Learn the basic word order in German sentences
German Sentence Structure (Satzbau)
German sentence structure follows specific rules, especially regarding verb placement.
Statement (Aussagesatz)
In statements, the verb is always in the second position:
Subject + Verb + Object/Other
| Position 1 | Position 2 | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Ich | lerne | Deutsch. |
| Maria | kauft | einen Apfel. |
Time-Manner-Place Rule
When adding details, follow this order:
Time → Manner → Place
Questions (Fragesätze)
Yes/No Questions: Verb comes first
W-Questions: W-word + Verb
Negation
"Nicht" usually comes at the end or before the word being negated:
Examples / Beispiele
Der Mann kauft ein Buch.
→
The man buys a book.
Heute gehe ich ins Kino.
→
Today I go to the cinema.
Sprichst du Englisch?
→
Do you speak English?
Wo wohnst du?
→
Where do you live?
Ich komme nicht.
→
I'm not coming.