Word Order - Verbs
The placement of the finite verb (or conjugated verb) is very important to the structure of a German sentence. While most other elements in a sentence can be moved, the position of the finite verb is fixed.
🔸 Main clause
A main clause is an independent clause that makes sense by itself. Here the finite verb is always the second element.
Der Mann gibt der Frau das Buch.
An auxiliary/modal verb (e.g. müssen) replaces the original verb (called the main verb) as the finite verb and results in the main verb being placed at the end of the clause. Additionally, the main verb is returned to its infinitive or past participle form, depending on the tense.
Der Mann muss der Frau das Buch geben.
🔸 Questions & Statements
The finite verb is always the first element.
Siehst du den Ausgang?
Interrogative words (or w-words) are considered to be in the zeroth position.
Worauf wartet ihr?
Auxiliary/modal verbs have the same effect as before:
Kannst du den Ausgang sehen?
Worauf habt ihr gewartet?
🔸 Subordinate clause
A subordinate clause depends on a main clause to make sense. It is often introduced by a conjunction as the first element and the finite verb is usually the last element.
Ich bin nicht zur Arbeit gefahren, weil ich krank war.
Du könntest ihm helfen, statt dich nur zu beschweren!
When a single auxiliary modal verb is introduced, it becomes the finite verb and the main verb is placed before it::
Er ist sich immer noch nicht sicher, ob er ihr alles erzählen soll.
If a double infintive is present, it is placed at the end and the finite verb comes before it.
Das ist das Haus, das ich hätte verkaufen sollen.








