Verb in second position
This is the most important word-order rule in German: in a statement, the conjugated verb is always the second element. Not necessarily the second word, but the second building block.
| Position 1 | Verb | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Ich | gehe | morgen ins Kino. |
| Morgen | gehe | ich ins Kino. |
| Ins Kino | gehe | ich morgen. |
How it works
- Position 1 can be the subject, a time, a place, or an object. One block only.
- If something other than the subject is in position 1, the subject moves right after the verb.
- A block can be several words: Am nächsten Montag habe ich frei.
- With two verbs (modal, perfect), the second verb goes to the end: Ich muss morgen arbeiten.
Examples
- Am Montag habe ich einen Termin.On Monday I have an appointment.
- Heute arbeite ich nicht.Today I’m not working.
- In Berlin wohnt meine Schwester.My sister lives in Berlin.
- Den Film kenne ich schon.I already know the film.
- Jeden Tag fährt er mit dem Rad.He cycles every day.
Common mistakes
- ✗ Am Montag ich habe frei.✓ Am Montag habe ich frei.A block of several words such as am Montag still counts as one position, so the verb comes straight after it, unlike English “On Monday I have…”.
- ✗ Ich oft koche am Abend.✓ Ich koche oft am Abend.English puts “often” before the verb, but in German the verb takes position 2 and adverbs such as oft follow it.
- ✗ Dann ich gehe nach Hause.✓ Dann gehe ich nach Hause.In a story English says “Then I go home”, but German dann takes position 1 and pushes the subject behind the verb: dann gehe ich.
- ✗ Leider ich bin krank.✓ Leider bin ich krank.English “Unfortunately, I am ill” keeps the subject before the verb, but in German leider takes position 1 and the verb follows it.
- ✗ In Hamburg meine Schwester wohnt.✓ In Hamburg wohnt meine Schwester.A place phrase at the start fills position 1, so the verb wohnt comes next and the subject meine Schwester follows it.