Interrogative sentences in German fall into two main categories: ja/nein questions (yes/no questions) and W‑Fragen (question word questions). Both types involve verb-second (V2) word order, meaning the verb appears in the second position, but the first position differs depending on the question type. Let’s see how they work.
Yes/No Questions (ja/nein‑Fragen)
Yes/no questions simply ask if something is true or not. They always start with the finite verb, followed by the subject, and then the rest of the sentence.
Example: Ja/Nein Question Word Order
| Sentence | Example |
|---|---|
| [Verb] [Subject] [Rest] | Kommt er heute? (Is he coming today?) |
Notice that kommt (comes) is first, then the subject er (he).
Example: Ja/Nein Question
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Kommt er heute? | Is he coming today? |
Common Ja/Nein Question Signal Words
| German | English |
|---|---|
| ja | yes |
| nein | no |
You can answer simply with Ja or Nein, or complete sentences:
- Ja, er kommt heute. (Yes, he’s coming today.)
- Nein, er kommt nicht. (No, he’s not coming.)
Question Word Questions (W‑Fragen)
W‑Fragen begin with a question word (W‑Fragewort), which always comes first. The finite verb comes second, and the subject follows the verb. Common German question words all start with w (except wie), making them easy to spot.
Example: W‑Fragen Word Order
| Sentence | Example |
|---|---|
| [Question Word] [Verb] [Subject] [Rest] | Wo wohnt er? (Where does he live?) |
German Question Words
| German Word | English Meaning | Usage Example (German) | Usage Example (English) |
|---|---|---|---|
| wer | who | Wer ist das? | Who is that? |
| was | what | Was machst du? | What are you doing? |
| wo | where | Wo wohnst du? | Where do you live? |
| wann | when | Wann kommst du? | When are you coming? |
| warum | why | Warum lernst du Deutsch? | Why are you learning German? |
| wie | how | Wie heißt du? | What is your name? / How are you called? |
Some Question Word Examples
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Wer kommt? | Who is coming? |
| Was willst du? | What do you want? |
| Wo bist du? | Where are you? |
Who is coming? → [Use the German question word “wer”.]
Wer kommt?
Start with the question word 'wer', then place the verb 'kommt' in second position.
Summary: Interrogative Sentence Word Order
| Question Type | First Word | Second Position | Third Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ja/Nein Frage | Verb | Subject | Rest |
| W‑Frage | Question Word | Verb | Subject + Rest |
Inversion
The shift of position between the subject and the verb is called inversion. In both yes/no questions and W‑Fragen, the verb always moves to the second position (counting the question word or verb themselves as position one). The subject moves after the verb if it’s not first.
Examples of Inversion
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Kommt er? | Is he coming? |
| Wann kommt er? | When is he coming? |
In these examples, the verb (kommt) jumps past the subject (er) to the second position.
Short Answers
In spoken German, short answers repeat the verb or use ja/nein:
- Kommt er? — Ja, er kommt. / Nein, er kommt nicht.
(Is he coming? — Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t.)
- Wer kommt? — Ich komme.
(Who’s coming? — I am coming.)
Is he coming? — Yes, he is. → in German.
Kommt er? — Ja, er kommt.
The short answer repeats the verb-subject order: 'Ja, er kommt.'
Putting It All Together
| Question Type | Example (German) | Example (English) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ja/Nein | Bist du müde? | Are you tired? | Yes/no question, verb first |
| W‑Frage | Warum bist du müde? | Why are you tired? | Question word first, then verb |
In all cases, the finite verb is in second position, and the subject comes immediately after the verb (unless it’s the first word).
Why are you tired? → [Question Type: W‑Frage]
Warum bist du müde?
Start with 'warum', then the verb 'bist', then the subject 'du'.
Practicing Questions
Try making your own questions by starting with:
- Ja/Nein Fragen: Move the verb to the front. (e.g., Du kommst. → Kommst du?)
- W‑Fragen: Use a question word first, then verb, then the subject. (e.g., Du kommst. → Wann kommst du?)
Summary
- Ja/Nein Fragen: verb first, then subject.
- W‑Fragen: question word first, then verb, then subject.
- Both use inversion (verb in second position).
- Common question words all start with w (or wie).
You’re now ready to ask questions in German—just choose the question type, and remember the word order rules!
Flashcards (1 of 16)
- English Example: Is he coming today?
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
