German Sentence Structure: A Simple Guide to Word Order Rules for Beginners

German sentence structure might seem tricky at first, but it follows clear rules that you can learn step by step. Unlike English, where word order is mostly fixed (like "I see the dog"), German is more flexible—but only if you know how to use its rules! This guide will explain everything about German word order in a way that’s easy for beginners to understand. You’ll learn how to build sentences, where to put verbs, nouns, and other words, and how to avoid mistakes—all with examples. By the end, you’ll have everything you need to make correct German sentences. Let’s dive in!

Why Word Order Matters

In English, word order tells you who’s doing what:

  • "The dog bites the man" vs. "The man bites the dog."

In German, cases (like nominative, accusative, and dative) do a lot of that work, so word order can change without losing meaning. But German still has strict rules—especially about where the verb goes. The verb is the heart of a German sentence, and its position is key.

The Basic Rule: Verb Second (V2)

In a simple German sentence (called a main clause), the verb is always the second part. This doesn’t mean the second word—it means the second "piece" of the sentence. The first piece can be the subject, a time word, or something else, but the verb comes right after.

How It Works

Subject-Verb-Object (SVO): This is the most common order, like English.

  • Ich sehe den Hund. (I see the dog.)
  • 1st: Ich (subject), 2nd: sehe (verb), then: den Hund (object).
  • Die Katze schläft. (The cat sleeps.)
  • 1st: Die Katze, 2nd: schläft.

Something Else First: If you start with something besides the subject (like a time or place), the verb is still second, and the subject comes after.

  • Heute sehe ich den Hund. (Today, I see the dog.)
  • 1st: Heute (time), 2nd: sehe (verb), then: ich den Hund.
  • Im Park spielt das Kind. (In the park, the child plays.)
  • 1st: Im Park (place), 2nd: spielt, then: das Kind.

Examples

  • Der Mann liest das Buch. (The man reads the book.)
  • Morgen liest der Mann das Buch. (Tomorrow, the man reads the book.)
  • Im Haus wohnt die Frau. (In the house, the woman lives.)

Key Point

No matter what starts the sentence, the verb is always second in a main clause. This is called the V2 rule.

Time, Manner, Place (TMP) Rule

When you add extra information—like when (time), how (manner), or where (place)—it follows a specific order after the verb: Time, Manner, Place (TMP).

How It Works

  • Time: When something happens (e.g., heute – today).
  • Manner: How it happens (e.g., schnell – quickly).
  • Place: Where it happens (e.g., im Park – in the park).

Examples

  • Ich gehe heute schnell ins Kino. (I go today quickly to the cinema.)
  • Verb: gehe, then: heute (time), schnell (manner), ins Kino (place).
  • Der Hund läuft morgen laut im Garten. (The dog runs tomorrow loudly in the garden.)
  • Sie liest jeden Tag leise im Zimmer. (She reads every day quietly in the room.)

Key Point

After the verb, stick to TMP: Time first, then Manner, then Place. It keeps your sentence clear.

Verbs with Two Parts (Separable Verbs)

Some German verbs have two pieces: a prefix (like an- or aus-) and a main part. In a main clause, the prefix splits off and goes to the end of the sentence, while the main part stays second.

Common Separable Verbs

  • anfangen (to start)
  • ausgehen (to go out)
  • einkaufen (to shop)

How It Works

  • Ich fange die Arbeit an. (I start the work.)
  • Wir gehen heute aus. (We go out today.)
  • Sie kauft im Laden ein. (She shops in the store.)

Examples

  • Er ruft seine Freundin an. (He calls his friend.)
  • Ich mache das Licht aus. (I turn off the light.)
  • Wir stehen früh auf. (We get up early.)

Key Point

The main verb part follows the V2 rule, and the prefix waits at the end.

Sentences with Two Verbs (Modal Verbs and Infinitives)

When you use a modal verb (like können – can, wollen – want) or a helping verb (like haben – have) with another verb, the second verb (in its infinitive form, like sehen or gehen) goes to the end of the sentence.

