Negating modal verbs
With modal verbs, nicht is placed before the The part of the verb found in the dictionary. It is the basic form of a verb without a subject, and the equivalent of English 'to...' verbs, and usually ends in -en, -n, -ern, -eln in German, eg spielen - to play. or The infinitive form of the verb (to/zu + simple form of the verb) together with a direct object or an adverb, eg to fix the tap; to run quickly; to fix the tap quickly. , eg:
- Ich kann es verstehen. – I can understand it. > Ich kann es nicht verstehen. – I cannot understand it.
Here, verstehen is the infinitive.
- Ich will ins Bett gehen. – I want to go to bed. > Ich will nicht ins Bett gehen. – I do not want to go to bed.
Here, ins Bett gehen is the infinitive phrase.
Direct object
The negative word nicht usually comes after the The direct object of the sentence is the person or thing being 'done' by the verb. It is also known as the accusative case.if there is one in the sentence.
Look at these sentences where den Apfel is the direct object, also known as the accusative:
- Ich esse den Apfel. – I eat the apple. > Ich esse den Apfel nicht. – I do not eat the apple.
Question
Make these sentences negative by adding nicht, then translate them.
- Ich kann ins Freibad gehen.
- Er mag das neue Buch.
- Er darf auf die Party gehen.
- Er kann nicht ins Freibad gehen. – He cannot go to the open air swimming pool.
- Er mag das neue Buch nicht. – He does not like the new book.
- Er darf nicht auf die Party gehen. – He is not allowed to go to the party.
auf die Party gehen is the infinitive phrase.
Did you know?
There are two restaurants in Switzerland called blinde Kuh. This is the German name for the game 'Blind man's bluff', but can be translated literally as 'blind cow'.
The restaurants are unusual because all the waiting staff are visually impaired or blind, and diners are served food in complete darkness, so no one can see their food when they're eating - man kann das Essen nicht sehen.
Switzerland was the first country in the world to introduce these so-called 'dark restaurants', but similar eateries have subsequently been opened in other cities around the globe.
Diners have to rely on only four of their five senses, and are often surprised that they can't tell the difference between various ingredients. You can recreate the 'dark restaurant' dining experience by eating while blindfolded.
