German A1.16 Listening Practice: Negate The Object With Kein
German A1 listening practice with audio, transcript, key phrases, and a speaking challenge for negate the object with kein.
Podcast listening is in beta while creation and discussion tools are refined. This published chapter includes its complete segmented audio and transcript.
Level
A1.16
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
21 segments
What to notice while you listen
What you'll understand
Say that the speaker does not have a familiar object.
Negate an accusative noun phrase with kein and choose keinen only for the masculine direct object.
New pattern
kein as noun-phrase negation, following the known ein-word pattern
Practice aloud after listening
Ich habe keinen Schlüssel. Ich habe das Buch.
I do not have a key. I have the book.
A short German listening chapter with transcript.
Say that there is no object to count or possess by using the negative member of the ein-word family.
Read while you listen.
1. Hanna · Teacher
Welcome to German practice! I'm Hanna. Today, we'll learn how to negate nouns using 'kein'. Let's listen to Felix and Clara.
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2. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Ich habe keinen Schlüssel.
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3. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Ich habe keine Tasche.
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4. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Ich habe das Buch.
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5. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Ich habe kein Buch.
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6. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Ich habe keine Bücher.
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7. Hanna · Teacher
Let's break that down. Felix said: 'Ich habe keinen Schlüssel.' This means 'I have no key.'
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8. Lukas · Student
Why did Felix use 'keinen' instead of 'kein'?
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9. Hanna · Teacher
Because 'Schlüssel' is masculine, 'der Schlüssel'. A masculine direct object takes 'keinen'.
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10. Hanna · Teacher
Next, Clara said: 'Ich habe keine Tasche.' This means 'I have no bag.'
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11. Lukas · Student
Is 'keine' used because 'Tasche' is feminine?
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12. Hanna · Teacher
Exactly, Lukas! Feminine nouns like 'die Tasche' take 'keine'.
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13. Hanna · Teacher
Then Felix said: 'Ich habe das Buch.' This means 'I have the book.'
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14. Lukas · Student
So he's stating what he has rather than negating it?
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15. Hanna · Teacher
Yes, 'das' is the definite article 'the' for neuter nouns like 'das Buch'.
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16. Hanna · Teacher
After that, Clara said: 'Ich habe kein Buch.' This means 'I have no book.'
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17. Lukas · Student
Why does she use 'kein' here without an ending?
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18. Hanna · Teacher
Because 'das Buch' is neuter, and neuter direct objects take 'kein'.
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19. Hanna · Teacher
Finally, Felix said: 'Ich habe keine Bücher.' This means 'I have no books.'
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20. Lukas · Student
Do all plural nouns use 'keine' as well?
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21. Hanna · Teacher
Yes! Plural nouns like 'Bücher' always take 'keine'. Great job practicing today!
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