At CEFR level A2, you learn to form negative yes/no questions in German (Kannst du nicht schlafen?, Hast du keine Zeit?) and to answer them correctly. German has three answer particles: ja, nein and doch. The word doch is used to contradict a negative question.
Negative yes/no questions in German have the same word order as positive ones (verb first, then subject), but you add nicht (to negate the action) or kein- (before a noun that would otherwise take ein- or no article).
German uses three answer particles. The choice depends on whether the question is positive or negative, and whether your reality matches the question.
| Frage | Reality positiv | Reality negativ |
|---|---|---|
| Schläfst du? (positiv) | Ja, ich schlafe. | Nein, ich schlafe nicht. |
| Schläfst du nicht? (negativ) | Doch, ich schlafe! | Nein, ich schlafe nicht. |
doch exists because a plain ja would be ambiguous after a negative question. It always contradicts the negative assumption: Hast du keinen Hunger? Doch, ich habe Hunger! · doch never follows a positive question.
Use doch only after a negative question when the positive is actually true. For example: Hast du keinen Hunger? – Doch, ich habe Hunger! After a positive question, the correct affirmative answer is always ja, never doch.
Ja affirms a positive question (Kommst du? – Ja.). Nein denies a question, positive or negative (Kommst du? – Nein. / Kommst du nicht? – Nein, ich komme nicht.). Doch is only used to contradict a negative question and affirm the positive (Kommst du nicht? – Doch, ich komme!).
Start with the conjugated verb, then add nicht (to negate the action) or kein- (to negate a noun). For example: Schläfst du nicht? / Hast du keine Zeit? The word order is the same as for positive yes/no questions; only the negation word is added.
Negative questions often express more than just a request for information. They can signal surprise (Ist es nicht toll?), concern (Bist du nicht müde?), disappointment or annoyance (Kannst du nicht pünktlich sein?) or a polite suggestion (Möchtest du nicht einen Kaffee?). The literal meaning is a yes/no question, but the pragmatic meaning is emotional or social.