German Grammar Explained /
Words for negation
Words for negation are words that are used as negative forms of indeterminate pronouns and adverbs.
Indeterminate articles have negative variations of a standard form:
ein
a | → | kein
none |
eine | → | keine |
ein | → | keine |
For pronouns and adverbs, there are a few more, and these vary:
Personen:
People | jemand/alle
someone/everyone | → niemand
no one |
Sachen:
Things: | etwas, alles
some, all | → nichts
none |
Zeit:
Time: | schon/bereits
already | → noch nicht
not yet |
| schon/
bereits (ein)mal
already | → noch nie
not yet |
| immer
always | → nie/niemals
never |
| (immer) noch
still | → nicht mehr/
nie mehr
not anymore/never again |
Ort:
Place: | irgendwo/
überall
somewhere/everywhere | → nirgendwo/
nirgends
nowhere |
| irgendwohin
to somewhere | → nirgendwohin
to nowhere |
It is a good idea to familiarise yourself with these words, as they are used a lot in German. They will quickly become a part of your vocabulary :D