A2 · Word order
What can stand before the verb
Morgen fahre ich. Nach Berlin fahre ich morgen.
Exactly one element goes in front of the verb — and which one you choose is a decision, not a formality.
A German main clause has the finite verb in second position, and exactly one element in front of it. That element does not have to be the subject: it can be a time, a place, an object, a whole subordinate clause, almost anything. What it cannot be is two things.
Ich fahre morgen nach Berlin, Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin and Nach Berlin fahre ich morgen are all correct and all say the same thing with different emphasis. Whatever stands first is the thing the sentence is about; the rest follows behind the verb.
This is the freedom German buys with its case endings. Because den Mann is marked as an object wherever it stands, it can go first without confusing anybody: Den Mann kenne ich nicht. English, having no such marking, must keep the subject in front and cannot do this.
Die Form
| Subjekt zuerst | Ich fahre morgen. |
| Zeit zuerst | Morgen fahre ich. |
| Ort zuerst | In Berlin wohnt sie. |
| Objekt zuerst | Den Film kenne ich. |
| Nebensatz zuerst | Wenn es regnet, bleiben wir hier. |
Die Regeln im Einzelnen
Exactly one element stands before the finite verb.
Heute Abend kommen sie.They are coming this evening.
Whatever goes first, the verb stays in second position and the subject follows it.
Morgen fahre ich weg.I am going away tomorrow.
A whole subordinate clause counts as one element.
Weil es regnet, bleiben wir hier.Because it is raining, we are staying here.
The first position marks what the sentence is about.
Den Wein hat er mitgebracht.The wine is what he brought.
Genauer hingesehen
What "one element" means
An element can be long. Der Mann mit dem blauen Mantel is one element; so is am nächsten Montag um halb neun; so is an entire subordinate clause. Length has nothing to do with it — what counts is whether the words form a single unit answering a single question.
The test is to replace it. If the whole stretch can be swapped for one word — er, dann, dort — it is one element and may stand first. If two swaps are needed, it is two elements and one of them must move behind the verb.
Ausnahmen und Sonderfälle (2)
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the sentence begins with und, aber, oder, denn or sondern
those words do not count as the first position.
Aber ich komme trotzdem.But I am coming anyway.
The five coordinating conjunctions stand outside the clause they join.
-
the first position is deliberately left empty
the sentence is a question or a command.
Kommst du mit? Komm mit!Are you coming? Come along!
A yes-or-no question and an imperative start with the verb itself.
Woran man es erkennt
- heute
- morgen
- dann
- deshalb
- in
- weil
- wenn
Beispielsätze
Gestern war ich im Kino.Yesterday I was at the cinema.
In Hamburg regnet es oft.It often rains in Hamburg.
Das Buch habe ich schon gelesen.I have already read that book.
Deshalb komme ich später.That is why I am coming later.
Als ich ankam, war alles vorbei.When I arrived, it was all over.
Noch 6 Beispielsätze
Am Wochenende bleiben wir zu Hause.At the weekend we are staying at home.
Diesen Film kenne ich nicht.I do not know this film.
Zum Glück war niemand verletzt.Luckily nobody was hurt.
Nach dem Essen gehen wir spazieren.After the meal we are going for a walk.
Ihm habe ich nichts gesagt.Him I told nothing.
Trotzdem hat es funktioniert.It worked all the same.
Besonderheiten (2)
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Es holds the position open
When nothing wants to stand first, German inserts <z>es</z> as a placeholder: <z>Es kamen viele Gäste.</z> The moment anything else moves in, the <z>es</z> disappears: <z>Gestern kamen viele Gäste.</z> That disappearance proves the rule — the position must be filled, and by exactly one thing.
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Emphasis without stress
English marks emphasis with the voice: "I saw HIM". German can do that too and more often uses position: <z>Ihn habe ich gesehen.</z> The word order is doing what intonation does in English, which is why German written dialogue can be so expressive without italics.
Die typisch deutsche Falle
Aufgepasst
This is the single most common word-order mistake for English speakers, and it comes from keeping the subject where English keeps it. Once something else occupies the first position, the subject has to move behind the verb — there is no room for both in front. The rule is easier than it looks: count to the verb, and it must be the second thing.
One thing before the verb, never two.
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