Ich lerne Deutsch.
English: I am learning German.
- Language
- German
- Level
- A2
- Unit
- Satzstruktur und Nebensätze
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
In German, 'Wortstellung im Hauptsatz' means the word order in a main clause (a simple sentence). It tells you where to put the subject, verb, and other words in a regular sentence.
When to use it
Use this word order when you make normal statements or yes/no questions in German main clauses.
Key forms
- 1. Subject – Verb – Other parts
- 2. The verb is always in the second position
- 3. If another part (like time or place) comes first, the verb is still second, and the subject comes after
Examples
Morgen fahre ich nach Berlin.
English: Tomorrow I go to Berlin.
Wir essen Pizza.
English: We eat pizza.
Im Sommer schwimme ich oft.
English: In summer I often swim.
Du liest ein Buch.
English: You are reading a book.
Tips
- The verb is always in the second position, not always the second word.
- If you start the sentence with something else (like time or place), the subject comes after the verb.
- Do not put two verbs together in the second position.
Exceptions and edge cases
- In yes/no questions, the verb comes first.
- In subordinate clauses (with 'weil', 'dass', etc.), the verb goes to the end.