German word order: where the verb goes and why

German word order rests on one firm rule: in a main clause, the conjugated verb is always the second element. One thing comes first (the subject, a time, an object or a whole clause), then the verb, then everything else. Any other verb parts, such as an infinitive, a past participle or a separable prefix, go to the very end. In a subordinate clause after words like weil, dass and wenn, the conjugated verb moves to the end as well. Yes or no questions start with the verb.

#What is the verb-second rule in German?

In a German statement the conjugated verb, the one that changes with the subject, sits in position two. This is called V2 (verb second). What makes German feel different from English is that position one does not have to be the subject.

The verb fahre never moves. When something other than the subject comes first, the subject simply steps behind the verb. Grammar books call this inversion, but it is just the V2 rule doing its job.

#What counts as position one?

Position one is not one word but one unit. It can be short or long, as long as it belongs together.

The last example is worth a second look. A whole subordinate clause (Wenn ich Zeit habe) fills position one, so the main clause starts straight away with its verb: rufe ich dich an. That is why German has the pattern "verb, comma, verb" so often.

A few small words do not take up a position at all. The conjunctions und, aber, oder, denn and sondern stand outside the sentence, so the count starts after them: Ich bin müde, aber ich komme mit. There is more on this in German conjunctions.

#Where do the other verb parts go?

Many sentences have two verb parts: a conjugated verb and something that completes it. German splits them up. The conjugated verb takes position two, and the second part goes to the end of the clause. The two together form a bracket around the rest of the sentence, often called the Satzklammer (sentence bracket).

English keeps its verbs together (I have worked, I can come). German makes you hold the meaning until the end, which is why you sometimes have to wait for the last word to know what someone actually did. Everything else in the sentence, however long, goes inside the bracket.

#Why does the verb go to the end after weil and dass?

Subordinate clauses follow a different rule. After a subordinating conjunction such as weil, dass, wenn, ob or obwohl, the conjugated verb goes to the end of the clause.

Two details matter here. If there are two verb parts, the conjugated verb comes last of all: weil ich morgen arbeiten muss. And separable verbs join up again: an and kommt become ankommt. Relative clauses work the same way, so der Kollege, der neben mir sitzt also ends with its verb.

This rule is big enough for its own guide, linked at the end of this one. For relative clauses, see German relative clauses.

#How does word order work in questions?

Questions use two patterns, and both are easy once you know the V2 rule.

• W-questions keep the verb in position two. The question word takes position one: Wann fährt der nächste Zug nach Hamburg?
• Yes or no questions put the verb in position one, with the subject straight after it: Hast du morgen Zeit?

Commands with Sie also start with the verb: Rufen Sie mich bitte zurück. A full guide to forming questions is in German question words.

#In what order do the middle parts go?

Between the verb in position two and the end of the clause there is often a lot of information. Its order is more flexible, but a few habits help you sound natural.

1. Pronouns come early, right after the verb and subject: Ich gebe es dir morgen.
2. Time usually comes before place. The common guideline is time, reason, manner, place, known as TeKaMoLo: Ich fahre morgen wegen des Streiks mit dem Auto zur Arbeit.
3. With two nouns as objects, the dative usually comes before the accusative: Ich gebe meiner Kollegin den Schlüssel. With two pronouns it is the other way round: Ich gebe ihn ihr.
4. Nicht has its own rules. It tends to come late in the sentence but before the part it negates. See where nicht goes.

#How does Linota help with word order?

Word order sticks when you see it in many real sentences, not when you memorise a table. Linota's Reading room gives you a short German text at your level every morning, and any word you tap shows its meaning in the sentence where you found it, so you see the verb in position two again and again. In Say it yourself you see a sentence in English and say it in German, then compare your version with the German one, which is exactly where word order mistakes show up. And the writing feedback points out your mistakes and explains them in a short text you write, including a verb in the wrong place.

#The short version

• In a main clause the conjugated verb is always second.
• If something other than the subject comes first, the subject follows the verb.
• Infinitives, participles and separable prefixes go to the end of the clause.
• After weil, dass, wenn and other subordinating conjunctions, the conjugated verb goes to the end.
• Yes or no questions and commands start with the verb.
• In the middle: pronouns early, time before place, nicht before what it negates.

Start with the rule that causes the most trouble: the verb at the end after weil, dass and wenn.