Breakdown of Dieses Brot enthält kein Salz.
kein
no, not any
dieser
this / that (fem.: diese, neut.: dieses)
das Brot
the bread
das Salz
the salt
enthalten
to contain
Questions & Answers about Dieses Brot enthält kein Salz.
Why do we negate the material Salz directly with kein instead of using a partitive pronoun like nichts?
When stating the absolute zero quantity of a mass noun (a material or substance), German treats it like an indefinite noun and negates it directly with the negative article kein. You do not need a partitive construction unless you are referring to a fraction of a larger specific whole.
If I wanted to add a quantity, like 'not a single gram of salt', how does the grammar change?
It becomes a partitive apposition: Dieses Brot enthält kein einziges Gramm Salz. The measurement Gramm becomes the direct object in the accusative case, and Salz simply stands next to it in the same case without needing a genitive ending.
Since the current lesson contrasts appositions with the partitive genitive, when would Salz actually take a genitive ending?
A material noun like Salz is generally only put into the partitive genitive after a measurement if it is preceded by an adjective. If you wanted to say 'no gram of added salt', it would be kein Gramm hinzugefügten Salzes. Because the plain word Salz lacks an adjective here, it acts as a partitive apposition instead.
The verb enthalten (to contain) is straightforward here, but what B2-level reflexive construction uses this same verb?
The reflexive verb sich enthalten means 'to abstain' and is one of the rare German verbs that require a genitive object. For example, Er enthält sich der Stimme means 'He abstains from voting' (literally: he abstains himself of the voice).
Learn Dieses Brot enthält kein Salz and more in German
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free