A1 foundations · Lesson 7

Negation with nicht and kein

Negate a quality or action with nicht and an indefinite noun with kein.

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What you will learn

Negate a quality or action with nicht and an indefinite noun with kein.

Negation with nicht and kein

Use kein to negate an indefinite noun or a noun without an article: ein Auto → kein Auto, eine Tasche → keine Tasche, Bücher → keine Bücher. Its form depends on gender, number and case. Use nicht to negate a quality, an action or a specific part of the sentence: nicht teuer, nicht heute. In Ich komme nicht it comes at the end. Its position depends on what you negate.

Examples

Ich habe kein Auto.

Meaning

I do not have a car.

Die Tasche ist nicht teuer.

Meaning

The bag is not expensive.

Wir kommen nicht heute, sondern morgen.

Meaning

We are coming tomorrow, not today.

Lesson exercises

A1 · 10

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Exercise 1 / 10

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Das ist ___ Auto. (ein Auto)

Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer

Correct answer: kein

Why? Auto is neuter here: kein Auto.

Exercise 2 / 10

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Das ist ___ Tasche. (eine Tasche)

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Correct answer: keine

Why? Tasche is feminine: keine Tasche.

Exercise 3 / 10

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Das ist ___ Stuhl. (ein Stuhl)

Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer

Correct answer: kein

Why? After ist the noun is nominative here: kein Stuhl.

Exercise 4 / 10

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Die Wohnung ist ___ groß.

Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer

Correct answer: nicht

Why? Negate the adjective groß with nicht.

Exercise 5 / 10

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Das sind ___ Bücher. (Bücher im Plural)

Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer

Correct answer: keine

Why? Use keine Bücher for this plural.

Exercise 6 / 10

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Ich trinke ___ Kaffee. (überhaupt keinen)

Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer

Correct answer: keinen

Why? Kaffee is masculine and a direct object: keinen Kaffee.

Exercise 7 / 10

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Kommst du? — Nein, ich komme ___.

Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer

Correct answer: nicht

Why? Use nicht to negate coming here.

Exercise 8 / 10

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Wir kommen ___ heute, sondern morgen.

Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer

Correct answer: nicht

Why? Put nicht before heute to negate that time specifically.

Exercise 9 / 10

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Der Tee ist kalt. → Negation

Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer

Correct answer: Der Tee ist nicht kalt.

Why? Put nicht before the adjective kalt.

Exercise 10 / 10

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Ich habe ___ Zeit.

Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer

Correct answer: keine

Why? Zeit is feminine: keine Zeit.

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Grammar references for further reading

Explanations, examples and exercises were created for WikiGerman. An introduction to A1, not a complete course.

Content last reviewed: 2026-11-03

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