A comprehensive overview of how word order changes in German sentences depending on the type—main clauses, yes/no questions, and subordinate clauses—using common conjunctions.
Understanding German sentence order changes is crucial for speaking and writing correctly. German shifts the position of the verb and other elements depending on whether the sentence is a main clause, question, or subordinate clause. This guide explains the rules with examples.
Main Clauses
In a main clause, the finite verb (conjugated verb) is always in the second position—this is called V2 word order. The first position can be the subject, an object, or an adverbial phrase.
- Subject first: Normal word order
- Other element first: The subject follows the verb
- Finite verb: Always second
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Ich kaufe einen Apfel. | I buy an apple. |
| Heute kaufe ich einen Apfel. | Today I buy an apple. |
| Einen Apfel kaufe ich heute. | An apple I buy today. |
Yes/No Questions
In yes/no questions, the finite verb moves to the first position, followed directly by the subject. No question word is used—just the verb fronting.
- Verb: Always first
- Subject: Always second
- No question word: Simple yes/no answer expected
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Kommst du? | Are you coming? |
| Hast du einen Apfel? | Do you have an apple? |
| Bist du heute zu Hause? | Are you at home today? |
Question Word Clauses
When a question begins with a question word (wer, was, warum, wo, etc.), the subject usually follows the verb. The finite verb is still in second position, right after the question word.
- Question word: Always first
- Finite verb: Always second
- Subject: After the verb (can be third or later)
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Wo wohnst du? | Where do you live? |
| Warum bist du müde? | Why are you tired? |
| Was machst du heute? | What are you doing today? |
Subordinate Clauses
In subordinate clauses (introduced by conjunctions like dass, weil, obwohl, wenn), the finite verb moves to the end of the clause. Other elements remain in natural order.
- Subordinator: Clause begins with a conjunction
- Verb: Finite verb goes to the end
- Clause: Can be in the middle or end of the sentence
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Ich glaube, dass er kommt. | I believe that he is coming. |
| Sie bleibt zu Hause, weil sie krank ist. | She stays home because she is sick. |
| Obwohl es regnet, gehen wir spazieren. | Although it’s raining, we’re going for a walk. |
..., weil sie ___ ist.
Choose the correct word order for the subordinate clause: "..., weil sie ___ ist." (sein)
krank
In the subordinate clause with 'weil', the verb 'ist' goes to the end, following the adjective 'krank'.
Multiple Clauses
When a sentence has both a main clause and a subordinate clause:
- Main clause: Finite verb is second
- Subordinate clause: Finite verb is last
- The subordinate clause can come before or after the main clause
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Ich gehe nicht, weil ich müde bin. | I’m not going because I’m tired. |
| Weil ich müde bin, gehe ich nicht. | Because I’m tired, I’m not going. |
| Ich glaube, dass er kommt, aber ich bin mir nicht sicher. | I believe that he’s coming, but I’m not sure. |
Summary
- Main clauses (Aussagesätze): Verb is second
- Yes/no questions (Ja/Nein-Fragen): Verb is first
- Question word clauses (W-Fragen): Question word first, verb second
- Subordinate clauses (Nebensätze): Verb is last
- Multiple clauses: Subordinate clause follows its own rule regardless of main clause order
Understanding these patterns will help you build correct German sentences in every situation!
Which of these correctly summarizes German verb positions? (Main clauses, yes/no questions, question word clauses, subordinate clauses)
Main clauses: verb second, Yes/no questions: verb first, Question word clauses: question word first, verb second, Subordinate clauses: verb last
This summary accurately reflects the standard German word order rules for each clause type.
Flashcards (1 of 15)
- English Example: I buy an apple.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
