keinem

Keinem is a form of the German determiner kein, used to negate a noun in the dative case. It expresses “to no …” or “not any …” when the noun it accompanies is in the dative. In practical terms, it is used with masculine or neuter singular nouns in the dative, as in Ich helfe keinem Mann or Ich gebe keinem Kind das Buch. The feminine counterpart in the dative is keiner, and for plural nouns the corresponding determiner is keinen.

Declension and usage

Kein declines like other negatives in German. In the dative singular, the form is keim for masculine and neuter nouns (keinem Mann, keinem Kind). For feminine nouns in the dative, the form is keiner (keiner Frau). In the dative plural, the form is keinen, followed by a plural noun in the dative (keinen Freunden, keinen Kindern). In the nominative and accusative, the endings differ: masculine nach dem Muster kein Mann vs. keinen Mann in the accusative, feminine uses keine, neuter uses kein, and plural uses keine in nominative/accusative.

Examples

- Ich helfe keinem Mann. (I don’t help any man.)

- Sie gibt keinem Kind das Spielzeug. (She gives no child the toy.)

- Wir kennen keinen Freunden? Not correct; better: Wir helfen keinen Freunden. (We help no friends.)

Etymology

Kein derives from the same Germanic root as kein, related to Dutch geen and English no, tracing back to Proto-Germanic forms for negation. The form keinem reflects the dative singular masculine/neuter pattern of the adjective-like determiner.

See also

kein, negation in German grammar, German declension patterns for determiners and adjectives.