The idea
Choose kein, keine or keinen from German gender, number and case. For a specified object, use nicht rather than automatically replacing its definite article.
One contrast, not a prediction about every learner
French often replaces an indefinite or partitive article with de after negation. German negates an indefinite noun phrase with kein and its endings; the verb's required case remains in force.
Individual experience, dialect and other languages you know can change which comparisons help. Use the contrast to notice a German choice; do not treat it as a label for a whole group of people.
Repair the transfer
Ich habe nicht von Schlüssel.Ich habe keinen Schlüssel.Choose kein, keine or keinen from German gender, number and case. For a specified object, use nicht rather than automatically replacing its definite article.
Examples
- Ich habe keinen Schlüssel für dieses alte Schloss.I do not have a key for this old lock.
- Wir kaufen heute keine zusätzlichen Getränke.We are not buying any additional drinks today.
- In diesem Raum gibt es kein freies Regal.There is no free shelving unit in this room.
- Sie braucht für die kurze Strecke keinen Wagen.She does not need a car for the short distance.
- Ich nehme den schweren Koffer heute nicht mit.I am not taking the heavy suitcase with me today.
- Ohne gute Beleuchtung sehe ich keine Einzelheiten.Without good lighting I cannot see any details.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic German voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No German device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
Do not generalize a source-language pattern to every German sentence. Choose kein, keine or keinen from German gender, number and case. For a specified object, use nicht rather than automatically replacing its definite article.
Try it yourself
Korrigiere: Ich habe nicht von Schlüssel.
Show answer or example answer
Ich habe keinen Schlüssel.
Ich habe keinen Schlüssel. Choose kein, keine or keinen from German gender, number and case. For a specified object, use nicht rather than automatically replacing its definite article.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: I do not have a key for this old lock.
Show answer or example answer
Ich habe keinen Schlüssel für dieses alte Schloss.
Ich habe keinen Schlüssel für dieses alte Schloss. Choose kein, keine or keinen from German gender, number and case. For a specified object, use nicht rather than automatically replacing its definite article.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: I am not taking the heavy suitcase with me today.
Show answer or example answer
Ich nehme den schweren Koffer heute nicht mit.
Ich nehme den schweren Koffer heute nicht mit. Keep the meaning of the whole sentence while using the German pattern.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Korrigiere: Ich habe nicht von Schlüssel.
Ich habe keinen Schlüssel.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: I do not have a key for this old lock.
Ich habe keinen Schlüssel für dieses alte Schloss.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: I am not taking the heavy suitcase with me today.
Ich nehme den schweren Koffer heute nicht mit.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
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Write three German sentences of your own that follow the pattern of “Ich habe keinen Schlüssel.”. Check each one for the French habit this lesson corrects, then read them aloud.