Deutsche Wortstellung

In every German main clause, the finite (conjugated) verb always occupies position 2 — no exceptions. Position 1 can hold any single element: the subject, an object, an adverb, or even an entire subordinate clause. Whenever something other than the subject fills position 1, the subject shifts to position 3 — this is called inversion.

When the subject comes first, German word order looks like English: Subject → Verb → Other elements. The tricky part is ordering two objects: an indirect object (Dativ) and a direct object (Akkusativ). The rule depends on whether the objects are nouns or pronouns.

When both objects are nouns, the Dativ (indirect) object comes before the Akkusativ (direct) object.

When the Akkusativ object is a pronoun, it jumps to the front — before the Dativ noun.

When both objects are pronouns, Akkusativ comes before Dativ.

German has three question types. Yes/no questions put the verb first (V1). W-questions put the question word in P1 and verb in P2 (V2). Indirect/embedded questions behave like subordinate clauses — verb goes to the end.

When a question is embedded inside another clause (after wissen, fragen, sagen, etc.), the question word acts as a subordinating conjunction — the verb moves to the end.

When a sentence contains multiple adverbials, German follows a default sequence called TeKaMoLo (from German: Temporal – Kausal – Modal – Lokal). In English terms: Time → Cause → Manner → Place. This is the unmarked, neutral order. You can deviate for emphasis, but violations sound unnatural to native ears.

Subordinating conjunctions introduce a dependent clause and send the finite verb to the very end of that clause. In compound tenses (Perfekt, Plusquamperfekt), the auxiliary (haben/sein) comes last, after the Partizip II. With modal verbs, the modal is last.

Separable verbs have a prefix (like an-, auf-, mit-, ab-, ein-, aus-) that splits off in main clauses. The prefix goes to the very end of the main clause. In subordinate clauses, the prefix reattaches because the whole verb goes to the end. In infinitive constructions, zu is inserted between the prefix and the verb stem.

Nicht can negate an entire sentence (general/sentential negation) or just one specific element (partial negation). Its position changes depending on what is being negated. The basic rule: nicht tends toward the end — but must come before infinitives, Partizip II, separable prefixes, predicate adjectives/nouns, and prepositional phrases it negates.

To negate only a specific element, place nicht immediately before it. This shifts focus and often implies a contrast with sondern.

German's V2 rule is actually a powerful expressive tool: because the verb must stay in P2, you can move any constituent to P1 to make it the sentence's topic or to create contrast. The element in P1 receives the strongest emphasis. Meanwhile, new information tends to appear at the end of the clause.

Old/known information tends to come early; new/important information tends to come last — this aligns with natural information flow (Informationsstruktur).

Advanced German syntax involves relative clauses (Relativsätze), infinitive clauses with zu (Infinitivkonstruktionen), and extended participial phrases (Erweiterte Partizipialphrasen). All involve specific word-order consequences.

A relative clause modifies a noun. The relative pronoun (matching the noun's gender/number) starts the clause and sends the finite verb to the end.

When zu + infinitive forms a clause (usually after verbs like versuchen, beginnen, vorhaben, versprechen, planen), the zu-infinitive goes to the end of the embedded clause. With separable verbs, zu is inserted: anzurufen.

German can expand a participle into a full phrase inserted between the article and the noun. The participle stands at the end of the phrase (before the noun). Very common in formal/written German.