German Grammar
German word order feels chaotic until you learn its rules — and they are surprisingly consistent. The verb is the anchor; once you know where it goes, everything else falls into place.
Key takeaways
- In a main clause, the conjugated verb is always the second element (the verb-second rule).
- “Second element” means second idea, not second word — the front slot can hold a whole phrase.
- In the middle of a sentence, the default order is Time – Manner – Place (TeKaMoLo).
- In subordinate clauses (weil, dass, wenn…), the conjugated verb jumps to the end.
- Yes/no questions and commands put the verb first.
The one rule that unlocks German: the verb goes second
If you learn only one thing about German word order, learn this: in a normal statement, the conjugated verb is always the second element. Grammarians call it the V2 rule, and it is astonishingly reliable. Watch what happens as we move other words to the front — the verb (gehe) stays glued to position two:
The front slot: lead with whatever you want to stress
German lets you put almost anything in first position to change the emphasis — the subject, a time expression, or even the object. The only rule is that the verb must follow immediately. This flexibility is a feature, not a bug: it is how German speakers highlight what matters most.
The middle: Time – Manner – Place
When several details pile up in the middle of a sentence, they follow a default order often abbreviated TeKaMoLo (Temporal, Kausal, Modal, Lokal) — or, in plain English, Time – Manner – Place:
| Time (wann?) | Manner (wie?) | Place (wo/wohin?) |
|---|---|---|
| morgen | mit dem Zug | nach Berlin |
English puts place before time (“to Berlin by train tomorrow”); German flips it. When in doubt, ask when → how → where.
Objects: dative before accusative
When a sentence has two objects, the default is dative before accusative:
The exception: if the accusative is a pronoun, it comes first — „Ich gebe es dem Kind.“ For the cases behind this, see our guide to the German cases.
Subordinate clauses: the verb jumps to the end
Here is the second great rule. Certain conjunctions open a subordinate clause, and inside it the conjugated verb is kicked all the way to the end:
Common verb-to-the-end conjunctions include:
| Conjunction | Meaning |
|---|---|
| weil | because |
| dass | that |
| wenn | if / when |
| als | when (past, one time) |
| obwohl | although |
| ob | whether |
| damit | so that |
| bevor / nachdem | before / after |
The verb bracket (Satzklammer)
When a sentence has two verb parts — a modal plus an infinitive, or haben/sein plus a participle, or a separable verb — German splits them: the conjugated part stays in position two, and the other part goes to the very end. Everything else sits inside this “bracket.”
You will see this pattern constantly once you learn modal verbs and the Perfekt tense.
Questions and commands
Two situations break the verb-second rule on purpose:
- Yes/no questions put the verb first: „Kommst du mit?“ (Are you coming?)
- W-questions start with the question word, then the verb: „Wann kommst du?“ (When are you coming?) — see our question words guide.
- Commands put the verb first: „Komm her!“ (Come here!)
The mistakes almost everyone makes
- Keeping English word order after a time word. „Heute ich gehe…“ is wrong — it must be „Heute gehe ich…“ (inversion).
- Forgetting to send the verb to the end after weil, dass, wenn.
- Leaving the second verb part in the middle. It belongs at the very end: „Ich habe einen Film gesehen“, not „Ich habe gesehen einen Film.“
How to master German word order
Anchor everything to the verb. First, drill the verb-second rule until inversion feels natural. Then practise sending the verb to the end after weil and dass. Reading is the fastest way to absorb these patterns — try our graded reading practice, and check your progress with the free German level test.
Grammar sticks fastest when you actually use it. Practise with a friendly native tutor on italki and these rules turn into instinct.
Practise with a tutor on italki →Frequently asked questions
What is the verb-second rule in German?
In a normal German statement, the conjugated verb always sits in the second position — the second element (idea), not necessarily the second word. Whatever you place first (subject, time, place), the verb follows immediately, and the subject moves after it.
Why does the verb go to the end in German?
The conjugated verb moves to the end inside subordinate clauses — clauses introduced by conjunctions like weil (because), dass (that), wenn (if/when) and obwohl (although). This is one of German’s most distinctive features and is separate from the verb-second rule of main clauses.
What does TeKaMoLo mean?
TeKaMoLo stands for Temporal, Kausal, Modal, Lokal — the default order of information in the middle of a German sentence. In plain terms it is Time – Manner – Place: when something happens, then how, then where.
How do I ask a question in German?
For a yes/no question, put the verb first: „Kommst du?“ (Are you coming?). For an open question, start with a question word and then the verb: „Wann kommst du?“ (When are you coming?).