📖 Explanation: Sentence Structure (Satzbau)
German sentence structure follows strict rules, especially the verb position. The most important rule is the V2 rule (Verb Second) in main clauses: The conjugated verb is always in second position.
Key elements:
- Main clause (Hauptsatz): Verb in position 2.
- Subordinate clause (Nebensatz): Verb at the end.
- Word order flexibility: Time – Manner – Place (TeKaMoLo rule) for adverbs.
- Questions: Verb first (yes/no) or W-word first + verb second.
- Commands: Verb first.
The basic framework is: Position 1 – Verb – Subject (if not in 1) – Rest – Non-finite verbs/particles at the end.
This “verb bracket” (Satzklammer) is typical: conjugated verb early, infinitives/participles/prefixes at the end.
📋 Table 1: Main Clause Structure (Hauptsatz)
| Position | Element | Example Sentence: “Morgen gehe ich mit dem Bus nach Berlin.” | Explanation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Position 1 | Topic / Time / Adverb / etc. | Morgen | Sets the topic of the sentence (can be time, place, object, etc.) |
| Position 2 | Conjugated verb | gehe | Always in second position (V2 rule) |
| Middle field (Mittelfeld) | Subject / Objects / Adverbs | ich mit dem Bus nach Berlin | Main information: subject, objects, time, manner, place |
| End field (Endfeld) | Non-finite verbs / separable prefixes | — | Only used for infinitives, participles or separable prefixes |
Full: Morgen gehe ich mit dem Bus nach Berlin.
📋 Table 2: Word Order Variations in Main Clause
| Variation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| Normal (subject first) | Ich gehe morgen nach Berlin. | I’m going to Berlin tomorrow. |
| Time first (inversion) | Morgen gehe ich nach Berlin. | Tomorrow I’m going to Berlin. |
| Place first | Nach Berlin gehe ich morgen. | To Berlin I’m going tomorrow. |
| With modal verb | Morgen will ich nach Berlin fahren. | Tomorrow I want to go to Berlin. |
| With separable verb | Morgen fahre ich früh ab. | Tomorrow I’m leaving early. |
| With Perfekt | Gestern habe ich ein Buch gelesen. | Yesterday I read a book. |
📋 Table 3: Subordinate Clause (Nebensatz) – Verb at the End
| Type | Conjunction | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Causal | weil | Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich müde bin. | I’m staying home because I’m tired. |
| Temporal | als / wenn | Als ich klein war, spielte ich viel. | When I was little, I played a lot. |
| Conditional | wenn / falls | Ich komme mit, wenn du Zeit hast. | I’ll come if you have time. |
| Relative | der/die/das | Das Buch, das ich gestern gelesen habe… | The book that I read yesterday… |
| Indirect question | ob / wann | Ich weiß nicht, ob er morgen kommt. | I don’t know if he’s coming tomorrow. |
📋 Table 4: Questions
| Type | Structure | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes/No question | Verb first | Geht ihr morgen ins Kino? | Are you going to the cinema tomorrow? |
| W-question | W-word + Verb second | Wohin gehst du morgen? | Where are you going tomorrow? |
| With modal | Verb first | Kannst du mir helfen? | Can you help me? |
📋 Table 5: TeKaMoLo Rule (Adverb Order)
| Order | Type | Example | Full Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Zeit (time) | morgen | |
| 2 | Kausal (reason) | deshalb | |
| 3 | Modal (manner) | mit dem Zug | |
| 4 | Lokativ (place) | nach München | Morgen fahre ich deshalb mit dem Zug nach München. |
🔑 Rules and Tips
- V2 is sacred in main clauses – count elements carefully!
- If something other than subject is in position 1 → subject-verb inversion.
- In subordinate clauses: Everything before the verb at the end (including objects, adverbs).
- Negation with nicht: Usually before the verb at the end or before the negated element (Ich gehe nicht. / Ich gehe morgen nicht.).
- Commands: Verb first, no subject (Geh nach Hause!)
- Common mistake: Putting verb in third position (Morgen ich gehe… wrong → Morgen gehe ich…)
- Practice: Start sentences with different elements to get flexible word order.
More examples:
- Heute Abend möchte ich früh schlafen gehen. (Tonight I want to go to bed early.)
- Ich weiß, dass du morgen nach Berlin fährst. (I know that you’re going to Berlin tomorrow.)
- Warum kommst du nicht mit? (Why aren’t you coming along?)
Mastering Satzbau makes your German sound correct and natural – focus on verb position first, the rest will follow!