Stellung von Adverbien (Where Adverbs Go: TeKaMoLo)
Adverbs and adverbial phrases can stand in several places in a German sentence, but in a statement the conjugated verb always stays in second position. Some rules are very different from English: I often play tennis is Ich spiele oft Tennis, and I'm going to Berlin tomorrow is Ich fahre morgen nach Berlin.
An adverb in first position
When an adverb starts the sentence, the verb follows immediately and the subject comes after the verb; see word order.
Morgens stehe ich um sechs Uhr auf.In the mornings I get up at six.
Jetzt bringt der Kellner das Hauptgericht.Now the waiter is bringing the main course.
Leider habe ich keine Zeit.Unfortunately I don't have time.
Common mistake
Morgen ich fahre nach Wien. is wrong; correct: Morgen fahre ich nach Wien.
In English the subject can follow a time word (Tomorrow I'm going…). In German the verb must be in second position, so the subject moves after it.
oft, gern, immer: after the verb
English puts words like often, always and never before the main verb. German puts them after the conjugated verb.
Ich spiele oft Tennis.I often play tennis.
Sie trinkt immer Tee.She always drinks tea.
Ich spiele gern Tennis.I like playing tennis.
Common mistake
Ich oft spiele Tennis. is wrong; correct: Ich spiele oft Tennis.
The conjugated verb comes second, directly after the subject. The adverb follows the verb.
Time, cause, manner, place: TeKaMoLo
When several adverbials come together, the usual order is: time (temporal: wann?), cause (kausal: warum?), manner (modal: wie?), place (lokal: wo? wohin?). The memory aid is TeKaMoLo. English often puts place before time; German puts time first.
Ich fahre morgen wegen der Arbeit mit dem Zug nach Berlin.I'm going to Berlin by train tomorrow because of work.
Wir gehen heute Abend zu Fuß ins Kino.We're walking to the cinema this evening.
Sie war gestern wegen einer Erkältung zu Hause.She was at home yesterday because of a cold.
Common mistake
Ich fahre nach Berlin morgen. is wrong; correct: Ich fahre morgen nach Berlin.
English usually says to Berlin tomorrow (place before time). In German the time normally comes before the place.
Adverbs and pronouns
Personal pronouns and reflexive pronouns usually come before adverbs. A noun object can come before or after the adverb, depending on what is new or important: Ich habe den Film gestern gesehen. – Ich habe gestern einen Film gesehen.
Ich habe es ihm gestern gegeben.I gave it to him yesterday.
Das Kind wäscht sich gerade die Hände.The child is washing its hands right now.
Die Großeltern geben den Kindern heute Taschengeld.The grandparents are giving the children pocket money today.
Check yourself
Written by: Fatih Ün, German teacher · Last updated: