📝Sentence structure

A neutral German statement often follows subject + finite verb + complements.

The finite verb occupies structural position 2: it follows the first constituent, not necessarily the first single word.

A multiword time or place phrase can fill position 1 as one unit.

The subject, a time phrase, a place phrase, an object or another highlighted constituent may come first.

When something other than the subject is first, the subject normally follows the finite verb.

Only one constituent comes before the finite verb in a normal V2 main clause.

A yes/no question usually puts the finite verb first.

A W-question begins with the question element, followed by the finite verb and then the subject.

A direct command also normally begins with the imperative verb.

German often separates two parts of the verb and places other sentence elements between them.

With a separable verb, the prefix goes to the end; with a modal, the infinitive goes to the end.

In the perfect tense, the finite auxiliary is in position 2 and the past participle closes the clause.

German object and adverb order is flexible, but the finite verb remains anchored by the clause type.

Time often precedes place in a neutral beginner sentence.

The present tense commonly describes a scheduled or arranged future event when a future time expression is present.

German capitalizes every noun, not only names and sentence-initial words.

Es gibt means there is or there are and is followed by the accusative.

The impersonal es also appears in expressions such as Es regnet and Es ist spät.