German Word Order: Verb-Second, Questions, and Subordinate Clauses
By Marcus Roth · Applied linguist & Spoklin curriculum leadUpdated 9 min read
German main clauses place the conjugated verb in position 2 regardless of what starts the sentence: 'Heute spiele ich Fußball.' Yes/no questions move it to position 1, subordinate clauses push it to the end, and adverbs follow Time-Manner-Place (TeKaMoLo) order.
English demands subject-first; German demands verb-second. Internalize this single idea and German syntax stops being mysterious.
One rule, four shapes
| Type | Verb position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Statement | position 2 | Wir lernen Deutsch. |
| Yes/no question | position 1 | Lernen wir Deutsch? |
| W-question | after W-word | Wann lernen wir? |
| Subordinate clause | final | ..., weil wir Deutsch lernen. |
TeKaMoLo: the adverb highway
- Time before Cause before Manner before Place
- Ich fahre morgen wegen des Regens mit dem Zug nach Köln.
- Deviating adds emphasis; following it always sounds natural
The subordinate-clause flip
- Ich weiß, dass er heute kommt. (verb at END)
- ..., weil ich müde bin.
- ..., ob sie Zeit hat.
Frequently asked questions
Why does German put verbs at the end sometimes?
Subordinate clauses keep Germanic verb-final heritage: dass, weil, wenn, ob all trigger it.
Can a sentence start with something besides the subject?
Yes — time, place, even objects — as long as the verb stays in position 2.
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