Word Order (Wortstellung)
German word order revolves around one iron rule: in a normal main clause the finite (conjugated) verb comes second — not necessarily the second word, but the second position (Satzglied). Whatever you put first — subject, time, object — the finite verb still lands in slot 2, and the subject moves after it if it was not first. In subordinate clauses the finite verb goes to the very end. And when a sentence has two verb parts (auxiliary + participle, modal + infinitive, or a separable prefix), they split apart and form the Satzklammer (sentence bracket) around the middle of the clause.
Measured in spoken German
≈9.3% of clauses are subordinate — where the finite verb goes to the very end.
The V2 rule: finite verb in position 2
A German main clause has exactly one element before the finite verb. That first slot (the Vorfeld) can hold the subject, a time expression, an object, or an adverb — but only one element. The finite verb is always the second position. If something other than the subject comes first, the subject drops in right after the verb (this is called inversion).
Ich gehe heute ins Kino.
I am going to the cinema today.
Subject first, verb second.
Heute gehe ich ins Kino.
Today I am going to the cinema.
Time first → verb still second → subject after it.
Ins Kino gehe ich heute.
To the cinema I am going today.
Object first, verb still second.
Only one element before the verb
The classic beginner error is putting the subject AND another element before the verb ("Heute ich gehe…"). German allows only one. Choose what to front, then the verb, then everything else.
Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin.
Tomorrow I am travelling to Berlin.
NOT "Morgen ich fahre…".
Deshalb bleibe ich zu Hause.
That is why I am staying home.
Connector first → inversion.
Verb-final in subordinate clauses
A subordinate clause is introduced by a subordinating conjunction (weil, dass, wenn, obwohl, als…) or is a relative clause. Inside it, the finite verb moves to the very end. A comma separates it from the main clause.
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich müde bin.
I am staying home because I am tired.
"bin" at the end.
Er sagt, dass er keine Zeit hat.
He says that he has no time.
"hat" at the end.
Wenn es regnet, bleiben wir hier.
If it rains, we will stay here.
Sub-clause first; the main clause then starts with its verb (still V2 counting the whole sub-clause as position 1).
The Satzklammer (sentence bracket)
When a clause has two verbal parts, they wrap around the middle field. The finite part stays in position 2, and the non-finite part (past participle, infinitive) or the separable prefix goes to the end. Everything else sits between them in the Mittelfeld.
- Perfekt: haben/sein (pos. 2) … past participle (end).
- Modal verb: modal (pos. 2) … infinitive (end).
- Future: werden (pos. 2) … infinitive (end).
- Separable verb: conjugated stem (pos. 2) … prefix (end).
Ich habe gestern einen Film gesehen.
I watched a film yesterday.
habe … gesehen bracket.
Ich muss heute lange arbeiten.
I have to work long today.
muss … arbeiten bracket.
Wir werden morgen früh abreisen.
We will depart early tomorrow.
werden … abreisen bracket.
Sie steht jeden Morgen um sechs auf.
She gets up at six every morning.
Separable aufstehen: steht … auf.
Verb-first: questions and commands
Two cases put the finite verb in first position: yes/no questions and imperatives. (W-questions still follow V2, because the question word fills the first slot.)
Kommst du morgen?
Are you coming tomorrow?
Yes/no question → verb first.
Gib mir das Buch!
Give me the book!
Imperative → verb first.
Wann kommst du?
When are you coming?
W-question → question word first, verb second (V2).
Examples
Heute Abend koche ich Suppe.
Tonight I am cooking soup.
Fronted time → inversion.
Ich weiß, dass du recht hast.
I know that you are right.
Verb-final sub-clause.
Er hat mir gestern geholfen.
He helped me yesterday.
hat … geholfen bracket.
| Clause type | Verb position | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Main clause (statement) | Second (V2) | Morgen komme ich. |
| Yes/no question | First | Kommst du? |
| W-question | Second (after W-word) | Wann kommst du? |
| Imperative | First | Komm her! |
| Subordinate clause | Last (verb-final) | …, weil ich komme. |
Common mistakes
- Putting two elements before the verb: "Heute ich gehe…" ✗ → "Heute gehe ich…" ✓.
- Forgetting inversion after a fronted element: "Deshalb ich bleibe…" ✗ → "Deshalb bleibe ich…" ✓.
- Leaving the verb in second position inside a weil/dass clause: "…, weil ich bin müde." ✗ → "…, weil ich müde bin." ✓.
- Forgetting to send the participle/infinitive to the end: "Ich habe gesehen einen Film." ✗ → "Ich habe einen Film gesehen." ✓.
- Not separating a separable prefix: "Ich aufstehe um sechs." ✗ → "Ich stehe um sechs auf." ✓.
Lookup tips
- Ask two questions of any clause: (1) is it a main or subordinate clause? (2) is there a second verb part? That fixes the position of every verb.
- Main clause = verb second. Subordinate clause = verb last. Two verb parts = bracket (finite second, the rest last).
- The comma before weil/dass/wenn is your signal that the next clause is verb-final.
Frequently asked questions
Does "verb second" mean the second word?
No — the second **position** (Satzglied). "Der alte Mann schläft" has three words before the verb, but they form one unit (the subject), so "schläft" is still in position 2.
Why does the subject sometimes come after the verb?
Because only one element may precede the finite verb. If you front a time word or object, the subject is bumped to right after the verb. This is inversion, and it is completely normal, not emphatic.
What is the Mittelfeld?
The "middle field" — everything sitting between the two halves of the Satzklammer (between the finite verb and the clause-final verb part). German word order inside the Mittelfeld is flexible, guided by rules like "dative pronoun before accusative noun".