German Verb-Second Word Order: Why Does the Verb Move?
Learn the verb-second rule in statements and what changes when a sentence begins with time or place.
DE002 · DE · A1 / A2 · grammar
The question
Why is it Heute lerne ich Deutsch, not Heute ich lerne Deutsch?
In ordinary German main-clause statements, the finite verb occupies the second position. A 'position' is a sentence constituent, not necessarily a single word. Ich lerne heute Deutsch and Heute lerne ich Deutsch both place lerne second.
What comes first?
| First element | Correct sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Subject | Ich lerne heute Deutsch. | I'm learning German today. |
| Time | Heute lerne ich Deutsch. | Today I'm learning German. |
| Place | In Berlin wohnt meine Schwester. | My sister lives in Berlin. |
| Long phrase | Nach dem Unterricht gehe ich nach Hause. | After class I go home. |
When another constituent comes first, the subject typically follows the finite verb: Morgen kommt Anna. In yes/no questions the finite verb normally comes first (Kommst du morgen?), while subordinate clauses introduced by weil usually place the finite verb at the end (weil ich morgen komme).
Common mistake
Avoid *Heute ich lerne Deutsch in an ordinary main-clause statement. A fronted time phrase does not push the verb into third position.
Remember
In a German declarative main clause, count constituents: whichever element comes first, put the finite verb second.