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.
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.
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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'.
To help you plan your year 9 German lesson on: What do you see? Negation: kein + indefinite article vs nicht + definite article, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 9 German lesson on: What do you see? Negation: kein + indefinite article vs nicht + definite article, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
to build, building
to plan, planning
to paint, painting
to study, studying
to see, seeing
to go, to travel
entry, admission
drive, trip
career
ticket
price
dream