10 messages over 2 pages: 1 2
fnord Triglot Groupie Switzerland Joined 5034 days ago 71 posts - 124 votes Speaks: German*, Swiss-German, English Studies: Luxembourgish, Dutch
| Message 9 of 10 28 July 2012 at 10:14pm | IP Logged |
Ich komme nicht um vier Uhr.
Ich kann nicht um vier Uhr kommen.
Ich komme um vier Uhr nicht.
Ich kann um vier Uhr nicht kommen.
Um vier Uhr komme ich nicht.
Um vier Uhr kann ich nicht kommen.
Every of them is correct. If anything, the difference in emphasis is subtle - even native speakers might
(sometimes or casually) be unaware of it. Frankly, I wouldn't worry about it unless you're striving for advanced
fluency. But if I had to put my finger on it...
Ich komme nicht um vier Uhr.
Ich kann nicht um vier Uhr kommen.
I can't really make it a 4 o'clock but I will/might join you later
Ich komme um vier Uhr nicht.
Ich kann um vier Uhr nicht kommen.
If it's going to be 4 o'clock, I won't/can't come (at all)
Um vier Uhr komme ich nicht.
Um vier Uhr kann ich nicht kommen.
(I am very much indifferent on these two - it really depends on context)
Edited by fnord on 28 July 2012 at 10:15pm
2 persons have voted this message useful
| kgoedert Diglot Newbie Brazil Joined 4563 days ago 20 posts - 25 votes Speaks: Portuguese*, English Studies: German, French
| Message 10 of 10 29 July 2012 at 2:38pm | IP Logged |
Well, thank you everyone for the answers. I understand from all this, that it is a subtle difference, the meaning you
want to give to a sentence.
Since I am only studying German for nearly a month (will be one month this week), I will try to keep all of this in
mind.
At least I can see I won't make a very stupid mistake if a put 'nicht' on one positon or the other.
1 person has voted this message useful
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