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Negation

The most important negation words are nicht and kein. Nicht is used before predicate nouns. Example:

Nicht is also used before adjectives and adverbs. Examples:

Furthermore, nicht precedes prepositional phrases. Examples:

Nicht comes after verbs. Examples:

Nicht also follows direct objects. Examples:

Nicht also follows time expresions: Examples:

Kein is used to negate nouns that are preceded by a form of the article ein or by no article at all. Examples:

Doch to contradict negative statements

When a negative question is answered with a contrarian answer, the word doch is used. Example sentences:

Temporal negation

Other negative expressions are noch nicht or noch kein (no(t) yet), which negate the word schon (already); and nicht mehr or kein mehr (no more, no longer) which negate the word noch (still). Examples: