Nicht vs kein: German negation

The idea

Use kein to negate a noun that would have ein/eine or no article. Use nicht to negate verbs, adjectives or specific parts of a sentence. Kein changes its ending with gender and case. Nicht placement depends on what you negate.

Examples to say aloud

• Ich habe kein Auto.
  I do not have a car.
• Das ist nicht teuer.
  That is not expensive.
• Ich komme heute nicht.
  I am not coming today.

A common mistake

Do not use kein before an adjective by itself. Say nicht teuer. Compare ein Auto with kein Auto.

Try it yourself

Complete: Das ist ___ teuer.

Make your attempt, then open the explanation.

Keep practising

Try KLAR’s first three A1 lessons without signing up. These quick guides are supplementary practice and do not represent a complete A1 course.