German Word Order: Sentence Structure in German

Introduction to German Sentence Structure

Understanding German sentence structure is essential for mastering the language. This blog article covers the German word order in main sentences, subordinate clauses, questions, imperatives, and sentences with modal verbs. You'll also learn about forming sentences with dative and accusative objects and the correct placement.

First, explore the German word order in main sentences. Then, read about subordinate clauses, the word order when a main sentence follows a dependent clause, and the structure of question sentences, imperative clauses, and sentences with modal verbs.

Word Order in Main Sentences

In German main clauses, the main verb (predicate) typically occupies the second position. The subject often comes first, and the object usually follows at the end of the sentence.

• Der Junge geht in den Park. (The boy goes to the park.)

Here, "der Junge" is the subject in the first position, "geht" is the verb in the second position, and "in den Park" is the accusative object at the end. You could also say:

• In den Park geht der Junge.(The boy goes to the park.)

Both sentences translate the same in English, but the emphasis changes. The first sentence focuses on "the boy," while the second emphasizes "the park." In both cases, the verb remains in the second position.

Examples

1. Die Kinder fahren nach Hause. (The children go home.)
2. Der Student kocht für seine Freundin. (The student cooks for his girlfriend.)
3. Die Jugendlichen gehen ins Kino. (The teenagers are going to the cinema.)
4. Die Freunde spielen Fußball. (The friends are playing football.)
5. Das Mädchen hört Musik. (The girl is listening to music.)
6. Ich sehe den Vogel. (I see the bird.)

Subordinate Clauses in German

In subordinate clauses, the verb always stands at the end of the sentence, regardless of the type of clause (e.g., causal clauses, final clauses, relative clauses, or concessive clauses).

• Der Junge geht in den Park, wenn das Wetter schön ist. (The boy goes to the park if the weather is nice.)

In this example, the main clause follows the standard word order with the verb in the second position. The subordinate clause places the verb "ist" at the end.

Examples

1. Die Kinder gehen ins Schwimmbad, weil das Wetter sehr gut ist. (The children go to the swimming pool because the weather is very good.)
2. Die Studentin hilft ihrem Freund, weil sie ihn mag. (The student helps her boyfriend because she likes him.)
3. Die Jungen gehen ins Kino, wenn es einen guten Film gibt. (The boys go to the cinema when there is a good film.)
4. Die Männer spielen Fußball, wenn es nicht regnet. (The men play football when it does not rain.)

When Main Clauses Follow Subordinate Clauses

When a subordinate clause precedes a main clause, the verb in the main clause comes before the subject, effectively occupying the first position.

• Wenn das Wetter schön ist, geht der Junge in den Park. (If the weather is nice, the boy goes to the park.)

Here, the subordinate clause ends with the verb "ist," and the main clause starts with the verb "geht" followed by the subject "der Junge."

Examples

1. Da die Sonne scheint, gehen die Kinder in den Park. (Since the sun is shining, the children go to the park.)
2. Wenn es regnet, spielen die Jungen kein Volleyball. (When it rains, the boys don't play volleyball.)
3. Obwohl der Junge viel für die Klausur gelernt hat, hat er eine schlechte Note bekommen. (Although the boy studied a lot for the exam, he received a bad grade.)

Forming Questions in German

When forming questions, you often use question words like "was" (what) or "wann" (when). In these cases, the verb follows the question word, occupying the second position.

• Wann kommt Peter? (When does Peter come?)

If no question word is used, the verb comes first.

• Gehen wir nach Hause? (Are we going home?)

Examples

1. Wie geht es dir? (How are you?)
2. Was machst du? (What are you doing?)
3. Gehst du ins Kino? (Are you going to the cinema?)
4. Magst du Sport? (Do you like sports?)

For more details on forming questions in German, read our article on how to form questions in German.

Using Modal Verbs in Sentences

When using modal verbs, the modal verb acts as the main verb and typically occupies the second position in a main sentence. The infinitive verb moves to the end of the sentence.

• Die Jugendlichen sollen um 22 Uhr nach Hause gehen. (The teenagers should go home at 10 pm.)

In subordinate clauses, the modal verb appears at the end of the sentence after the infinitive.

Examples

1. Das Mädchen kann sehr gut Geige spielen. (The girl can play the violin very well.)
2. Die Jugendlichen dürfen nicht rauchen. (The young people are not allowed to smoke.)
3. Der Junge spielt oft Fußball, weil er sehr gut Fußball spielen kann. (The boy often plays football because he can play football very well.)

