How Do You Use 'kein/keine/kein' for Negation?
In German, 'kein/keine/kein' negates nouns and means 'no' or 'not any.' It must agree with the noun's gender and case, making it similar to the indefinite article 'ein/eine/ein' but with a negation twist. Use 'kein/keine/kein' to directly negate the noun itself, not the verb.
'kein/keine/kein' is the negation of nouns and must agree in gender and case: masculine nominative 'kein', feminine 'keine', neuter 'kein', etc. It means 'no' or 'not any' and replaces the indefinite article.
- •Masculine: kein Mann (no man)
- •Feminine: keine Frau (no woman)
- •Neuter: kein Kind (no child)
- •Masculine: keinen Mann (no man)
- •Feminine: keine Frau (no woman)
- •Neuter: kein Kind (no child)
Step-by-step worked examples
Negate: Ich habe einen Hund.
The noun 'Hund' is masculine accusative. Replace 'einen' with 'keinen'. Answer: Ich habe keinen Hund. (I have no dog.)
Negate: Sie trinkt eine Tasse Kaffee.
The noun 'Tasse' is feminine accusative. Replace 'eine' with 'keine'. Answer: Sie trinkt keine Tasse Kaffee. (She drinks no cup of coffee.)
Negate: Das ist ein neues Auto.
The noun 'Auto' is neuter nominative. Replace 'ein' with 'kein'. Answer: Das ist kein neues Auto. (That is no new car.)
Flashcards
Quick quiz
Q1.Negate: Ich habe einen Bruder.
Q2.Complete: Das ist ... Apfel.
Q3.Negate: Wir haben eine Katze.
Q4.Which negation negates a noun?
The full card deck, worked steps and AI-tutor support for “How Do You Use 'kein/keine/kein' for Negation?” are in Notek — study by hand before your exam.
Common mistakes
Using 'nicht' to negate nouns. — Correct: Use 'kein/keine' for nouns; 'nicht' is for verbs and adjectives.
Forgetting to match gender and case with 'kein/keine'. — Correct: 'kein/keine' must agree with the noun's gender and case, just like definite articles.
Confusing 'kein' (masculine nominative) with 'keinen' (masculine accusative). — Correct: Case matters: nominative 'kein', accusative 'keinen'.
Using 'kein' with plural nouns. — Correct: Plural always uses 'keine', regardless of gender: keine Tische (no tables).
FAQ
What is 'kein/keine/kein' in German?
'kein/keine/kein' negates nouns and means 'no' or 'not any.' It replaces the indefinite article and agrees with gender and case.
When do you use 'kein' vs. 'nicht'?
Use 'kein/keine' for nouns; use 'nicht' for verbs and adjectives.
Does 'kein' change with case?
Yes: nominative 'kein', accusative 'keinen', dative 'keinem', genitive 'keines' (masculine).
What about plural?
Plural always uses 'keine' regardless of gender: keine Tische, keine Frauen, keine Kinder.