Word order is one of the many obstacles that students will have to overcome. We hope this article will help you tame word order in German.

1. Learn Which Conjunctions Change Word Order and Which Don't

Different types of conjunctions affect the word order in a sentence in different ways. The natural (direct) word order is subject, predicate, object.

Der Student liest den Text vor.

Connecting conjunctions do not affect word order: und, denn, sondern, aber And order.

Die Eltern gehen ins Kino und

Siegehen unbeschwert ins Kino, denn die Oma sorgt für die Kinder.

Subordinating conjunctions ( während, bis, als, wenn, da, weil, ob, obwohl And dass) are confusing: they drop the predicate at the end of the sentence.

Ich schätze dich, Weil du ein treuer Freund best. (cf. Du best ein treuer Freund.)

2. Learn when to save a verb until the very end

In German, there are many situations where the verb must unequivocally appear at the end of the sentence. This is one of the reasons why German is considered such a strange and difficult language.

Modal verbs

Modal verbs are a very common kind of "auxiliary" verbs, and in German you see them all the time: können, müssen, sollen, dürfen, etc. When you use a modal verb, the second verb is always in the form of an infinitive. at the end of the sentence. In German, the infinitive is usually easy to spot: almost every verb in its initial form ends in “-en” (there are several verbs like sammeln – to collect and segeln – to swim, they are a little different!) At first, it doesn’t seem natural to you to put the infinitive at the end! Just imagine that you pick it up, juggle it and put it in the right place.

Darf ich dein Telefon benutzen?

NEVER! Darf ich benutzen dein telephone?

subordinate clauses

In German, every subordinate clause (Nebensatz) puts the verb at the end:

Ich sah, dass er seinem Sohn Geld gab.

If there are two verbs in the subordinate clause, then the first of them is sent to the end (if we use the exact linguistic term, then this is the conjugated part of the predicate, but I won’t be offended if you miss it). The conjugated part of the predicate is “hat” in “hat…geschenkt”, or “ist” in “ist… geworden”, or “wird” in “wird…vorbeikommen”.

Sie sagte, dass ihr Klaus diese Blumen geschenkt hat.

3. Learn how to reverse word order

In the declarative and main sentences, the conjugated part of the predicate is always In second place.

Wir haben heute verschlafen.

Therefore, if you, for example, decide to bring the circumstance forward in order to emphasize it, do not forget to leave the verb where it should be:

Heute haben wirverschlafen.

4. Learn how to put things in the right order

The basic rule for German sentences is: subject, predicate, indirect object (dative case), direct object.

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With the circumstance, everything is much more complicated. If there are several of them, then they line up in the following order: time (when?), reason (why?), mode of action (how?), place (where?).

Er geht heute wegen der Klausur voller Furcht zur Universität.

  • Time: heute (today)
  • Reason: wegen der Klausur (due to the written exam)
  • Mode of action: voller Furcht (with great fear)
  • Location: zur Universität (to the university)

Try to analyze long German sentences that you see in newspapers or German videos on YouTube in order to get used to real examples of the correct use of circumstances.

Of course, these are far from all the features of the German word order, but you now have a general idea. If you would like to delve into this topic, then seek help online.

Subordinate (adj.) sentences (preposition) are dependent prepositions that are not used without the main clause.

The characteristic features of adj. suggestion are:

  1. Special arrangement of words
  2. The inseparability of separable prefixes of such sentences;
  3. Inclination (conjunctiva);
  4. Subordinating conjunctions link two sentences.

Adverbial preposition Maybe:

Stand after the main Meine Tochter sagt, dass sie die Hausaufgabe gemacht hat.

(My daughter said she did her homework)

Stand in front of the main Während wir in Köln wohnten, sprachen wir nur Deutsch.

(During the time we lived in Cologne, we only spoke German)

To be inserted into the main Der Kino, der ich gesehen habe, hat beendet.

(The movie I was watching is over)

Word order in a subordinate clause (Wortfolge im Nebensatz):

1) General order: Ich ärgere mich, weil du das Brot nicht gekauft hat.

(I'm mad because you didn't buy bread)

From this we see that the main proposition remains unchanged, but the words are in the following order:

2) Unions and words are always at the beginning of the adj. prepositions. An exception are prepositions that can be placed before relative pronouns (loc.). Then comes the subject.

Example: Ich erkannte, mit wem ich nach Perm fahre. (I found out with whom I will go to Perm)

3) The modified verb is in the very last place. He also has the inseparability of the prefix.

For example: Er erfuhr, dass du fortgefahren bist. (He found out that you left)

4) The penultimate place will be occupied by the invariable part of the predicate

Du hast vergessen, dass er dir gesagt hat. (You forgot what he told me)

Ich finde, dass du sehr nett bist (I think you are very pretty)

5) Return seats. sich is written after the subject, expressed by a personal place, with the pronouns man and es.

