German Grammar
German Main Clauses (Hauptsätze)
A main clause (Hauptsatz) is an independent sentence that can stand alone and express a complete thought. The most fundamental rule of German main clauses is the V2 rule. It states that the finite verb (the conjugated part) must be in the second position. The first position can be occupied by various elements, creating flexibility in German word order.
Position 1 + Position 2 (Finite Verb) + Middle Field + End Position
Examples showing different Position 1 elements:
- • Der Mann kauft heute ein Buch. (The man is buying a book today.)
- • Heute kauft der Mann ein Buch. (Today the man is buying a book.)
- • Ein Buch kauft der Mann heute. (A book, the man is buying today.)
- • Ich habe gestern ein Buch gekauft. (I have bought a book yesterday.)
- • Er steht jeden Tag um 7 Uhr auf. (He gets up every day at 7 o'clock.)
Important: Second position doesn't mean "second word." A phrase like "Der alte Mann" (the old man) occupies position 1 as a complete unit.
Inverted Word Order
When something other than the subject begins the sentence, the subject moves after the verb. This creates inverted word order while maintaining the V2 rule.
| Standard Order | Inverted Order |
|---|---|
| Ich gehe morgen ins Kino. | Morgen gehe ich ins Kino. |
| Sie liest das Buch gern. | Das Buch liest sie gern. |
| Wir fahren im Sommer nach Italien. | Im Sommer fahren wir nach Italien. |
Questions and Commands
Yes/no questions and commands are exceptions to the V2 rule. They use V1 positioning, where the finite verb comes first.
| Type | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Statement (V2) | Du liest das Buch. | You are reading the book. |
| Yes/No Question (V1) | Liest du das Buch? | Are you reading the book? |
| Command (V1) | Lies das Buch! | Read the book! |
W-questions (who, what, where, etc.) maintain the V2 structure because the question word occupies position 1.
W-Questions (V2):
- • Was liest du? (What are you reading?)
- • Wann kommst du? (When are you coming?)
- • Wo wohnt sie? (Where does she live?)
Two-Part Verbs (Satzklammer)
Many German verb forms consist of two parts, creating a "sentence bracket" (Satzklammer). The finite verb stays in position 2, while the infinite part goes to the end.
| Type | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Separable Verb | Ich stehe um 6 Uhr auf. | I get up at 6 o'clock. |
| Modal Verb | Sie kann gut Deutsch sprechen. | She can speak German well. |
| Perfect Tense | Wir haben gestern Pizza gegessen. | We ate pizza yesterday. |
| Future Tense | Er wird morgen nach Berlin fahren. | He will go to Berlin tomorrow. |
| Passive Voice | Das Buch wird oft gelesen. | The book is often read. |
→ Learn more about Separable Verbs
→ Learn more about Modal Verbs
→ Learn more about Perfect Tense
Time-Manner-Place Rule
In the middle field of a German sentence, elements typically follow the TeKaMoLo order: Temporal (time), Kausal (reason), Modal (manner), Lokal (place).
| Subject + Verb | Time | Reason | Manner | Place |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ich fahre | morgen | wegen dir | mit dem Zug | nach Berlin. |
This is a general guideline, not a strict rule. German speakers often vary the order for emphasis or style.
Emphasis and Flexibility
German word order allows speakers to emphasize different parts of the sentence by placing them in position 1. The element in first position often represents known information or the topic of discussion.
| Emphasis | Example |
|---|---|
| Neutral | Ich habe das Buch gestern gekauft. |
| Emphasis on Das Buch | Das Buch habe ich gestern gekauft. |
| Emphasis on Gestern | Gestern habe ich das Buch gekauft. |