German grammar: Tun als Hilfsverb

What this grammar point covers

German does not use 'do' as a helper verb for negatives and questions. Instead, word order or 'nicht/kein' is used.

When to use it

Form questions by moving the verb to the first position. Use 'nicht' or 'kein' for negatives.

Key forms

• (no 'do' equivalent)
• nicht / kein for negation
• question word order (verb first)

Examples

Tips

• No extra helper verb is needed; use verb-first for questions.
• Use 'nicht' after the verb for negation.
• At this stage, focus on recognizing question and negative patterns.

Exceptions and edge cases

• The verb 'sein' also uses verb-first for questions and 'nicht' for negatives.