Breakdown of Er besitzt kein Auto und will auch keines.
auch
also, too
und
and
das Auto
the car
kein
no, not any
wollen
to want
besitzen
to own
Questions & Answers about Er besitzt kein Auto und will auch keines.
How does the prefix be- change the meaning of the root verb in besitzt?
The verb besitzen comes from the root sitzen (to sit). The inseparable prefix be- often turns an intransitive verb (one without a direct object) into a transitive one. So, while you just sit (sitzen), you possess or own something (besitzen). Here, the prefix allows the verb to take the direct object kein Auto.
Why does the sentence end with keines instead of kein?
In the first half of the sentence, kein is an article modifying a noun (kein Auto). In the second half, the noun is dropped, so the word must act as a standalone pronoun replacing the neuter noun Auto. When replacing a neuter noun in the accusative case, the pronoun form takes the strong ending -es, resulting in keines (meaning 'not one').
Why doesn't the second clause have a main infinitive verb at the end, like besitzen or haben?
Modal verbs like wollen (here as will) can often stand alone as the main verb in German if the action is completely clear from the context. Since besitzt was just used in the first clause, repeating it or adding haben is unnecessary.
Why does auch translate to 'either' here instead of 'also'?
When auch is used alongside a negative word like kein- or nicht, it translates to 'either' in English. So auch keines translates naturally to 'not one either'.
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