Declarative sentences in German (Aussagesätze) explain how statements are formed with standard word order and end with a period.
Declarative sentences (Aussagesätze) are used in German to make statements, provide information, or express facts. They follow a straightforward word order rule, which is fundamental for constructing clear and grammatical sentences.
- Purpose: to state facts, describe situations, or express opinions
- Word order: the finite verb is always in the second position
- Example: Ich lerne Deutsch. (I am learning German.)
Basic Word Order
The key rule for German declarative sentences is that the finite verb (conjugated verb) always comes in the second position. The subject often comes first, but other elements can also occupy the first position for emphasis or style.
- Subject + Verb + Object: Ich lese ein Buch. (I am reading a book.)
- Time + Verb + Subject: Heute liest sie ein Buch. (Today she is reading a book.)
- Object + Verb + Subject: Ein Buch liest er. (He is reading a book.)
Other sentence parts (objects, adverbs, etc.) follow after the verb. The sentence ends with a period.
Verb Position
- The finite verb is always in position 2.
- Infinite verbs and separable prefixes go to the end of the sentence.
| Position | Element | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ich (Subject) | Ich spiele Fußball. | I play soccer. | |
| spiele (Finite verb) | Ich spiele Fußball. | I play soccer. | |
| + | Fußball (Object) | Ich spiele Fußball. | I play soccer. |
Time, Manner, Place
- German often follows the time-manner-place order for adverbs and other sentence elements.
- This is a common sequence for added detail.
| Order | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| Time | Ich gehe heute... | I am going today... |
| Manner | Ich gehe heute schnell... | I am going quickly today... |
| Place | Ich gehe heute schnell zum Markt. | I am going quickly to the market today. |
What is the standard order for time, manner, and place in German sentences?
Time, then manner, then place
The usual sequence in German for adverbial phrases is time first, followed by manner, then place.
Examples
| German Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Ich trinke Kaffee. | I am drinking coffee. |
| Morgen fährt sie nach Berlin. | Tomorrow she is traveling to Berlin. |
| Wir lesen jeden Tag Zeitung. | We read the newspaper every day. |
| Er schreibt eine E-Mail. | He is writing an email. |
Summary
- Declarative sentences state facts or information.
- The finite verb is always in the second position.
- Subjects usually start the sentence, but other elements can go first.
- Time-manner-place is the standard order for additional details.
- The sentence ends with a period (full stop).
What happens if the subject does not start the German sentence?
Another element takes the first position, but the finite verb remains second.
If the subject is not first, other elements can lead the sentence, but the finite verb must still be in second position.
Flashcards (1 of 10)
- Position: 1
- Element: Ich (Subject)
- Example: Ich spiele Fußball.
- English: I play soccer.
Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025
