German Word Order: Verb Second and Verb-Last Clauses

German word order looks strange to English speakers, but it runs on a few reliable rules. Once you know them, sentences begin to make sense.

Rule 1: the verb is second

In a main clause, the conjugated verb always takes the second position, not the second word. The first position can hold the subject, or any other element, and the subject moves to after the verb.

• Ich gehe heute ins Kino. — I'm going to the cinema today.
• Heute gehe ich ins Kino. — Today I'm going to the cinema.
• Ins Kino gehe ich heute. — To the cinema I'm going today.

This is called inversion: when something other than the subject comes first, the verb still comes second, and the subject follows it.

Rule 2: questions

• Yes/no questions: the verb comes first: Gehst du ins Kino?
• W-questions: the question word comes first, then the verb second: Wohin gehst du? Was machst du?

Rule 3: coordinating conjunctions don't change order

Conjunctions like und, aber, oder, denn, sondern connect two main clauses, and don't affect word order:

• Ich bleibe zu Hause, denn ich bin müde.
• Er kommt, aber sie bleibt.

Rule 4: subordinate clauses send the verb to the end

In a subordinate (dependent) clause, the conjugated verb goes to the end. Common subordinating conjunctions: weil (because), dass (that), wenn (if, when), ob (whether), obwohl (although), als (when), damit (so that), während (while), bevor (before), nachdem (after).

• Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich müde bin. — I'm staying at home because I'm tired.
• Ich weiß, dass er kommt. — I know that he's coming.
• Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. — If it rains, I stay at home.

Note that when the subordinate clause comes first, the main clause starts with the verb: Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. (The whole clause counts as position one, so the verb comes second, before ich.)

Rule 5: two verbs

When there are two verbs (modal + infinitive, or auxiliary + participle), the conjugated verb is second, and the other goes to the end. This makes a "bracket" (Satzklammer):

• Ich will heute ins Kino gehen.
• Ich habe gestern einen Film gesehen.
• Er ist nach Berlin gefahren.

Everything else fits inside the bracket.

Rule 6: time, manner, place

When you have several adverbial parts in the middle of a sentence, the typical order is Time – Manner – Place (TeKaMoLo in German, for temporal, kausal, modal, lokal):

• Ich fahre morgen mit dem Zug nach Berlin. — I'm going to Berlin by train tomorrow. (morgen = time, mit dem Zug = manner, nach Berlin = place)

Rule 7: objects

Pronouns come before nouns: Ich gebe es dem Mann. With two nouns, dative comes before accusative: Ich gebe dem Mann das Buch.

Rule 8: nicht

Nicht usually comes at the end (negating the verb) or before the word it negates: Ich komme nicht. Ich komme nicht heute. (See our negation article.)

Why it matters

Case endings show who does what, so German word order is more flexible than English for emphasis. But the verb position is strict.

Practice sentences

• Start a sentence with Morgen, Leider, Am Wochenende, and check the verb comes second.
• Rewrite five simple sentences with weil.

Common mistakes

• Putting the verb third after a fronted element: Heute ich gehe.
• Leaving the verb in the middle of a subordinate clause: weil ich bin müde.
• Putting the infinitive too early.

Tips

1. Say the rule aloud: "verb second, verb last in subordinates".
2. Underline verbs in German texts.
3. Practise with conjunctions.
4. Read aloud for rhythm.

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