German word order: the verb always takes second place
English sentences keep the subject (the person or thing doing the action) in front of the verb. German keeps the verb in a fixed slot instead: the second position. Anything can come first, a time, a place, an object, and the subject simply moves behind the verb to make room.
Short answer: the conjugated verb is element 2 in a statement and element 1 in a yes/no question. A second verb (infinitive or participle) goes to the very end. After weil, dass and wenn, the conjugated verb also moves to the end.
A “slot” can hold several words: Am Montagmorgen (on Monday morning) counts as one element.
Rule 1: the verb is the second element
The verb here means the conjugated verb, the one with the ending that matches the subject (see the present tense). Choose what goes first and watch the subject move.
1Wirwe
2 · verbfahrendrive
3am Samstagon Saturday
4nach Berlinto Berlin
veer FAH-run am ZAHM-stahk nahkh bair-LEEN“We’re going to Berlin on Saturday.”
A few short words do not count as an element and leave the verb where it is: und (and), aber (but), oder (or), denn (because) and sondern (but rather). Ich bin müde, aber ich arbeite. I’m tired, but I’m working.
Rule 2: questions and commands
Yes/no questionVerb first, then the subject.
Kommstcomeduyoumit?along
KOMST doo MIT“Are you coming along?”
Question wordQuestion word first, verb second.
Wowherewohnstlivedu?you
voh VOHNST doo“Where do you live?”
Polite commandVerb first, then Sie.
WartenwaitSieyoubitte!please
VAR-tun zee BIT-uh“Please wait!”
A question word such as wo (where), wann (when) or warum (why) fills slot 1, so the verb is still second.
Rule 3: a second verb goes to the end
When a sentence has two verbs, the conjugated one stays in slot 2 and the other goes to the very end. Everything else sits between them. German grammars call this the sentence bracket (Satzklammer), because the two verb parts enclose the rest of the sentence.
The listener often has to wait until the last word to learn what is actually happening: Ich habe gestern einen Film … could end in gesehen (watched), gekauft (bought) or verloren (lost).
Rule 4: after weil, dass and wenn, the verb goes last
A subordinate clause is a part of a sentence that cannot stand alone, such as “because I’m tired”. In German it starts with a linking word and sends its conjugated verb to the very end. A comma always separates it from the main clause.
Linking word
Means
Example
weil
because
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.I’m staying at home because I’m ill.
dass
that
Ich glaube, dass er heute kommt.I think (that) he’s coming today.
wenn
if, when
Ruf mich an, wenn du Zeit hast.Call me if you have time.
ob
whether, if
Weißt du, ob der Laden offen ist?Do you know if the shop is open?
obwohl
although
Wir gehen raus, obwohl es regnet.We’re going out although it’s raining.
If the subordinate clause comes first, it fills slot 1 of the whole sentence, so the main verb follows straight after the comma: Weil ich müde bin, gehe ich nach Hause. Because I’m tired, I’m going home. The verb meets verb across the comma.
The middle: time, manner, place
Between the verb parts, information about when, how and where usually follows a fixed order: time, then manner, then place. English often does the reverse (“I go to work by bus every day”). In German, “when” comes first.
subjectIchIverbfahregotimejeden Tagevery daymannermit dem Busby busplacezur Arbeitto work
ikh fah-ruh YAY-dun tahk mit dem boos tsoor AR-bite“I go to work by bus every day.”
Where nicht goes
Nicht means “not”. To negate a whole sentence, put it as late as possible: after the object, but before a second verb or a place. To negate one word only, put nicht directly in front of that word.
Kommst du? Wann kommst du? Word order in questions
Yes/no with a participle
Hasthaveduyoudas Buchthe bookgelesen?read
HAST doo das BOOKH ge-LAY-zen · “Have you read the book?”Why:Auxiliary first, participle at the very end.
W-question with a time phrase
Waswhatmachstdoduyouam Wochenende?at-the weekend
VAS MAKHST doo am VO-khen-en-de · “What are you doing at the weekend?”Why:W-word, verb, subject, then the rest.
Indirect: verb last
Weißt du,know youwannwhenerhekommt?comes
VAIST doo, VAN air KOMT · “Do you know when he’s coming?”Why:Inside another sentence, the verb goes to the end.
With a modal
Kannstcanduyoumirmehelfen?help
KANST doo meer HEL-fen · “Can you help me?”Why:Modal first, infinitive last.
Ich gebe dem Kind das Buch: two objects
With two nouns, the dative (to whom) comes before the accusative (what). If the accusative is a pronoun, it jumps to the front.
Two nouns
IchIgebegivedem Kindthe child (dat.)das Buch.the book (acc.)
ikh GAY-be daym KINT das BOOKH · “I give the child the book.”Why:Dative noun, then accusative noun.
Accusative pronoun
IchIgebegiveesit (acc.)dem Kind.the child (dat.)
ikh GAY-be es daym KINT · “I give it to the child.”Why:A pronoun comes before a noun.
Two pronouns
IchIgebegiveesit (acc.)ihm.him (dat.)
ikh GAY-be es EEM · “I give it to him.”Why:Two pronouns: accusative first.
Dative pronoun
IchIgebegiveihmhim (dat.)das Buch.the book
ikh GAY-be eem das BOOKH · “I give him the book.”Why:Pronoun before noun again.