Ich gehe heute zur Schule.
English: I go to school today.
- Language
- German
- Level
- A1
- Unit
- Satzstruktur und Verneinung
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
In German, the main clause (Hauptsatz) is a complete sentence that can stand alone. The word order in a main clause is important: the verb usually comes in the second position.
When to use it
Use this word order in German for normal sentences, statements, and yes/no questions that start with the verb.
Key forms
- Subject + Verb + other elements
- Example: Ich lerne Deutsch.
- If another element (like time or place) is first, the verb is still second: Heute lerne ich Deutsch.
Examples
Morgen mache ich meine Hausaufgaben.
English: Tomorrow I do my homework.
Du spielst Fußball.
English: You play soccer.
Wir essen Pizza.
English: We eat pizza.
Jetzt liest er ein Buch.
English: Now he reads a book.
Tips
- Remember: In a main clause, the conjugated verb is always in the second position.
- If you start the sentence with something other than the subject (like time or place), the subject comes after the verb.
- Do not put two elements before the verb.
Exceptions and edge cases
- In yes/no questions, the verb comes first.
- Coordinating conjunctions (und, aber, oder) do not change the word order.