Breakdown of Suchst du ein Feuerzeug? Ich habe leider keins.
ich
I
ein
a, an (eine)
du
you (informal singular)
haben
to have
suchen
to look for
leider
unfortunately
keiner
none / not one (sister forms: keins, keine)
das Feuerzeug
the lighter
Questions & Answers about Suchst du ein Feuerzeug? Ich habe leider keins.
Why is it keins and not just kein?
When kein comes right before a noun, it acts as an article (like in kein Feuerzeug). But here, it completely replaces the noun to mean "none". When it acts as a standalone pronoun replacing a neuter noun, it takes the -s ending, becoming keins (which is short for keines).
Why do we use the neuter form keins instead of keinen or keine?
A replacement pronoun must match the gender of the noun it replaces! It is replacing Feuerzeug, which is a neuter noun (das Feuerzeug). Since it is the direct object of the verb habe (I have), it is in the accusative case. The neuter accusative pronoun for "none" is keins.
Is there an easy way to remember that Feuerzeug is a neuter noun?
Yes! Feuerzeug is a compound word made from das Feuer (the fire) and das Zeug (the stuff or gear). German compound nouns always take the gender of their final word. Since it is das Zeug, the whole word is neuter: das Feuerzeug (literally "fire stuff").
Could I change the word order and say Ich habe keins leider?
It is much more natural to say Ich habe leider keins. In German, adverbs like leider (unfortunately) typically prefer to sit close to the conjugated verb (habe) and come before the direct object or pronoun (keins).
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