Example: Ich habe gehört, dass er sich zum Ausflug verspätet hat. (I heard that he was late for the flight)






In this lesson, we will continue to get acquainted with subordinate clauses in German, namely those in which the following conjunctions are used:

dass- What

ob- whether

Weil- because

da- because

Formation of subordinate clauses

As you remember, the variable part of the predicate takes the final position in the subordinate clause, that is, it is placed at the very end. For example: Ich wusste nicht, dass du zu Hause warst. I didn't know you were at home. The same happens with complex tenses: Ich wusste nicht, dass du meinen Brief nicht bekommen hast. I didn't know you didn't get my letter.
On site dass Question words can also be used.

  • Ich habe nicht gehört, was sie gesagt hat. “I didn't hear what she said.
  • Er sagt nicht, wenn er kommt. He doesn't say when he will come.

It is also possible to use such adverbs as wovon and womit:

  • Ich weiß nicht, wovon Sie sprechen.— I don't know what you're talking about.
  • Er fragt, womit er dir helfen kann. He asks how he can help you.

Union da, as a rule, is used if the subordinate clause comes before the main clause. Do not forget that in this case the reverse word order is used in the main sentence - inversion:
Da sie kein Geld hat, geht sie nicht zum Konzert. Since she has no money, she will not go to the concert.
The same idea can be expressed with weil, but in this case the subordinate clause can stand and after main sentence, and before him:
Sie geht nicht zum Konzert, weil sie kein Geld hat. She won't go to the concert because she has no money. — Weil sie kein Geld hat, geht sie nocht zum Konzert.
Concerning ob, then this union with in the German sentence is translated as "li":
Ich weiss nicht, ob er kommt. I don't know if he will come.
Er möchte wissen, ob sie nach Berlin fahren. He would like to know if they will go to Berlin.
In general, everything is not so difficult, the main thing is to remember the translation of unions and the capricious “da”, which is only on first place.

Tasks for the lesson

Exercise 1. Make two sentences into one using da or weil.

  1. Ich habe keine Zeit. Ich gehe ins Kino nothing.
  2. 2. Sie ist nicht gekommen. Sie ist krank.
  3. 3. Ich konnte dir nicht antworten. Ich war sehr beschäftigt.
  4. 4. Es regnet. Wirbleiben zu Hause.
  5. 5. Ich darf nicht heute Alkohol trinken. Ich fahre mit dem Auto.

Exercise 2. Complete the sentence.

  1. Meine Schwester sagte, (that she is going to the movies).
  2. Ich weiß nicht, (will he come tomorrow).
  3. Der Lehrer fragt, (what I'm interested in).
  4. Ich kann nicht sagen, (Is this correct).
  5. Ich weiß, (that you understand everything).
  6. Ich muss viel arbeiten, (because I want to buy a new house).

Answer 1.

  1. Da (weil) ich keine Zeit habe, gehe ich ins Kino nicht. (Ich gehe ins Kino nicht, weil ich keine Zeit habe.)
  2. Da (weil) sie krank ist, ist sie nicht gekommen. (Sie ist nicht gekommen, weil sie krank ist.)
  3. Da (weil) ich sehr beschäftigt war, konnte ich dich nicht antworten. (Ich konnte dich nicht antworten, weil ich sehr beschäftigt war.)
  4. Da (weil) es regnet, bleiben wir zu Hause. (Wir bleiben zu Hause, weil es regnet.)
  5. Da (weil) ich mit dem Auto fahre, darf ich nicht heute Alkohol trinken. (Ich darf nicht heute Alkohol trinken, weil ich mit dem Auto fahre.)

Answer 2.

  1. …dass sie ins Kino geht.
  2. …ob er heute commt.
  3. …wofür ich mich interessiere.
  4. …ob es richtig ist.
  5. …dass du alles verstehst.
  6. …weil ich ein neues Haus kaufen will.

To build a beautiful, correct sentence (preposition) and at the same time express exactly what you want to say, it is not enough to know the conjugation of verbs and the declension of nouns and adjectives, since the construction of a preposition. in German has a number of its own features that are not obvious to native Russian speakers.

In order to make a sentence, we need to decide what we want to express: to convey information (narrative sentences are used for this), ask a question (interrogative) or call someone to action (incentives).

I. Word order in a German declarative sentence

Speaking about the construction of sentences, the Germans sometimes compare them with a verbal orchestra, where the verb plays the role of a conductor and determines the place and time each instrument (member of the sentence) enters the game, while itself usually remains in the background.

