Skip to content
SLAYLANGUAGE SCHOOL
Account

German grammar · Level A1–B1

Word order in German sentences

A German sentence is built around the verb. In a statement the conjugated verb is always in second place: Ich fahre morgen nach Berlin, Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin. The second part of the verb (infinitive, participle, prefix) goes to the end. In subordinate clauses after weil, dass, wenn the conjugated verb also moves to the end.

QuizContents
Contents
  1. The verb in second place
  2. The sentence bracket
  3. Questions
  4. Subordinate clauses: the verb goes last
  5. Adverbials: TeKaMoLo
  6. Common mistakes
  7. Quiz
  8. FAQ

The verb in second place

Position one can hold the subject, a time, a place or an object — but the conjugated verb is always second. If the sentence doesn’t start with the subject, the subject comes straight after the verb (inversion). A “position” is a sentence part, not a word: Am Wochenende counts as one.

One sentence, three openings
Position 1Position 2: verbThe rest
Ichfahream Wochenende nach Berlin.
Am Wochenendefahreich nach Berlin.
Nach Berlinfahreich am Wochenende.

Tip: Und, aber, oder, denn and sondern don’t take up a position: Ich bin müde, aber ich gehe ins Kino — normal order after aber.

The sentence bracket

When the verb has two parts, they form a “bracket”: the conjugated part is second, the other part is last. This happens with the Perfekt (habe … gemacht), modal verbs (kann … kommen), the future (werde … fahren) and separable verbs (stehe … auf).

  • Ich habe gestern einen Film gesehen.I watched a film yesterday.
  • Wir können morgen ins Kino gehen.We can go to the cinema tomorrow.
  • Er steht jeden Tag um sechs auf.He gets up at six every day.

Questions

Questions with a question word (W-Fragen): the question word is first, the verb second. Yes/no questions: the verb comes first, followed by the subject.

  • Wo wohnst du?Where do you live?
  • Wann beginnt der Kurs?When does the course start?
  • Sprichst du Deutsch?Do you speak German?
  • Hast du schon gegessen?Have you eaten yet?

Subordinate clauses: the verb goes last

After weil, dass, wenn, ob, als, obwohl, damit and question words in indirect questions, the conjugated verb goes to the very end of the clause. If the subordinate clause comes first, the main clause starts with its verb: Wenn ich Zeit habe, komme ich.

Main and subordinate clauses
Main clauseSubordinate clause
Ich bleibe zu Hause.…, weil ich krank bin.
Er kommt morgen.Ich weiß, dass er morgen kommt.
Ich habe keine Zeit gehabt.…, weil ich keine Zeit gehabt habe.
Kommst du mit?Er fragt, ob du mitkommst.

Tip: Denn and weil both mean “because”, but denn keeps normal order: …, denn ich bin krank. After weil the verb goes last: …, weil ich krank bin.

Adverbials: TeKaMoLo

With several adverbials, the usual order is TeKaMoLo: Temporal (when?) — Kausal (why?) — Modal (how?) — Lokal (where?).

  • Ich fahre morgen wegen der Arbeit mit dem Zug nach München.Tomorrow I’m going to Munich by train for work.

Common mistakes

The mistakes people make most often — and the right way.

  • Wrong: Morgen ich fahre nach Berlin.

    Right: Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin.

    The verb is second; the subject follows it.

  • Wrong: Ich kann kommen morgen.

    Right: Ich kann morgen kommen.

    The infinitive after a modal goes last.

  • Wrong: …, weil ich bin krank.

    Right: …, weil ich krank bin.

    After weil the verb goes last.

  • Wrong: Ich aufstehe um sieben.

    Right: Ich stehe um sieben auf.

    The separable prefix goes to the end.

  • Wrong: Du sprichst Deutsch?

    Right: Sprichst du Deutsch?

    In a yes/no question the verb comes first.

Word order

Quiz

10 questions: choose the right option — the explanation appears straight away.

  1. Question 1

    Heute _____ ins Kino.

  2. Question 2

    Ich kann heute nicht _____.

  3. Question 3

    Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich müde _____.

  4. Question 4

    _____ du Kaffee?

  5. Question 5

    Wann _____ der Zug?

  6. Question 6

    Ich weiß, dass er Deutsch _____.

  7. Question 7

    Wir _____ um 7 Uhr auf.

  8. Question 8

    Gestern _____ ich viel gearbeitet.

  9. Question 9

    Wenn es regnet, _____ wir zu Hause.

  10. Question 10

    Ich komme nicht, denn ich _____ krank.

Correct: 0 of 10

Read next

FAQ

Didn’t find your answer? Send us a request — we’ll tell you everything.

Why does the verb go at the end in German?

The second part of a two-part verb (infinitive, Partizip II, prefix) goes to the end, and so does the conjugated verb in subordinate clauses. In a main clause the conjugated verb is always second.

What is inversion in German?

When a sentence starts with something other than the subject — a time or a place — the subject moves right after the verb: Morgen **fahre ich** nach Berlin. The verb stays in second place.

Weil or denn — what’s the difference?

Same meaning — “because”. But weil starts a subordinate clause (verb last) and denn a main clause (normal order): …, weil ich krank bin / …, denn ich bin krank.

Other topics

All topicsGerman verb conjugationDer, die, das: German noun gendersGerman irregular verbs

Next step

Keep learning with a mini-course

Short online courses by Slay School teachers: a 15-minute lesson a day with audio, exercises and dialogues, and the words you forget come back on their own.

  • Day 1 is free
  • 15 minutes a day, at your own pace
  • Every word has audio
  • Lifetime access once paid
Start for freeAll mini-courses

All you need to start is an email or a Google account.