Chapter 36: Verb Position
Understanding where the verb goes in different sentence types is crucial to mastering German grammar. Unlike English, German is a verb-second (V2) language, but it also changes the position based on sentence types like statements, questions, commands, or subordinate clauses.
📍 Overview: German Sentence Structure
| Sentence Type | Verb Position Rule | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Main Clause | Verb in 2nd Position | Ich lerne Deutsch. |
| Yes/No Question | Verb in 1st Position | Lernst du Deutsch? |
| W-Question | Verb in 2nd Position | Warum lernst du Deutsch? |
| Command (Imperative) | Verb in 1st Position | Lern Deutsch! |
| Subordinate Clause | Verb at the End | Ich glaube, dass er Deutsch lernt. |
🧱 1. Main Clauses (Hauptsätze)
German follows the verb-second (V2) rule in main sentences. The first position can be the subject or another element (like time), but the verb always stays second.
✅ Examples:
- Ich lerne Deutsch.
- Heute lerne ich Deutsch.
- In der Schule sprechen wir Deutsch.
🧠 Tip: When something other than the subject is in position 1, the subject comes right after the verb (position 3).
❓ 2. Yes/No Questions (Entscheidungsfragen)
In yes/no questions, the verb comes first, followed by the subject.
✅ Examples:
- Lernst du Deutsch?
- Kommt sie aus Berlin?
- Ist das dein Buch?
❓ 3. W-Questions (Information Questions)
In W-questions (who, what, where...), the W-word comes first, and the verb is still in second position.
✅ Examples:
- Was machst du?
- Wo wohnst du?
- Wann beginnt der Kurs?
🗣️ 4. Imperative Sentences (Commands)
The verb comes first when giving commands.
✅ Examples:
- Lern Deutsch!
- Komm bitte her!
- Geh nach Hause!
🔗 5. Subordinate Clauses (Nebensätze)
In subordinate clauses (introduced by dass, weil, wenn, ob, obwohl, etc.), the conjugated verb goes to the end.
✅ Examples:
- Ich weiß, dass du Deutsch lernst.
- Er sagt, dass er keine Zeit hat.
- Wir bleiben zu Hause, weil es regnet.
🧠 Tip: Subordinate clauses do not follow the verb-second rule.
🧱 6. Coordinating Conjunctions (und, oder, aber, denn)
These do not change the word order; the second clause also follows V2.
✅ Examples:
- Ich lerne Deutsch und ich spreche Englisch.
- Er kommt spät, aber er bringt Pizza.
🔁 7. Time-Manner-Place + Verb Position
German loves the order: Time – Manner – Place, and this can come before the verb to emphasize it, but the verb still stays in second position.
✅ Examples:
- Am Montag spiele ich Fußball.
- Mit Freude lerne ich Deutsch.
🧩 Practice Exercise
Mark the verb and identify its position:
- Heute lerne ich Deutsch.
- Lernst du Deutsch?
- Warum kommt er nicht?
- Ich denke, dass sie nett ist.
- Lies das Buch!
📄 Summary Cheat Sheet
| Type of Sentence | Position of Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Statement | 2nd position | Ich lerne Deutsch. |
| Yes/No Question | 1st position | Lernst du Deutsch? |
| W-Question | After question word | Warum lernst du Deutsch? |
| Imperative | 1st position | Komm bitte! |
| Subordinate Clause | Verb at the end | … dass er Deutsch lernt. |
| After Time/Manner | Still 2nd position | Heute lerne ich Deutsch. |
🎯 Learning Tips
- Underline verbs in your textbook and check their position.
- Practice reordering sentences using different elements in position 1.
- Use apps like Anki, Quizlet, or German word order games for practice.
🎧 Suggested Listening & Audio Practice
Search on:
- DW – Deutsch Lernen (Nicos Weg)
- YouTube: “German Verb Position Explained A1”
- Podcasts: Slow German, Coffee Break German