Verb-second word order, subordinate clause order, and time-manner-place rules explained with example sentences. Front: the German word or phrase. Back: English meaning.
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- Ich kaufe ein Buch.
- I buy a book. (SVO word order in main clause)
- Ein Buch kaufe ich.
- A book I buy. (Inverted V2: object moves to front, verb stays second)
- Gestern bin ich ins Kino gegangen.
- Yesterday I went to the cinema. (Adverbial at front, verb second)
- Schnell läuft der Junge.
- Fast runs the boy. (Adverb-Verb-Subject inversion)
- Heute Morgen habe ich Kaffee getrunken.
- This morning I drank coffee. (Multiple time expressions, then V2)
- Im Park spielen die Kinder.
- In the park play the children. (Location-Verb-Subject inversion)
- Niemals habe ich das gesehen.
- Never have I seen that. (Negative adverb triggers inversion)
- Nur selten kommt er pünktlich.
- Only rarely does he come on time. (Restrictive adverb inversion)
- Plötzlich fing es an zu regnen.
- Suddenly it started to rain. (Adverb of manner/time at front)
- Deshalb bin ich nicht gekommen.
- Therefore I did not come. (Conjunctive adverb triggers inversion)
- Ich weiß, dass du kommst.
- I know that you are coming. (Subordinate clause: verb at end)
- Wir fahren nach Berlin, obwohl es regnet.
- We drive to Berlin, although it is raining. (Concessive clause: verb final)
- Wenn ich Zeit habe, rufe ich dich an.
- If I have time, I will call you. (Conditional clause: verb at end)
- Der Mann, der hier arbeitet, ist mein Onkel.
- The man who works here is my uncle. (Relative clause: verb final)
- Nachdem sie gegessen hatten, gingen sie spazieren.
- After they had eaten, they went for a walk. (Temporal clause: verb final)