Level: A1-A2

nicht vs kein

When to Use

kein negates nouns with indefinite article (ein) or no article: 'Ich habe kein Auto.' nicht negates everything else: verbs, adjectives, adverbs, and nouns with definite article. Key rule: kein replaces ein/eine, nicht negates the rest.

Comparison

	nicht	kein
Negates	Verbs, adj., adv., def. nouns	Indefinite / zero-article nouns
Position	Before adjective / at end	Before noun
Replaces	Nothing	ein/eine
With der/die/das	nicht + der/die/das	Not used

Examples

Correct

Ich habe kein Auto.

Wrong

Ich habe nicht Auto.

Rule: kein replaces the missing 'ein': ein Auto → kein Auto

Correct

Das ist nicht mein Buch.

Wrong

Das ist kein mein Buch.

Rule: nicht for possessives and definite nouns

Correct

Ich trinke keinen Kaffee.

Wrong

Ich trinke nicht Kaffee.

Rule: Kaffee without article → kein (with Akkusativ: keinen)

Tips

If you could put 'ein' before the noun → use kein. Otherwise → nicht.

kein declines like ein: kein, keine, keinen, keinem, keiner, keines.

nicht goes: before adjectives/adverbs, before prepositional phrases, at the end for verbs.

Similar Comparisons

der vs die / das

A1-A2

Nominativ vs Akkusativ

A1-A2

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