A1Sentence structure

The verb in second position

Where is the verb after “Heute”?

Take a look

Ich trinke Kaffee.

I drink coffee.

Take a look

Ich trinke Kaffee.I drink coffee.
Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin.Tomorrow I am going to Berlin.
Spielst du Fußball?Do you play football?
Am Montag arbeitet sie nicht.On Monday she doesn't work.

The rule

In a simple German statement, the changed verb takes the second position. The first position may contain one word or a whole phrase: Heute scheint die Sonne. Am Wochenende gehe ich ins Kino. If you begin with Heute, put the verb next, then the person or thing. Count parts of the sentence rather than individual words. This helps you check your own word order.

Remember: In a statement, the changed verb comes second.

Goes with lesson 1, 5, 11 of the course.

What differs for you

English usually keeps the subject before the verb after a time phrase. German moves the conjugated verb into second position: in “Heute scheint die Sonne”, “Heute” comes first and “scheint” follows before the subject. The German rule counts sentence parts, not just words. When you begin with a time or place, look for the verb immediately afterward.

AdvertisementLearn without ads

The forms

The verb in second position

Position 1	Position 2 (Verb)	Rest
Ich	trinke	heute Kaffee.
Heute	trinke	ich Kaffee.
Kaffee	trinke	ich heute.
Am Morgen	trinkt	sie Tee.

Common mistakes

*Heute die Sonne scheint.Heute scheint die Sonne.
*Am Wochenende ich gehe ins Kino.Am Wochenende gehe ich ins Kino.

AdvertisementLearn without ads

Quick check

Put the words in the correct order.Deutsch / ich / lerne
Put the words in the correct order.morgen / gehe / ich / ins Kino
Correct the word order.Ich morgen komme.
Which sentence is correct?Welcher Satz hat die richtige Wortstellung?
Put the words in the correct order.wohnst / wo / du
Put the verb in the correct place.Am Wochenende ___ wir Tennis. (to play)

The answers appear after “Check”.

The same exercises come back in the course — there Langula remembers what you know and asks again at the right moment. Learn German free →

← Grammar

Sentence structure

A1Nicht and keinWhat does “nicht” do in these sentences?A1Asking questionsWhy does one question start with “Wo” and another with “Kann”?A2In, auf, unter: place or directionWhy is it “in die Schule” but “in einem Büro”?A2Join sentences with weil and dassWhere is ist after weil in “Sie ist traurig, weil er weg ist”?B1Relative clausesRelative clauses give additional information about a noun.B1Infinitive constructionsInfinitive constructions with 'zu' replace subordinate clauses.

AdvertisementLearn without ads

Learn German, don’t just read about it

The sentences on this page are part of the free course — with pronunciation and repetition.

Start for free