How It Works

  • Ich will den Hund sehen. (I want to see the dog.)
  • Er kann gut kochen. (He can cook well.)

Examples

  • Sie muss morgen arbeiten. (She must work tomorrow.)
  • Wir wollen im Park spielen. (We want to play in the park.)
  • Du kannst das Buch lesen. (You can read the book.)
  • Ich habe das Auto gekauft. (I have bought the car.)

Key Point

The helping or modal verb follows V2, and the second verb (infinitive or participle) goes to the end.

Questions

Yes/No Questions

For questions with a yes or no answer, the verb comes first, followed by the subject.

  • Siehst du den Hund? (Do you see the dog?)
  • Spielt das Kind? (Does the child play?)

Examples

  • Arbeitet der Mann? (Does the man work?)
  • Geht sie zur Schule? (Does she go to school?)
  • Hast du Zeit? (Do you have time?)

Question Words (W-Questions)

For questions with words like wer (who), was (what), wo (where), wann (when), or wie (how):

  • Wo wohnt der Mann? (Where does the man live?)
  • Wann kommt sie? (When does she come?)

Examples

  • Was liest du? (What are you reading?)
  • Wer hilft dem Kind? (Who helps the child?)
  • Wie fährt er? (How does he drive?)

Key Point

Verb is first for yes/no questions, second for W-questions.

Subordinate Clauses (Verb at the End)

A subordinate clause is an extra part of a sentence that starts with words like weil (because), dass (that), wenn (if), or ob (whether). In these clauses, the verb goes to the end.

How It Works

  • Ich bin müde, weil ich arbeite. (I’m tired because I work.)

Examples

  • Er weiß, dass du kommst. (He knows that you’re coming.)
  • Ich bleibe, wenn es regnet. (I stay if it rains.)
  • Sie fragt, ob wir spielen. (She asks whether we’re playing.)

Key Point

In subordinate clauses, flip the order—verb goes to the end.

Negation with "Nicht"

The word nicht (not) usually goes after the verb and before what it’s negating (like an object or extra info).

  • Ich sehe den Hund nicht. (I don’t see the dog.)
  • Er spielt nicht im Park. (He doesn’t play in the park.)

Examples

  • Sie liest das Buch nicht. (She doesn’t read the book.)
  • Wir gehen heute nicht aus. (We don’t go out today.)
  • Das Kind schläft nicht. (The child doesn’t sleep.)

Key Point

Nicht comes after the verb but before what’s being denied.

Practice Time!

Try these exercises to test your word order skills. Answers are below each one.

Exercise 1: Rearrange the Words

Put these words in the right order.

  • sehe / ich / den Hund
  • morgen / spielt / das Kind
  • im Park / läuft / der Hund
  • heute / ich / gehe / schnell / zur Schule
  • ruft / er / an / seine Freundin

Exercise 2: Fix the Sentence

Correct the word order.

  • Ich den Hund sehe.
  • Der Mann das Buch liest.
  • Spielt im Garten das Kind.
  • Sie weiß nicht das.
  • Ich will sehen den Film.

Exercise 3: Make Questions

Turn these into questions.

  • Du liest das Buch.
  • Der Mann wohnt hier.
  • Sie spielt im Park.
  • Wir kommen morgen.
  • Er hilft dem Kind.

Tips to Master Word Order

  • Verb Second: Always put the verb second in main clauses.
  • TMP: After the verb, order is Time, Manner, Place.
  • End Spot: Infinitives, prefixes, and subordinate verbs go to the end.
  • Practice: Start with simple sentences like Ich sehe den Hund, then add more.

You’ve Got It!

Now you know German word order: verb second in main clauses, TMP for extras, end spot for second verbs, and verb last in subordinate clauses. With these rules and examples, you can build sentences like a pro. Keep practicing, and it’ll feel natural soon. Viel Erfolg! (Good luck!)

See Also

German Articles German Adjectives German Conjugation German Prepositions German Writing German Speaking
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