Learn more about modal verbs in our detailed guide on German modal verbs.

Imperative Sentence Structure

In imperative sentences, the verb is placed in the first position. The subject is only included in the formal "Sie" (you) and "wir" (we) form; in other forms, it's omitted.

Examples

1. Geh nach Hause! (Go home!)
2. Geht nach Hause! (Go home! - plural)
3. Gehen Sie nach Hause! (Go home! - formal)
4. Gehen wir nach Hause! (Let's go home!)

For more information, read our article on understanding the German imperative.

Dative and Accusative Objects in German Sentences

When a sentence includes both a dative and an accusative object, the dative object usually precedes the accusative object.

• Der Junge gibt der Frau ein Geschenk. (The boy gives the woman a present.)

In this sentence, "der Frau" is the dative object, and "ein Geschenk" is the accusative object. When using pronouns, the accusative pronoun generally comes before the dative pronoun.

• Der Junge gibt es ihr. (The boy gives it to her.)

Sentence Structure with "Und" (And)

The conjunction "und" is used to connect words, phrases, or clauses. The word order after "und" depends on the type of clauses being connected.

Connecting Two Main Clauses

When "und" connects two main clauses, the word order in the second clause remains the same as a standard main clause.

• Der Junge geht in den Park, und er isst dort ein Eis. (The boy goes to the park, and he eats an ice cream there.)

Main Clause with Two Subordinate Clauses

When "und" connects two subordinate clauses, the verb in the “and" sentence also appears at the end.

• Der Junge geht in den Park, weil das Wetter schön ist und die Sonne heute sehr stark scheint. (The boy goes to the park because the weather is nice and the sun is shining brightly today.)

Subordinate Clause Followed by Two Main Clauses

When a subordinate clause is followed by two main clauses connected by "und," the verb in the 2nd main clause comes in the second position.

• Da das Wetter schön ist, geht der Junge in den Park, und dort isst er ein Eis. (As the weather is nice, the boy goes to the park, and he eats an ice cream there.)

Be cautious not to mistakenly place the verb at the first position in the "und" clause when it should be in the second.

Test Your Knowledge with a German Word Order Quiz

Mastering German word order can be challenging. Practice is essential to gain confidence and proficiency. Test your understanding with our latest quiz: German Word Order Quiz. You can find more quizzes to practice various German grammar topics here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sentence Structure Important?

Yes, sentence structure is one of the most essential grammar topics in German. It's important to practice it extensively to gain fluency.

What Is the Standard Sentence Structure?

The standard sentence structure in German is Subject-Verb-Object (SVO). However, the placement of the verb is crucial and can change depending on the sentence type.

Does the Sentence Structure Differ Between a Main Clause and a Dependent Clause?

Yes, in a main clause, the verb typically occupies the second position. In a dependent (subordinate) clause, the verb is placed at the end. If a main clause follows a subordinate clause, the verb in the main clause comes before the subject.

What Are German Sentence Structure Patterns?

German sentence structure patterns focus on the correct placement of the verb and other sentence elements. Starting with simple structures, like placing the subject at the beginning, can help you build more complex sentences over time.

Where Is an Adverb Placed in a Sentence?

In a main clause, the adverb usually comes after the verb.

• Tom fährt schnell zur Arbeit. (Tom drives quickly to work.)

In a subordinate clause, the adverb still follows the verb.

• ...weil er schnell zur Arbeit fährt. (...because he drives quickly to work.)

How Is the Sentence Structure in a Passive Clause?

In passive sentences, a form of "werden" plus the past participle is used. The accusative object of the active sentence becomes the nominative subject in the passive sentence. For perfect and past perfect tenses, "worden" is added at the end.

Examples

• Die Aufgabe wird von den Schülern gemacht. (Present passive - The task is being done by the students.)
• Die Aufgabe ist von den Schülern gemacht worden. (Perfect passive - The task has been done by the students.)
• Die Aufgabe wurde von den Schülern gemacht. (Simple past passive - The task was done by the students.)
• Die Aufgabe war von den Schülern gemacht worden. (Past perfect passive - The task had been done by the students.)
• Die Aufgabe wird von den Schülern gemacht werden. (Future I passive - The task will be done by the students.)
• Die Aufgabe wird von den Schülern gemacht worden sein. (Future II passive - The task will have been done by the students.)

For detailed information, check out our article on the German passive voice.