Wir verschieben den Termin keinesfalls.

Wir verschieben den Termin keinesfalls.
We will by no means postpone the appointment.
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Questions & Answers about Wir verschieben den Termin keinesfalls.

What exactly does the adverb keinesfalls express, and how strong is it?

It is a very strong, categorical negation meaning under no circumstances. It closes the door completely, stronger than a simple nicht. Close equivalents:

  • auf keinen Fall (very common in speech)
  • unter keinen Umständen (formal/emphatic)
  • Related but different: keineswegs (denies the correctness of a claim), nie/niemals (temporal never, not conditional).
Can I move keinesfalls to other positions in the sentence?

Yes, with slight changes in emphasis:

  • Neutral/default: Wir verschieben den Termin keinesfalls.
  • Marked, highlighting the object (as the thing not to be moved): Wir verschieben keinesfalls den Termin.
  • Very emphatic (fronting with inversion): Keinesfalls verschieben wir den Termin. All three are grammatical; choose based on emphasis and tone.
Why is it den Termin and not dem Termin?
Because Termin is the direct object, so it takes the accusative case. Termin is masculine: nominative der Termin, accusative den Termin, dative dem Termin. Here it’s accusative after the verb verschieben (to move/postpone something).
What’s the difference between verschieben, verlegen, and absagen?
  • verschieben: move/postpone (often to a later time). You can add the new time with auf: Wir verschieben den Termin auf nächsten Montag.
  • verlegen: reschedule/relocate (to an earlier or later time; also means to misplace). Wir verlegen den Termin auf 9 Uhr.
  • absagen: cancel. Wir sagen den Termin ab. Don’t mix absagen (cancel) with verschieben/verlegen (change time).
Is verschieben a separable verb? What’s the past participle?
No. Prefix ver- is inseparable. The past participle is verschoben: Wir haben den Termin keinesfalls verschoben.
Why is the present tense used here if we’re talking about the future?
German often uses the present for near-future plans/decisions, especially with context. You can make the future explicit with werden: Wir werden den Termin keinesfalls verschieben. Both are correct; werden is more explicit.
Does Termin mean appointment, meeting, or deadline?
  • Termin: a scheduled time/appointment/meeting slot.
  • Deadline: Frist or Abgabetermin (submission date).
  • Calendar date: Datum. Choose based on context.
This sounds very firm. How can I say it more politely?

Use softer phrasing:

  • Leider können wir den Termin nicht verschieben.
  • Es tut mir leid, der Termin lässt sich nicht verschieben.
  • Ich fürchte, wir können den Termin nicht verlegen. These are firm but courteous.
Can I replace keinesfalls with nie/niemals?
Only if you truly mean a temporal never. Nie/niemals denies that something ever happens (at any time). Keinesfalls denies it under any circumstances (in this situation/decision). For most scheduling contexts, keinesfalls or auf keinen Fall is the natural choice. Wir werden den Termin niemals verschieben sounds like a sweeping, lifelong vow.
Is keinesfalls related to the conjunction falls (if)?
No. keinesfalls is historically kein(es) + Fall(s) = in no case. The falls in keinesfalls is from Fall (case), not the conjunction falls (if).
How do I pronounce the tricky parts?
  • verschieben: sch like English sh; ie is a long ee. Stress on the second syllable: ver-SCHIE-ben.
  • Termin: stress on the second syllable: ter-MIN (long ee).
  • keinesfalls: kei like the vowel in English kite; main stress on KEI: KEI-nes-falls.
What exactly is being negated by keinesfalls here?
The act of moving the appointment at all. It rejects any rescheduling, not only postponing to later. If you want to say “not postpone, but cancel,” you’d contrast explicitly: Wir sagen den Termin ab; wir verschieben ihn nicht.
How does nicht compare here? Could I say Wir verschieben den Termin nicht?

Yes, but it’s weaker and more situational (“we’re not moving it” without the categorical force). gar nicht adds emphasis but is still less absolute than keinesfalls:

  • Wir verschieben den Termin nicht. (not happening, matter‑of‑fact)
  • Wir verschieben den Termin gar nicht. (emphatic, informal)
  • Wir verschieben den Termin keinesfalls. (categorical, formal/firm)
How does this look in subordinate clauses or with different word order?
  • Subordinate clause (verb final): …, dass wir den Termin keinesfalls verschieben.
  • Fronted negation (emphatic): Keinesfalls verschieben wir den Termin. The placement of keinesfalls stays near the verb or before the object; the finite verb follows standard German word order rules.