Answers
Oct 04, 2013 - 08:31 AM
Hi Mc Fertl, you are 100% right: the placement of nicht (and the same goes for all other adverbs) can't be put in one rule easily. The Fluenz philosophy is pretty much: one thing at a time. Slowly creating building blocks through the language. That said, it would be helpful to know which lesson and level you are on, so we know how many "building blocks" you have in your toolbox :) I'll answer accordingly.
Oct 04, 2013 - 08:31 AM
Hi Mc Fertl, you are 100% right: the placement of nicht (and the same goes for all other adverbs) can't be put in one rule easily. The Fluenz philosophy is pretty much: one thing at a time. Slowly creating building blocks through the language. That said, iit would be helpful to know which lesson and level you are on, so we know how many "building blocks" you have in your toolbox :) I'll answer accordingly.
Oct 04, 2013 - 10:50 PM
I just completed session 22 of level 1. Am having better luck with finding where to place nicht in a sentence. Repetition has served its purpose to that end. I'm still not completely solid on it though...
Oct 05, 2013 - 07:49 AM
the correct placement of nicht is dealt with in German 4, lesson 4.
Oct 09, 2013 - 04:09 PM
Hi again Mc Fertl, sorry for the delayed response! I'm glad your command of nicht has already improved! Dinalan is right, there's a comprehensive review of German negation in level 4, but you don't have to wait until then. Already at the beginning of level 2 ( session 7) you'll learn a lot more about German negation. Until then here is a summary of what we have taught about nicht up until session 22:
1) (Level 1 session 1)
If you have a sentence with "to be", "nicht" always follows the conjugated form of "to be":
Er ist nicht groß
Das ist nicht schön
Ich bin nicht Isabella
Sie sind nicht Niklas
2) (Level 1 session 16)
Except for "to be", nicht goes at the end of a sentence, or just before the infinitive verb (if there is one):
Ich möchte die Suppe nicht essen/I don't want to eat the soup (before infinitive)
Ich möchte das nicht/I don't want that (no infinitive so it goes at end)
Er kann nicht / He can't (no infinitive so it goes at end)
Möchte er den Saft nicht trinken? (before infinitive)
Ich verstehe Sie nicht / I don't understand (you) (no infinitive so it goes at end)
1) (Level 1 session 1)
If you have a sentence with "to be", "nicht" always follows the conjugated form of "to be":
Er ist nicht groß
Das ist nicht schön
Ich bin nicht Isabella
Sie sind nicht Niklas
2) (Level 1 session 16)
Except for "to be", nicht goes at the end of a sentence, or just before the infinitive verb (if there is one):
Ich möchte die Suppe nicht essen/I don't want to eat the soup (before infinitive)
Ich möchte das nicht/I don't want that (no infinitive so it goes at end)
Er kann nicht / He can't (no infinitive so it goes at end)
Möchte er den Saft nicht trinken? (before infinitive)
Ich verstehe Sie nicht / I don't understand (you) (no infinitive so it goes at end)