So, the verb (predicate) in the narrative preposition. occupies the second place, while it is not so important that it is in the first place. Unlike English, the subject of the action does not always precede the predicate. In written speech, the first position is often used as a link with previous information, and in oral speech it emphasizes something important, while it stands out intonation.

Ichlebein Deutschland
Mein BruderstudentMedizin in Munich.
Von meiner Kindheit anglaubteich an die grosse Liebe.
Dieses Buchschenkeich niemandem.

If the predicate (predicate) consists of two parts, then the second part is at the end of the sentence.

Beim Fahrradfahren sollen die Kinder Helme tragen .

Ich werde mich nie mehr verlieben.

Meine Eltern haben 2 Jahre in Africa gearbeitet .

At first glance, everything is simple. BUT! Everything that stands between the two parts of the predicate is called Mittelfeld in German, and the word order here is regulated by a number of rules.

  • Pronouns take precedence over nouns, i.e. stand in front of him, regardless of cases.

Ich habe ihm mein Auto geliehen.

Er hat mir diese Uhr geschenkt.

  • Noun sequence: Nominativ, Dativ, Akkusativ, Genetiv.

Die Mutter hat ihrer Tochter (D) eine schöne Puppe (A) gekauft.

Heute hat die Lehrerin(N) ihren Schülern (D) ein neues Thema(A) erklärt.

  • Pronoun sequence: Nominativ, Akkusativ, Dativ.

Die Lehrerin hat heute ihnen ein neues Thema erklärt.

Heute hat sie(N) es(A) ihnen(D) erklärt.

  • Circumstances obey the TEKAMOLO rule: TE = temporal (time); KA = kausal (reason); MO = modal (mode of action); LO = local (place). This means that in the preposition first come the circumstances of time (answer the questions when? how long? how often?), then the circumstances of the cause (answer the questions why? for what reason?), followed by the circumstances of the mode of action (answer the questions how? in what way), and they are closed by the circumstances of the place (they answer the questions where? where? from where?).

Ich fahre morgen (temporal) mit dem Zug(modal) nach Berlin (local).

Ich war gestern zwei Stunden (temporal) wegen des Schneefalls (kausal) im Stau (modal) stehengeblieben.

  • Known information (with definite articles) precedes unknown information (with indefinite articles).

Ich habe der Tochter meiner Freunde ein Kleid gekauft.

Peter hat den Eltern ein neues Restaurant empfohlen.

  • Direct objects in the Accusative (A) and Dative (D) cases precede indirect objects (preposition + object).

Die Mutter hat ihrem Sohn(D) eine neue Jacke(A) aus Baumwolle(Präposition + D) gekauft.

Ich habe gestern einen Brief(A) an meinen Anwalt(Präposition + A) geschrieben.

  • Circumstances usually stand between two additions.

Du musst dir unbedingt diesen Film anschauen.

Ich danke Ihnen herzlich fur Ihre Hilfe.

Considering the construction of the preposition. in German, in particular declarative sentences, it is also worth paying attention to the word order in complex sentences.

Word order in complex sentences

Difficult prepositions. - those in which there are 2 or more grammatical bases, i.e. 2 or more subject and predicate. Distinguish between complex and compound sentences. Compounds in German include prepositions. with conjunctions aber and und. The word order in them is the same as in simple sentences.

Meine Eltern haben mir vom Ehebruch abgeraten und später habe ich verstanden, dass sie Recht hatten.

As for complex sentences, in the main part (Hauptsatz) the word order is normal, and in the subordinate part (Nebensatz) it is reversed, i.e. the verb is at the very end of the sentence.

Ich bin gestern ganzen Tag spazieren gegangen, obwohl es ziemlich kalt war.

Ich wusste überhaupt nicht, dass du heiraten wolltest.

Ich weiß nicht, ob alle meine Freunde zur Party kommen.

II. Word order in a German interrogative sentence

In German, 2 types of questions can be distinguished: general (which can be answered yes / no) and special (set using a question word).

In a general question, the first position is the verb - the predicate, then - all the other members of the preposition, if the predicate consists of two parts, then the second part, as in the narrative preposition, is at the end.

Magst Du Haustiere?

Bist du gestern gut nach Hause angekommen?

Konntest du mir bitte helfen? (question-request).

In special questions, the interrogative word is in the first place, the verb is in the second, then all the other members of the sentence.

Warum hast du mich nicht angerufen?

Wie lange haben Sie in Russland gelebt?

Wo bist du geboren?

III. Word order in a German imperative sentence

Incentive suggestion. expresses a call, a call to action. Usually it is expressed using the imperative (imperative mood). Their main difference is that in the first place is the verb, and at the end of the preposition. usually an exclamation point. In oral speech, preposition. pronounced with rising intonation. The subject in such a sentence. may not be, especially when referring to 2l.sg.ch (du), when politely addressed Sie, the subject comes after the verb.

