What do you see? Negation: kein + indefinite article vs nicht + definite article
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain what I see or don't see, using 'kein' or 'nicht' appropriately to negate words or sentences.
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'.
Teacher tip
To deepen cultural awareness for students, teachers may wish to look for videos of art museums and galleries in German-speaking countries that can be shown in the lesson.
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.
to build, building
to plan, planning
to paint, painting
to study, studying
to see, seeing
to go, to travel
Q3.Match the German and English.
entry, admission
drive, trip
career
ticket
price
dream
Q4.Order the words to say: 'In my free time I play with friends.'
Q5.Write in English: 'das Essen war kalt'.
Q6.Write in German: 'he did a course'.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.'Ich sehe __________ Boot.' Choose the correct missing word.
Q2.Order the words to say: 'I am not going, we have no time.'
Q3.Write in German: 'there are no children'.
Q4.Write in German: 'she is not my sister'.
To help you plan your 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 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.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 German lessons from the Everyday culture: present tense weak and strong verbs unit, dive into the full secondary German curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.