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German grammar lessons › Level A0 › German word order

The verb comes second

In a German statement the verb is always in position 2

Part of the free A0 German course. Press the speaker next to an example to hear it.

The basic rule of German word order: in a statement, the verb is the second element.

Position 1Position 2: verbThe rest
Ichspieleheute Fußball.
Heutespieleich Fußball.
Fußballspieleich heute.

Anything can go first

Position 1 doesn't have to be the subject. You can start with a time, a place or something you want to stress. The verb stays in position 2, and the subject moves behind it.

English: Today I play football. German: Heute spiele ich Fußball. Never Heute ich spiele.

Position means a part of the sentence, not a word

Position 1 can be several words that belong together: Am Sonntag (on Sunday), Mein Bruder (my brother), In Berlin (in Berlin). The verb comes right after the whole group:

  • Am Sonntag besuchen wir Oma.
  • Mein kleiner Bruder wohnt in Berlin.

und, aber, oder don't count

und (and), aber (but) and oder (or) link two sentences. They stand in front of position 1 and don't change the order: Ich koche, und dann essen wir.

  • Ich spiele heute Fußball.I'm playing football today.
  • Heute spiele ich Fußball.Today I'm playing football.
  • Am Sonntag besuchen wir Oma.On Sunday we're visiting grandma.
  • In Berlin wohnt mein Bruder.My brother lives in Berlin.
  • Morgen habe ich keine Zeit.I don't have time tomorrow.
  • Jetzt lerne ich Deutsch, und dann koche ich.Now I'm learning German, and then I'll cook.
  • Kaffee trinke ich gern.I like drinking coffee.
  • Um sieben Uhr frühstückt Lena.Lena has breakfast at seven.

Questions work differently: see Yes/no questions; ja, nein and doch and W-questions: who, what, where, when, why.

Starting with a time word is very common in German. Practise it: Heute arbeite ich. Morgen fahre ich. Am Abend koche ich.

Common mistakes

  • Heute ich arbeite. The verb must be second: Heute arbeite ich.
  • Am Montag ich habe Deutsch. After a time phrase, verb then subject: Am Montag habe ich Deutsch.
  • Counting words instead of parts: Am Sonntag is one part, so the verb comes right after it.
  • Treating und as position 1: und dann ich koche. dann is position 1: und dann koche ich.

Practice

  1. Which sentence is correct?
    Today I'm working.
    Options: Heute arbeite ich. · Heute ich arbeite. · Ich heute arbeite.
    Show the answer

    Heute arbeite ich. — Heute is position 1, so the verb comes next.

  2. Which sentence is correct?
    In the evening we read.
    Options: Am Abend lesen wir. · Am Abend wir lesen. · Wir am Abend lesen.
    Show the answer

    Am Abend lesen wir. — Am Abend is one part; the verb comes right after it.

  3. Morgen _____ ich nach Hamburg. (fahren)
    Tomorrow I'm going to Hamburg.
    Show the answer

    fahre

  4. Heute _____ Lena. (arbeiten)
    Today Lena is working.
    Show the answer

    arbeitet

In the app, this lesson is taught one idea at a time with the examples read aloud, followed by questions that explain the rule when you get one wrong. It then comes back for review on later days, until you've answered it correctly on three separate days.
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