Word Order: Verb as Second Idea in German

This section explains Word Order – Verb as Second Idea in German. In German, the verb typically takes the second position in a main clause. This is known as the verb-second (V2) rule. It applies regardless of whether the sentence starts with the subject or another element.

Word Order in a Simple Sentence (Foundation Tier)

The basic structure of a German sentence is:

Subject + Verb + Other Elements

🔹 Example:

• Ich spiele Fussball. (I play football.)
• Wir gehen heute ins Kino. (We are going to the cinema today.)

What Happens If the Sentence Starts with Another Element?

If a sentence starts with something other than the subject (e.g., a time phrase or place), the verb must still be in the second position. The subject then moves after the verb.

🔹 Example:

• Heute gehe ich ins Kino. (Today I am going to the cinema.)
• Nach der Schule spiele ich Fussball. (After school, I play football.)

🚨 Mistake to Avoid:
❌Heute ich gehe ins Kino. (Incorrect – verb is not in the second position)
✅Heute gehe ich ins Kino. (Correct)

Higher Tier – More Complex Sentences with Conjunctions

Some conjunctions like "weil" (because), "dass" (that), "obwohl" (although) send the verb to the end of the clause. However, if the sentence continues, the next clause follows the standard verb-second rule.

🔹 Example:

• Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin. (I am staying at home because I am ill.)
• Er denkt, dass das eine gute Idee ist. (He thinks that this is a good idea.)

Questions and Commands – Special Cases

In questions without question words, the verb moves to the first position:
🔹Example:

• Spielst du Fussball? (Do you play football?)
• Gehst du heute ins Kino? (Are you going to the cinema today?)

For commands (imperatives), the verb also comes first:
🔹Example:

• Mach deine Hausaufgaben! (Do your homework!)
• Sei ruhig! (Be quiet!)

Summary of Key Word Order Rules

✅ In statements, the verb is always in the second position.
✅ If a time or place phrase starts the sentence, the verb still stays second.
✅ Subordinating conjunctions (e.g., weil, dass, obwohl) push the verb to the end of the clause.
✅ In yes/no questions and commands, the verb comes first.

Practice Questions

1. Rearrange the words into the correct order:
   ins / wir / gehen / morgen / Museum
   Answer: Morgen gehen wir ins Museum.
2. Translate into German using the correct word order:
   After school, I do my homework.
   Answer: Nach der Schule mache ich meine Hausaufgaben.
3. Why is this sentence incorrect?
   ❌ Ich weil müde bin, gehe früh ins Bett.
   ✅ Correct version: Weil ich müde bin, gehe ich früh ins Bett.

By following these rules, you can form grammatically correct German sentences and improve your fluency! 🚀