If you’ve ever tried forming a sentence in German and thought,
“Wait… why is the verb at the end??”
— you’re not alone.
German word order can feel confusing, even unfair, especially for English speakers. But once you understand the basic rules and patterns, it becomes logical and even fun (no, really).
In this article, we’ll break down:
- Why German word order is different
- The 3 most important rules you need to know
- Common word order mistakes
- Real examples you can start using today
🧠 Why Is German Word Order So Weird?
Because German is a position-sensitive language. That means:
- The position of words changes the meaning or function
- It cares a lot about verb placement and sentence structure
- The language uses cases to signal roles (subject, object, etc.)
The good news? It’s actually very consistent — once you learn the patterns.
🔑 Rule #1: In Main Clauses, the Verb Is Always in Position 2
This is the golden rule of German grammar.
Example:
Ich (1st position) gehe (2nd position – verb) nach Hause.
👉 I’m going home.
Now watch this:
Heute (1st position) gehe (verb – still 2nd!) ich nach Hause.
👉 Today, I’m going home.
💡 You can change what comes first (subject, time, place…), but the verb always stays second.
🔑 Rule #2: In Subordinate Clauses, the Verb Goes to the End
Subordinate clauses start with words like:
- weil (because)
- dass (that)
- wenn (if/when)
- obwohl (although)
Examples:
- Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.
👉 I’m staying home because I am sick. - Ich denke, dass du recht hast.
👉 I think that you’re right.
⚠️ Mistake to avoid: ❌ Ich denke, dass du hast recht.
✅ Ich denke, dass du recht hast.
The conjugated verb always goes to the end of the subordinate clause.
🔄 Rule #3: In Yes/No Questions, the Verb Comes First
This one flips things completely.
Examples:
- Kommst du mit? 👉 Are you coming along?
- Hast du Zeit? 👉 Do you have time?
German doesn’t use “do/does” like English. It just jumps straight in with the verb.
🔁 Bonus: Separable Verbs (Trennbare Verben)
These verbs split up and surround the sentence.
Example:
Ich rufe dich heute Abend an.
👉 I’ll call you this evening.
(Verb: anrufen → rufe … an)
But if it’s in a subordinate clause…
…, weil ich dich heute Abend anrufe.
👉 … because I’m calling you this evening.
(Here it stays whole and moves to the end)
🚫 Most Common Word Order Mistakes (and Fixes)
| Mistake | Correct Version | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Ich denke, dass ich habe Zeit. | Ich denke, dass ich Zeit habe. | Verb goes to the end |
| Morgen ich gehe ins Büro. | Morgen gehe ich ins Büro. | Verb must be 2nd |
| Du kommst mit? | Kommst du mit? | Question → verb first |
| Er sieht den Film an. | Er sieht sich den Film an. | Don’t forget reflexive pronouns |
🧪 Try These Templates
You can build hundreds of correct sentences with these patterns:
- [Time] + [verb] + [subject] + [other info]
- Heute gehe ich ins Kino.
- [Main clause], weil [subject] + [object] + [verb].
- Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich das Buch lesen will.
- [Question word] + [verb] + [subject] + [info]?
- Wann gehst du nach Hause?
- [Verb] + [subject] + [info]?
- Kommst du mit?
🎯 Final Words: Make Word Order Your Friend
German word order seems hard at first, but it’s just different, not broken.
- Focus on position 2 for verbs
- Learn the “verb-last” rule for subordinate clauses
- Practice speaking and writing short sentences with these patterns
- And don’t be afraid to make mistakes — it’s how you internalize the structure