Introduction to Negation with "nichts," "nie," "nirgends/nirgendwo"
In German, negation can be expressed with words like nichts (nothing), nie (never), and nirgends/nirgendwo (nowhere). These words help in forming negative statements to describe the absence of something, a lack of occurrence, or a place where something is not present.
1. "Nichts"
Nichts means "nothing" and is used to negate objects or things, indicating the absence of something.
- Ich habe nichts gesehen. (I saw nothing.)
- Er versteht nichts. (He understands nothing.)
- Wir haben nichts zu tun. (We have nothing to do.)
2. "Nie"
Nie means "never" and is used to negate actions or events, indicating that something does not happen at any time.
- Er raucht nie. (He never smokes.)
- Ich habe nie gelogen. (I have never lied.)
- Sie kommt nie zu spät. (She never comes late.)
3. "Nirgends" / "Nirgendwo"
Nirgends or nirgendwo both mean "nowhere" and are used to describe places where something is not present.
- Ich finde meine Schlüssel nirgends. (I can't find my keys anywhere.)
- Er ist nirgendwo zu finden. (He is nowhere to be found.)
- Das Buch liegt nirgends. (The book is nowhere to be found.)
Examples Comparing Negation with "nichts," "nie," and "nirgends"
| German |
English |
| Ich habe nichts verstanden. |
I understood nothing. |
| Sie kommt nie zu spät. |
She never comes late. |
| Das Handy ist nirgendwo. |
The phone is nowhere. |