Warte auf mich bitte!

Raum dein Zimmer auf!

Bleiben Sie bitte ruhig!

First of all, you need to indicate the conjunctions that form additional subordinate clauses and relative clauses of reason:

  • ass- What
  • ob- whether
  • weil- because
  • da- because

And now the fun begins. In the main clause, everything is as usual, but in the subordinate clause, the word order changes in a special way. The subject comes right after the conjunction, and the inflected part of the predicate takes the last place:

  • Ich weiß, dass er in zwei Wochen nach Deutschland fahrt. - I know that he is going to Germany in two weeks.
  • Ich möchte wissen, ob wir am Samstag Unterricht haben. - I would like to know if we have classes on Saturday.
  • Sie kommt heute nicht, weil sie krank ist. - She won't come today because she is sick.

It looks even more original if a complex tense form, a construction with a modal verb, etc. appears in the sentence:

  • Ich weiß, dass er vor zwei Wochen nach Deutschland gefahren ist. - I know that he left for Germany two weeks ago.
  • Ich weiss nicht, ob sie das Auto gekauft haben. - I don't know if they bought the car.
  • Sie lernt Englisch und Deutsch, weil sie zwei Fremdsprachen beherrschen will. - She studies English and German because she wants to speak two foreign languages.

If we compare this with the direct word order: "Er fährt ...", "Sie ist ...", "Sie will ...", then you can see the frame construction, where the frame is formed by the subject (at the beginning of the subordinate clause) and " predicate set from "(at the end).

The negation in the subordinate clause comes before the predicate or before the invariable part of the predicate - in a word, not in the last place, because the last place is always “reserved” behind the invariable part of the predicate:

  • Ich habe gehört, dass er nach Deutschland nothing fart. - I heard that he is not going to Germany.
  • Ich habe nicht geantwortet, weil ich diese E-Mail nothing bekommen habe. - I didn't reply because I didn't receive that e-mail.

Separable prefixes and verb components in subordinate clauses are not separated:

  • Ich denke, dass ich mitgehe. - I think I will go with you.
  • Wir wissen nicht, ob er mitfährt. - We don't know if he's coming with us.
  • Ich habe die Lampe ausgeschaltet, weil ich fernsehe. - I turned off the lamp because I am watching TV.

The reflexive pronoun sich is in the subordinate clause after subject, if the subject is expressed by a pronoun:

  • Ich habe gehort, dass Sie sich mit diesen Problemen beschäftigen. - I heard that you are dealing with these issues.

But if the subject in the subordinate clause is expressed by a noun, then sich usually stands before subject to:

  • Ich weiss, dass sich unser Freund mit diesen Problemen beschäftigt. - I know that our friend is dealing with these problems.

Additional subordinate clauses can be introduced not only with the union dass, but also with a question word:

Ich habe nicht gehort, was er gesagt hat. - I didn't hear what he said.

Ich weiss nothing, wann er commt. - I don't know when he will come.

Konnen Sie erklaren, warum Sie sich immer verspaten? - Can you explain why you are always late?

Wissen Sie, Herr Doktor, was ich heute Morgen geschossen habe? - Do you know, doctor, what I shot this morning?

Ja, das weiss ich. Ich habe ihn heute Mittag behandelt. - Yes I know. I looked at it during the day.

play a role in such proposals and pronominal adverbs. They are formed by adding wo(r)- or da(r)- to the corresponding suggestion:

  • Erfahrt mit dem Bus. - Womit farther? - Erfahrt damit. - He rides the bus. - What is he driving? – On it (= on the bus).
  • Ich interessiere mich fur Fremdsprachen. - Wofur interessieren Sie sich? - Ich interessiere mich dafur. - I am interested in foreign languages. - What are you interested in? - I'm interested in it.
  • Sie warten auf den Zug. - Worauf warten sie? - Sie warten darauf. - They are waiting for the train. – What are they waiting for? They are waiting for him (= train).

Pronominal adverbs can introduce additional subordinate clauses:

  • Er fragment, wovon ich das weiss. - He asks how I know this.
  • Man hat mich gefragt, womit ich mich beschäftige. - I was asked what I do.

Union da - because usually introduces a subordinate clause if it comes before the main one. That is, in this case, all our argumentation begins with the conjunction da. The variable parts of the predicate in the main and subordinate clause tend to each other and are located at the junction:

Da er ein junger Wissenschaftler ist, hat er ein Forschungsstipendium bekommen. - Since he is a young scientist, he received a research scholarship.

Da er dies Stipendium bekommen hat, fahrt er nach Deutschland. - Since he received this scholarship, he is going to Germany.