what is the difference between "keine" and "nicht"
Also could you clarify for me plz. " ich sagte ihnen, es nicht zu tun". The part that negates the sentence would be "....not to do it" . In German would it always directly translate to ".....it not to do" ? in similar sentences.

Question

what is the difference between "keine" and "nicht"
Also could you clarify for me plz. " ich sagte ihnen, es nicht zu tun".  The part that negates the sentence would be "....not to do it" . In German would it always directly translate to ".....it not to do" ? in similar sentences.

Answer

Hallo J.leon, 
I am happy to answer your question as I just learned this with my italki teacher last week.  The rule is simple: "keine" (or kein, or keinen) is used with nouns, and "nicht" is used with adjectives and verbs!  Just remember this and you will soon be able to hear which is better in the context.  
z.B.: Ich lese nicht, ich schlafe.  Ich habe kein Geld.  Ich spreche nicht so gut.  Viel Glueck!

Answer

You use ''keine'' when you want to say ''no...'' and ''nicht'' when you want to say ''not''.
EXAMPLE:

Ich sagte ihm,er soll keine Äpfel kaufen.= I said to him,he should buy no apples.
Ich sagte ihm,er soll nicht Äpfel kaufen. = I said to him,he should not buy apples.

( Both are correct,but the first one sounds much better then the second)

I hope you can understand what I mean, my English is not perfect. But it's not a very big difference between ''keine'' and ''nicht''.

Answers · 3

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