Word Order For Intermediate learners
What is Word Order?
Word order refers to the order of different elements in a sentence. In German, there are certain rules that determine where each word should be positioned. The position of each element might change based on the type of the sentence or for the purpose of emphasis.
Declarative Sentences
Here you can see the standard order for a declarative sentence in German. The following positions and situations should be considered when forming a sentence and choosing word order:
[Position 1]
[Position 2]
[Position 3]
Pronouns Before Nouns
Dative Before Accusative
The Last Position
[Position 1]
What comes in position 1 is the topic of the sentence. In a declarative sentence you can put a subject, object, adverb of time, adverb of place, adverb of manner or a phrase in position 1.
Der Junge spielt Fußball.
The boy plays soccer.
Subject in Position 1
Heute lerne ich Deutsch.
Today I am learning German.
Time Adverb in Position 1
Im Park spielen die Kinder.
In the park, the children are playing.
Place Adverb in Position 1
Schnell lief er nach Hause.
Quickly, he ran home.
Adverb of Manner in Position 1
Diesen Film kenne ich schon.
I already know this movie.
Object in Position 1
[Position 2]
In a main clause, what comes second is always the verb.
Der Junge spielt Fußball.
The boy plays soccer.
Meine Mutter kocht das Abendessen.
My mother is cooking dinner.
If there is a modal or auxiliary verb in a sentence, the conjugated verb comes second in a sentence and the main verb comes last.
Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.
I can speak German.
Du musst heute arbeiten.
You have to work today.
[Position 3]
If the subject is not already in the first position, it should be positioned third in the sentence.
Heute erklärt der Lehrer die Grammatik.
Today, the teacher explains the grammar.
Diese Grammatik verstehe ich gut.
I understand this grammar well.
If the subject was already in position 1, then you can have an object or adverb in the third position.
Here are two rules for the order of objects in a main clause:
Pronouns Before Nouns
Pronoun objects come before noun objects.
[Dative Pronoun] + [Accusative Pronoun] + [Noun Objects and Adverbs]
Der Lehrer gibt mir das Buch.
The teacher gives me the book.
Ich kaufe dir heute ein Geschenk.
I am buying you a gift today.
Dative Before Accusative
Dative noun objects come before accusative noun objects.
Der Lehrer erklärt dem Schüler die Grammatik.
The teacher explains the grammar to the student.
Ich schenke meiner Mutter Blumen.
I give my mother flowers.
The Last Position
In compound tenses (like present perfect or past perfect), the second part of the verb comes last in the sentence.
Ich habe ein Buch gelesen.
I have read a book.
Er ist nach Hause gelaufen.
He ran home.
If the verb is a separable prefix verb, the prefix is positioned at the end of the sentence.
Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf.
I get up at 7 o'clock.
Sie Machen das Licht an.
They turn on the light.
Adverbs
Here is the standard order of adverbs in a sentence:
[Time] + [Cause] + [Manner] + [Place]
Ich habe gestern (time) wegen der Prüfun (cause) schnell (manner) in der Bibliothek (place) meinem Freund das Buch gegeben.
I gave my friend the book quickly in the library yesterday because of the exam.
Ich laufe morgens (time) zur Entspannung (cause) langsam (manner) im Park (place).
I run slowly in the park in the mornings for relaxation.
Note!
In a main clause, you can move certain elements of a sentence, such as adverbs, to position 1 in order to put more emphasis on them. The verb always stays in position 2.
Ich besuche meine Familie nächste Woche.
I am visiting my family next week.
Nächste Woche besuche ich meine Familie.
Next week, I am visiting my family.
(emphasis on time)
Ich verstehe den Matheunterricht nicht.
I don't understand the math class.
Den Matheunterricht verstehe ich nicht.
The math class, I don't understand.
(emphasis on object)
Subordinate Clauses
The word order is different in a subordinate clause. The subordinating conjunction comes first, and the conjugated verb comes last.
Weil ich heute krank bin, ...
Because I am sick today, ...
Ich weiß, dass er das Buch liest.
I know that he is reading the book.
If there is a modal or auxiliary verb in a sentence, the conjugated verb comes last and the main verb comes before that.
Er bleibt, weil er arbeiten muss.
He stays because he has to work.
Obwohl sie gehen will, bleibt sie.
Although she wants to leave, she stays.
Question Sentences
There are two main types of questions in German:
Yes/No Question
W-Question
Yes/No Question
In a yes/no question, the conjugated verb is always in the first position.
Kommst du heute zur Party?
Are you coming to the party today?
Hast du das Buch gelesen?
Have you read the book?
W-Question
A W-Question starts with a W-Question word and the conjugated verb comes in second.
Wo wohnt deine Schwester?
Where does your sister live?
Was hast du gemacht?
What did you do?
Imperative Sentences
In an imperative sentence, the verb comes first.
Komm jetzt sofort her!
Come here right now!
Lest bitte Seite fünf!
Please read page five!
Where to put "Nicht" in a sentence?
"Nicht" is a common word that is used for negation. In a simple sentence, "Nicht" is positioned last in a sentence.
Ich komme nicht.
I am not coming.
Sie schläft nicht.
She is not sleeping.
Er besucht seine Eltern nicht.
He does not visit his parents.
If there is an auxiliary, modal, or separable prefix verb, "Nicht" comes before the last element.
Sie geht nicht aus.
She does not go out.
Er steht nicht auf.
He does not get up.
Du hast nicht gegessen.
You have not eaten.
In order to negate a specific element in a sentence, the "Nicht" must be placed before that element.
Ich sehe nicht den Mann, sondern die Frau.
I see not the man, but the woman.
Ich komme nicht heute, sondern morgen.
I come not today, but tomorrow.
Er wohnt nicht in Berlin.
He doesn't live in Berlin.
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