In German, the finite verb together with other verbal elements forms the Satzklammer. The left bracket (linke Klammer) usually occupies position 2 and carries the inflection. The right bracket (rechte Klammer) typically appears at the end of the sentence and contains infinitives, participles, modal verb complements (Modalverbergänzungen) or separable prefixes. The Satzklammer frames the Mittelfeld constituents.

A German sentence is divided into Vorfeld, linke Klammer, Mittelfeld, and rechte Klammer. The Vorfeld can be a sentence part and sits before the linke Klammer. The Mittelfeld contains the remaining sentence parts between the left and right Klammer. The rechte Klammer stands before the Nachfeld, which can accommodate, for example, Nebensätze or Nachträge.

In the German Aussagesatz, the finite verb is in position 2. The Vorfeld occupies position 1 and can be a subject, object, adverbial, or another sentence element. The typical basic order is Subjekt – Verb – Mittelfeld. In Verbzweitsätzen, the verb remains in 2, even if another sentence element is fronted.

In Nebensatz, the finite verb is typically at the end of the sentence. Introductory elements such as dass, weil, wenn, or relative pronouns open the Nebensatz and form the linke Klammer. The rechte Klammer is formed by the finite verb, possibly after non-finite parts. In Nebensatz, the internal sentence structure remains, but the verb-final position dominates.

The Mittelfeld contains typical sentence parts such as objects, adverbials, predicative and negation. A common order in the Mittelfeld is: pronouns before nouns, tempus before base, modality before direction, negation before information focus. German allows flexibility, but information structure and weighting influence the arrangement. Short or familiar elements often appear earlier in the Mittelfeld.

With compound tenses, modal verbs, and infinitives with zu, verb groups form. The finite verb stays in the left Klammer, the other verb parts form the right Klammer. In Perfekt, the auxiliary verb sits in position 2 (in main clauses) and the Partizip II at the end of the sentence. In infinitive constructions with zu, zu stands with the infinitive in the right Klammer.

Separable verbs are split in the main clause: the stem with inflection remains as the finite form in the left Klammer, the prefix moves to the end of the sentence as the right Klammer. In Nebensatz, the verb remains undivided and sits at the end of the sentence. The separation follows the Satzklammer, not the meaning of the prefix.

In decision questions, the finite verb is in position 1. In Ergänzungsfragen, the question word is in position 1 and the verb in position 2, analogous to the verb-second position in the Aussagesatz. The remaining sentence parts follow in the Mittelfeld. Even in questions, the Satzklammer remains intact, especially with Verbgruppen.

In the Mittelfeld, Personalpronomen usually stand before Nominalphrasen. Typical order is: Subjektpronomen, Reflexivpronomen, Dativobjekt, Akkusativobjekt, then Nomen and longer Ergänzungen. Adverbien can be organized by functional groups: Satzadverbien early, then Temporal, Kausal, Modal, Lokal. The exact sequence depends on information structure and weighting.

Nicht stands in the Mittelfeld and positions itself before the element that is negated. In full-sentence negation, nicht typically appears after the verb and before the end of the Mittelfeld. When negating parts of a sentence, nicht appears immediately before the relevant sentence part. Kein negates a noun and often replaces an indefinite article.

The central order is: Verb at 2 in the Hauptsatz, Verb at the end in the Nebensatz, Satzklammer with Mittelfeld in between. The Vorfeld carries a sentence element and steers focus; the brackets govern the structure. Flexibility in the Mittelfeld is regulated by pronouns, adverbials, and negation. Secure sentence structure arises from the consistent application of these core rules.