Satzbau (Word Order)
German word order is built around the verb. The position of the conjugated verb is fixed, while the other parts of the sentence can move. English keeps subject – verb – object in almost every sentence; German moves the subject but keeps the verb in its place.
Three positions for the verb
| Sentence type | Position of the conjugated verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Statement or question with a question word | second | Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin. |
| Yes/no question or command | first | Fährst du morgen nach Berlin? |
| Subordinate clause | last | …, weil ich morgen nach Berlin fahre. |
Verb second in statements
In a statement the conjugated verb is the second element. The first element can be the subject, but also a time expression, an object or a whole clause; a group of words such as am Wochenende counts as one element. If something other than the subject comes first, the subject follows the verb, usually directly after it.
Ich spiele am Wochenende Tennis.I play tennis at the weekend.
Am Wochenende spiele ich Tennis.At the weekend I play tennis.
Tennis spiele ich nur am Wochenende.Tennis is something I only play at the weekend.
Common mistake
Am Wochenende ich spiele Tennis. is wrong; correct: Am Wochenende spiele ich Tennis.
English allows a time expression + subject + verb. In German the verb must stay in second position, so the subject follows it.
Common mistake
Ich oft spiele Tennis. is wrong; correct: Ich spiele oft Tennis.
In English, words such as often, always, also and never can stand between the subject and the verb (I often play). In German they cannot: the verb stays in second position and the adverb follows it.
The conjunctions und (and), aber (but), oder (or), denn (because) and sondern (but rather) link two main clauses and do not count as an element: Ich bin müde, aber ich kann nicht schlafen. denn and weil both mean because, but only weil sends the verb to the end: Ich bleibe zu Hause, denn ich bin krank. – Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.
The verb bracket
When the verb has two parts, the conjugated part stays in second position and the other part goes to the end of the clause. The rest of the sentence sits between them, as if inside a bracket. This happens with modal verbs, the Perfekt, the future with werden and separable verbs.
Ich kann heute leider nicht kommen.Unfortunately I can't come today.
Wir haben gestern einen Film gesehen.We watched a film yesterday.
Sie wird uns morgen anrufen.She'll call us tomorrow.
Der Zug kommt um acht Uhr an.The train arrives at eight o'clock.
Common mistake
Ich habe gesehen den Film. is wrong; correct: Ich habe den Film gesehen.
English keeps the two parts of the verb together (I have seen the film). In German the participle goes to the end of the clause.
Verb first: yes/no questions and commands
In a yes/no question and in a command the conjugated verb comes first. In a question with a question word it is second, after the question word; more on the page about questions.
Hast du heute Zeit?Do you have time today?
Kannst du mir helfen?Can you help me?
Mach bitte das Fenster zu!Please close the window.
Verb last in subordinate clauses
A subordinate clause depends on a main clause. After subordinating conjunctions such as weil (because), dass (that), wenn (if, when) and ob (whether, if), the conjugated verb goes to the end of the clause. A comma separates the subordinate clause from the main clause. If the subordinate clause comes first, it fills the first position, so the main clause continues with its verb.
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.I'm staying at home because I'm ill.
Ich weiß, dass er morgen kommt.I know that he's coming tomorrow.
Ich weiß nicht, ob er morgen kommt.I don't know if he's coming tomorrow.
Wenn es regnet, bleiben wir zu Hause.If it rains, we'll stay at home.
English if in the sense of whether is ob, not wenn: Ich weiß nicht, ob … (I don't know if …).
Common mistake
Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich will in Berlin arbeiten. is wrong; correct: Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich in Berlin arbeiten will.
After weil the conjugated verb goes to the very end of the clause, after the infinitive.
Time, cause, manner, place
When several details about time, cause, manner and place follow the verb, the usual order is time – cause – manner – place. Learners of German often remember it as TeKaMoLo (temporal, kausal, modal, lokal). English tends to put place before time; German puts time first.
Ich fahre morgen mit dem Zug nach Köln.I'm going to Cologne by train tomorrow.
Wir waren gestern im Kino.We were at the cinema yesterday.
Sie bleibt heute wegen der Erkältung zu Hause.She's staying at home today because of her cold.
Common mistake
Ich gehe ins Kino heute. is wrong; correct: Ich gehe heute ins Kino.
English says "to the cinema today" (place before time). In German the time expression comes before the place.
The order of objects is explained on the page about the dative: a dative noun usually comes before an accusative noun, but an accusative pronoun comes first.
Check yourself
Written by: Fatih Ün, German teacher · Last updated: