Die Lampe funktioniert gar nicht.

The lamp does not work at all.

Breakdown of Die Lampe funktioniert gar nicht.

• nicht: not
• funktionieren: to work
• die Lampe: the lamp
• gar: at all

Questions & Answers about Die Lampe funktioniert gar nicht.

Why is the article die used before Lampe, and how do I know the gender?

Lampe is a feminine noun in German, so it takes the feminine article die in the nominative singular. In German, all nouns have a grammatical gender (masculine, feminine, or neuter), and die marks feminine singular. Many feminine nouns end in -e, which is a helpful but not absolute clue.

What part of speech is funktioniert, and why does it appear in second position?

funktioniert is the finite verb (3rd-person singular present) of funktionieren (to “function” or “work”). In a German main clause, the finite verb always occupies the second position: slot one can be the subject (Die Lampe), then comes the verb (funktioniert), and then the rest (objects, adverbs, negation).

What does gar contribute in gar nicht, and could I just say nicht instead?

gar is an adverbial intensifier that strengthens nicht, so gar nicht means “not at all.” Saying Die Lampe funktioniert nicht is correct but less emphatic (“doesn’t work”), while gar nicht makes it “doesn’t work at all.” Modern spelling writes them separately (instead of the older variant garnicht).

Can I replace gar nicht with überhaupt nicht, and is there any difference?

Yes. überhaupt nicht also means “not at all.” It’s equally correct; gar nicht sounds a bit more colloquial or emphatic, while überhaupt nicht is neutral but still common.

Why is nicht placed at the end of the sentence?

In a German declarative sentence, negation (nicht) typically follows the verb and any objects or adverbials. Here, with no object, gar nicht (negation + intensifier) naturally sits at the end after funktioniert.

Why do we use funktionieren for a device “working” instead of arbeiten?

German normally uses funktionieren for machines or devices: Das Radio funktioniert, Der Drucker funktioniert. arbeiten is mainly for people (“to work”) or occasionally processes, but isn’t the usual choice for a lamp or device functioning.

How would I change this statement into a yes/no question: “Does the lamp not work at all?”

Invert the verb and subject: Funktioniert die Lampe gar nicht? The finite verb (funktioniert) takes first position, the subject (die Lampe) moves to second, and gar nicht stays at the sentence end.