Put neutral nicht inside the verbal bracket
With a simple finite verb and no following predicate material, nicht often appears near the end: Ich verstehe die Frage nicht. With an infinitive, participle or separable prefix, it normally precedes that closing verbal material: Ich kann heute nicht kommen. Ich habe die Datei nicht gespeichert. Ich rufe heute nicht an. So “nicht is always the final word” fails as soon as the bracket is visible.
Predicate adjectives and closely connected complements also remain after nicht: Der Raum ist nicht frei. Nora wohnt nicht in Bonn. In a subordinate clause, the final verb group follows: weil ich die Datei nicht gespeichert habe. These are usable neutral patterns, not a rule that every object and adverb has one fixed position.
Make the rejected alternative clear
For an explicit contrast, place nicht before the focused expression and support it with context or stress: Wir treffen uns nicht am Montag, sondern am Dienstag. rejects Monday. Nicht Nora hat den Raum gebucht, sondern Minh. corrects the person. Do not move nicht randomly and assume the message remains identical.
Scope can change a quantity claim: Nicht alle kommen. says that the whole group will not attend; some may come. Keiner kommt. says that nobody comes. Negating “all” is not the same claim as asserting “none”. Read the full expression, not only the negative word.
Check the construction in context
Choose your answer before opening the explanation. Check the whole phrase as well as the form.
5. Place nicht neutrally: Ich habe die Datei gespeichert.
Ich habe die Datei nicht gespeichert. Nicht comes before the closing participle.
6. Place nicht before the predicate adjective: weil der Raum frei ist.
weil der Raum nicht frei ist. Nicht precedes frei; the finite verb remains final.
7. Does Nicht alle kommen. mean nobody comes?
No. It denies that everyone comes. To say nobody, use Keiner kommt. or Niemand kommt..
Start with the topic overview
Nicht or kein: choosing and inflecting German negation · Find another grammar topic
Questions about this topic
Does nicht always go at the very end?
No. Infinitives, participles, separated prefixes, predicate adjectives and some complements can follow it. Context and focus also affect its position.
Sources and further learning
- IDS: Negation
- IDS: Gesamtabfolge der Komplemente und Supplemente im Mittelfeld
- IDS: Flexion der Artikel
- IDS: Negation — Terminologie
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