German Word Order
Build correct German sentences: verb second in statements, verb first in questions and verb last after weil and dass.
German word order is all about the verb. In a statement the conjugated verb is always the second element; everything else arranges itself around it.
Learn three positions (second, first, last) and you can build almost any sentence.
The verb comes second
In a statement the conjugated verb is the second element. Position 1 can be the subject, a time phrase or even an object; if it isn't the subject, the subject moves behind the verb.
Ich trinke morgens Kaffee.
I drink coffee in the mornings.
Morgens trinke ich Kaffee.
In the mornings I drink coffee.
Den Kaffee trinke ich schwarz.
I drink my coffee black.
The sentence bracket
With two verb parts, the conjugated one stays in position 2 and the other goes to the very end. Everything else sits inside this bracket.
Two-part verbs
- Modal verbmuss … arbeiten
- Perfecthabe … gekauft
- Separable verbkommt … an
- Futurewerde … lernen
Ich muss heute lange arbeiten.
I have to work late today.
Wir haben gestern ein Auto gekauft.
We bought a car yesterday.
Der Zug kommt um acht Uhr an.
The train arrives at eight.
Verb first: questions and commands
Yes/no questions and commands start with the conjugated verb. Other verb parts still go to the end.
Hast du morgen Zeit?
Are you free tomorrow?
Kommen Sie bitte herein!
Please come in!
Verb last in subclauses
After weil, dass, wenn, ob and other subordinating conjunctions, the conjugated verb goes to the very end. If the subclause comes first, the main clause starts with its verb.
- weil, dass, wenn, ob, obwohl → verb at the end
- und, aber, oder, denn → no change to word order
- Subclause first → main clause starts with the verb
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.
I'm staying at home because I'm ill.
Wenn es regnet, nehme ich den Bus.
When it rains, I take the bus.
Common mistakes
✗
Morgen ich fahre nach Berlin.✓ Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin.
The verb must stay in position 2.
✗
Ich kann nicht kommen heute.✓ Ich kann heute nicht kommen.
The infinitive goes to the very end.
✗
Ich komme nicht, weil ich habe keine Zeit.✓ Ich komme nicht, weil ich keine Zeit habe.
After weil, the conjugated verb goes last.
Questions learners ask
Is German word order SVO or SOV?
Main clauses are verb-second (V2) and subclauses put the verb last. For learners, think 'verb second, other verb parts at the end'.
Why does the verb sometimes come before the subject?
When something other than the subject takes position 1, the subject moves behind the verb so the verb stays second. This is called inversion.