns preceded by the indefinite article
Indefinite article - 'a/an', e.g., 'ein', 'eine'
Adjective agreement - when the ending of an adjective matches the noun it describes in gender, number and case
Common misconception
'Nicht' is always used to make negative statements in German.
There are two ways of making negative statements: 'nicht' and 'kein'. It is not always obvious when 'kein' should be used to translate negative English statements, e.g., 'I don't have a car' is 'ich habe kein Auto'.
Equipment
A mini whiteboard and pen, together with pen and paper for making notes, would be useful, if available.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.'Du __________ einen Ausflug machen.' Choose the correct verb.
Q2.Match the German and English.
Q3.Match the German and English.
