Adverb placement in German affects emphasis and meaning, so paying attention to where adverbs appear helps you sound natural and clear. This guide goes through the typical positions for different kinds of adverbs with brief examples.
Sentence Structure
German sentences follow a fairly rigid word order, and adverbs slot in according to whether they modify the verb, the sentence, or another element. The position of an adverb can change the focus of the sentence.
German Sentence Rule
Types of Adverbs
Adverbs in German can express time, manner, place, cause, and degree. Each type tends to appear in a preferred position within the sentence, though there is some flexibility for emphasis.
Time Adverbs
Time adverbs usually come early in the sentence or immediately after the verb, setting when an action occurs. Placing a time adverb at the beginning gives it prominence.
Manner Adverbs
Manner adverbs typically follow the verb or the object and describe how an action is performed. They often come after place adverbs if both appear in the sentence.
Place Adverbs
Place adverbs usually appear after the verb or the object and indicate where an action takes place. They can come before manner adverbs when both are present.
Cause and Reason Adverbs
Adverbs expressing cause or reason often appear at the beginning of a sentence or clause to signal the relationship clearly. They can be followed by a comma when they introduce an explanation.
Degree and Frequency Adverbs
Adverbs of degree and frequency normally appear close to the element they modify, such as an adjective, another adverb, or the verb. They can sometimes be moved for emphasis.
Special Positions
Certain adverbs, like doch, wohl, and ja, occupy special positions in the sentence for pragmatic effect. These particles often appear in the "middle field" of the sentence between the finite verb and other sentence elements.
Summary
Adverb placement follows typical patterns based on the adverb type—time, manner, place, cause, and degree—with Germans generally placing adverbs in a consistent order to signal emphasis and meaning. Practicing with sentence examples helps internalize these positions.
By paying attention to whether adverbs express time, manner, place, cause, or degree and placing them accordingly, you can make your German sound natural and precise.
Last updated: Fri Oct 24, 2025