Sentence Structure

🏗️ German Sentence Mastery: Building Blocks of Words

The Big Picture: Sentences are Like LEGO Trains!

Imagine you’re building a train with LEGO blocks. Each block has a special spot where it must go. German sentences work the same way! The verb (action word) is like the engine — it always goes in a specific position.

In English, you can be a bit messy: “I eat pizza” or “Pizza I eat” (sounds weird but you can do it).

In German? The blocks have rules. Let’s learn them!

🚂 Part 1: Main Clause Word Order

What’s a Main Clause?

A main clause is a complete sentence that can stand alone. Like a train that doesn’t need to be connected to anything else.

The Golden Rule: VERB = POSITION 2

In German main clauses, the verb always goes in the second position. Not the second word — the second chunk of meaning.

Position 1    |  Position 2  |  Rest
──────────────┼──────────────┼──────────
Ich           |  esse        |  Pizza.
(I)           |  (eat)       |  (pizza)

Example:

• 🇩🇪 Ich esse Pizza. → I eat pizza.
• 🇩🇪 Heute esse ich Pizza. → Today I eat pizza.

Notice how “esse” (eat) stays in position 2, even when we start with “Heute” (today)!

Time-Manner-Place Rule

When you add details, they go in order: When → How → Where

Think: TMP = Time, Manner, Place

Ich   fahre   morgen   schnell   nach Berlin.
I     go      tomorrow  quickly   to Berlin.
      VERB    TIME      MANNER    PLACE

❓ Part 2: Question Formation

Two Types of Questions

Type 1: Yes/No Questions Just flip the verb to position 1! Like turning your LEGO train backwards.

Statement: Du spielst Fußball. (You play soccer)
Question:  Spielst du Fußball? (Do you play soccer?)
           VERB FIRST!

Type 2: W-Questions (Who, What, When…) The question word goes first, verb stays in position 2.

Example:

• 🇩🇪 Was machst du? → What are you doing?
• 🇩🇪 Wann kommst du? → When are you coming?

🚫 Part 3: Negation (Saying “No” and “Not”)

Two Magic Words

NICHT = not (for verbs, adjectives, adverbs) KEIN = no/not a (for nouns)

Where Does NICHT Go?

NICHT is like a spotlight — it shines on what you’re negating.

General rule: Put NICHT at the end (but before place/direction).

Ich spiele nicht.
I don't play.

Ich gehe nicht nach Hause.
I'm not going home.
(NICHT before the place)

KEIN = NICHT + EIN

Use KEIN when you would say “not a” or “no”:

Ich habe ein Auto. → Ich habe kein Auto.
I have a car.     → I have no car.

🔗 Part 4: Subordinate Clause Word Order

The Big Twist: Verb Goes LAST!

A subordinate clause can’t stand alone. It’s like a train car that needs to connect to the main train.

The Rule: In subordinate clauses, the verb jumps to the very end.

Main clause:      Ich weiß.         (I know.)
Subordinate:      dass du kommst.   (that you're coming)
Together:         Ich weiß, dass du kommst.
                              VERB AT END!

Comma Alert!

German LOVES commas. Always put a comma before the subordinate clause.

🔗 Part 5: Coordinating Conjunctions

What Are They?

Words that connect two equal parts. Think of them as bridges between two trains.

The ADUSO Group (No Word Order Change!)

Key Point: After ADUSO, word order stays NORMAL (verb in position 2).

Ich esse Pizza, und er trinkt Cola.
I eat pizza, and he drinks cola.
              NORMAL ORDER!

Example with “aber”:

• 🇩🇪 Ich bin müde, aber ich arbeite weiter.
• 🇬🇧 I’m tired, but I keep working.

⚡ Part 6: Subordinating Conjunctions

These Conjunctions Send the Verb to the END!

Common subordinating conjunctions:

Example:

Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.
I stay home because I am sick.
                         VERB AT END!

Memory Trick: Subordinating = Verb Submarining!

The verb “dives” to the end of the clause.

🌉 Part 7: Conjunctive Adverbs

The Middle Ground

These words connect ideas but work differently. They count as position 1, so the verb comes right after them!

Example:

Ich bin müde. Deshalb gehe ich ins Bett.
I'm tired. Therefore I go to bed.
           ↑POSITION 1  ↑VERB (position 2)

Another example:

• 🇩🇪 Es regnet. Trotzdem gehe ich spazieren.
• 🇬🇧 It’s raining. Nevertheless, I go for a walk.

🔄 Part 8: Relative Clauses

What Are They?

Extra information about a noun. Like adding a description sticker to your LEGO block.

The Relative Pronouns

They change based on gender and case:

How It Works

Das ist der Mann, der hier wohnt.
This is the man who lives here.

Das ist das Buch, das ich lese.
This is the book that I'm reading.

Key Rules:

1. Comma before the relative clause
2. Relative pronoun matches the noun’s gender
3. Verb goes to the END (like subordinate clauses!)

Example:

Der Hund, den ich sehe, ist groß.
The dog that I see is big.
         ↑ accusative (direct object)
                    ↑ verb at end!

🎯 Quick Summary: The Word Order Cheat Code

graph TD
    A["Start"] --> B{What type?}
    B --> C["Main Clause"]
    B --> D["Subordinate Clause"]
    B --> E["Question"]

    C --> C1["Verb = Position 2"]
    D --> D1["Verb = THE END"]
    E --> E1{Yes/No?}

    E1 --> F["Yes/No: Verb First"]
    E1 --> G["W-Question: W-word + Verb Position 2"]

💡 The Master Pattern

🎉 You Did It!

German word order might seem tricky at first, but it’s actually very logical. Once you remember:

• Main clause = Verb position 2
• Subordinate clause = Verb at the END
• ADUSO = No change
• Questions = Flip or W-word first

…you’re already 90% there!

Think of German sentences like train tracks. The verb is the engine, and once you know where the engine goes, everything else falls into place. 🚂

Next step? Practice building your own sentences! Start simple and add more blocks as you get confident.

Du schaffst das! (You’ve got this!)