gar nicht or gar kein?
b1The little word gar strengthens a negation to not at all. Which negation follows obeys the usual rule: before a noun gar kein, otherwise gar nicht.
gar nicht
Strengthens the negation of a verb, adjective or adverb. Interchangeable with überhaupt nicht.
Das gefällt mir gar nicht.I do not like that at all.
gar kein
Strengthens the negation of a noun and is inflected like kein: gar keine Zeit, gar keinen Hunger.
Ich habe gar keine Zeit.I have no time at all.
The mistake
Ich habe gar nicht Zeit.
Ich habe gar keine Zeit.
Before a noun without an article you use kein, not nicht - gar changes nothing about that, it only strengthens whatever would stand there anyway.
Rule of thumb
Delete gar and decide between kein and nicht as usual. Then simply put gar back in front.
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