The position of ‘nicht’ in German sentences

Lesson 2: Acquaintance. Activity 4

From this activity you will know how to:

• ask whether your interlocutor comes alone
• introduce your colleagues
• to greet the newcomers
• express your satisfaction

Learn the words and expressions for the dialogue

Pay attention to the form and the usage of the words

1. The word schön can be both an adjective and an adverb. Depending on this, it is translated as “beautiful” or “beautifully”. The same applies to other adjectives and adverbs, that’s why there is only one meaning in the dictionary.

2. The word der Kollege means “colleague”. It is also an official form of address in factories, institutions etc. in the meaning of “coworker”:

   Darf ich vorstellen? – Das ist Kollege Schmidt.
   May I introduce you to someone? – This is (my) coworker Schmidt.
   Kollege Schulz! – Wo ist Kollege Krause?
   Coworker Schulz! – Where is (coworker) Krause?

3. The official name of the FRG – die Bundesrepublik Deutschland – the Federal Republic of Germany. However, die Bundesrepublik is used as a contracted form. In some mass media (press, radio, TV) instead of the name die Bundesrepublik the abbreviation die BRD is used. However, the FRG doesn’t accept this abbreviation.

Remember the following way of word-formation (2 and 4)

der Sekretär secretary + in = Sekretärin secretary (woman)
spanisch Spanish – Spanisch the Spanish language
französisch French – Französisch the French language.

Practise in reading the words

Kommen Sie allein?

Grammar points

1. Unlike the word nein, the negative word nicht is used when we negate not the whole sentence but only a word. It is then placed right before that word. However, if we negate the verb, then we place it at the end of the sentence:

   Das ist nicht Herr Lorenz. – That is not Mr. Lorenz.
   Kommen Sie? – Nein, ich komme nicht.
   Are you coming? – No, I am not coming. (not lit.)

2. Note that some verbs with the root vowel ‘е’ change the vowel on ‘i’ in 3^rd person singular.

   Sprechen Sie Deutsch? – Ja, ich spreche Deutsch.
   Do you speak German? – Yes, I speak German.
   Spricht er auch Deutsch? – Ja, er spricht auch Deutsch.
   Does he speak German too? – Yes, he speaks German too.
   Ich helfe gern. Hilft er auch gern?
   I help gladly. Does he help gladly too?

3. The possessive pronouns mein and Ihr have plural forms ending in -е – meine, Ihre:

   Das ist mein Freund.
   Ist das Ihr Freund?

   Das sind meine Freunde.
   Sind das Ihre Freunde?

4. The names of cities and most countries are used without articles:

   Ich komme aus Österreich. Er wohnt in Berlin (Moskau) etc.

   However, names of some countries are always used with articles:

When the case of a noun changes, the article changes too (die Schweiz → der Schweiz; die BRD → der BRD). We will talk about it later in more details.

The position of ‘nicht’ in a sentence

1. Find out where the person comes from. Ask a question. Answer if you are given the same question.

2. You are interested in whether Mr. Böhme comes from Berlin or not. Ask a question. How would you answer the same question?

3. You speak German. Ask your partner whether the third person speaks German too.

4. You didn’t catch what the person said to you. What question should you ask?

5. Fill in the gaps with the appropriate words from the dialogue.

1. Ich spreche Englisch. Er auch etwas Englisch. 2. Frau Fein ist . 3. Ich komme nicht . 4. Das sind meine . 5. Sie gern. 6. Das ist sehr ! 7. in Berlin!

6. Reconstruct the dialogue by filling in the gaps with the appropriate words.

7. Try to reproduce the dialogue “Kommen Sie allein?” by memory.

Check yourself!

What expressions will you use if you want to:

ask whether your interlocutor comes alone
introduce your colleagues
to greet the newcomers
express your satisfaction