eppes / näischt
Something and Nothing: Eppes and Näischt
eppes = something, anything · näischt = nothing: Ech hunn eppes fonnt. Hatt huet näischt gesot.
How It Works
Eppes – something, anything
- Ech hunn eppes fonnt. (I found something.)
- Wëlls du eppes drénken? (Would you like something to drink?) – in questions eppes also covers English anything.
- Soss nach eppes? (Anything else?)
Näischt – nothing
- Hatt huet näischt gesot. (She didn’t say anything.)
- Ech hunn näischt gär. (I don’t like anything.)
- fir näischt – for free, or for nothing: Am Liewe kritt een näischt fir näischt!
Näischt replaces net … eppes. English not … anything becomes simply näischt, without net. Näischt stands where the object would stand, before a participle or infinitive at the end.
With an adjective
After eppes and näischt, an adjective is used as a noun: it gets a capital letter and the ending -es (see adjectives used as nouns):
- eppes Neies – something new
- eppes Klenges – something small
- näischt Neies – nothing new
With méi and nach
näischt méi means nothing more (see net méi and nach net), and nach eppes means something else, one more thing.
With a relative clause
After eppes and näischt the relative pronoun is wat, not dat: Dat ass eppes, wat ech net verstinn. See wat (relative).
For people
For persons, the matching words are een or iergendeen (someone) and keen (no one): see jiddereen/keen and iergend-.
Examples (6)
- Ech hunn eppes fonnt.
I found something.
Word by Word: I have something found.
- Hatt huet näischt gesot.
She didn’t say anything.
Word by Word: It has nothing said.
Hatt refers to a woman or girl called by her first name.
- Wëlls du eppes drénken?
Would you like something to drink?
Word by Word: Want you something drink?
- Soss nach eppes?
Anything else?
Word by Word: Otherwise still something?
A standard question in shops.
- Gëtt et eppes Neies? – Nee, näischt Neies.
Is there any news? – No, nothing new.
Word by Word: Gives it something new? – No, nothing new.
The adjective after eppes and näischt is capitalized and ends in -es.
- Am Liewe kritt een näischt fir näischt!
In life you get nothing for nothing!
Word by Word: In the life gets one nothing for nothing!
Common Mistakes
Adding net to näischt.
Ech hunn net näischt gesot.Ech hunn näischt gesot.Näischt is already negative. Net näischt would mean not nothing, which is the opposite of what you want to say.
Writing the adjective after eppes in lowercase without -es.
Gëtt et eppes nei?Gëtt et eppes Neies?After eppes and näischt the adjective becomes a noun: capital letter and the ending -es.
Using dat as the relative pronoun after eppes.
Dat ass eppes, dat ech net verstinn.Dat ass eppes, wat ech net verstinn.After eppes, näischt and alles, the relative pronoun is wat.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Something and Nothing: Eppes and Näischt, learn Choosing Net or Keen.
Related Patterns
- Relative watWat as a Relative Pronoun
A relative clause after eppes or näischt starts with wat.
Level 4 - jiddereen / keenEveryone and No One: Jiddereen and Keen
Keen (no one) is the word for people that matches näischt for things.
Level 2 - net méi / nach netNo Longer and Not Yet
Näischt méi means nothing more.
Level 2 - iergend-Someone, Somewhere: Iergend-
Iergendeen and iergendwou are the matching words for an unknown person or place.
Level 3 - Adjectives Used as Nouns
Eppes Neies and näischt Neies turn an adjective into a noun.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice eppes / näischt in Bubblegum
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