German Word Order
Basic rules for sentence structure in German
Key Points
- Conjugated verb always in second position in statements
- Subject can move to third position if something else is first
- Time - Manner - Place order for additional information
- Questions: Verb first (yes/no) or W-word then verb
German Word Order
Main Rule: Verb in Second Position
In German statements, the conjugated verb is always in the second position.
Pattern 1: Subject First
Subject - Verb - Other
- Ich lerne Deutsch. (I learn German.)
- Er wohnt in Berlin. (He lives in Berlin.)
Pattern 2: Time/Place First
Time/Place - Verb - Subject - Other
- Heute lerne ich Deutsch. (Today I learn German.)
- In Berlin wohnt er. (In Berlin he lives.)
Notice: The verb stays in position 2, even when we start with time or place!
Time - Manner - Place (TMP)
When you have multiple pieces of information, use this order:
Time - Manner - Place
- Ich gehe heute (time) mit dem Bus (manner) zur Schule (place).
- Er fährt morgen (time) schnell (manner) nach Hause (place).
Questions
Yes/No Questions
Verb first, then subject:
- Lernst du Deutsch? (Do you learn German?)
- Wohnt er in Berlin? (Does he live in Berlin?)
W-Questions
Question word, then verb, then subject:
- Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?)
- Was machst du? (What are you doing?)
Position of 'nicht' (not)
-
nicht comes after the verb, but before:
- Adjectives: Er ist nicht klein.
- Adverbs: Sie singt nicht schön.
- Prepositional phrases: Ich gehe nicht zur Schule.
-
nicht comes after:
- The verb: Ich verstehe nicht.
- Direct objects: Ich sehe den Mann nicht.
Examples
"Heute spiele ich Fußball."
"Today I play football."
💡 'Heute' is first, verb 'spiele' is second, subject 'ich' is third
"Ich fahre morgen mit dem Zug nach Hamburg."
"I travel tomorrow by train to Hamburg."
💡 Time (morgen) - Manner (mit dem Zug) - Place (nach Hamburg)
"Sprichst du Englisch?"
"Do you speak English?"
💡 Yes/no question: verb first
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ✗ Putting verb in third position like English
- ✗ Wrong order: Place-Time instead of Time-Place
- ✗ Forgetting to invert subject and verb after time/place
Practice Tips
Practice reordering sentences: start with subject, then try starting with time or place. Always check that the verb is in position 2.
Ready to Practice?
Test your understanding of this grammar point with interactive exercises and quizzes.
