Core Sentence Structure: Verb Position in Statements and Questions

Why Verb Position Matters in German

In German, the verb is the “anchor” of the sentence. Once you know where the conjugated (finite) verb goes, you can build correct statements, questions, and many longer sentences without guessing. German is often described with three practical verb positions:

• Verb-second (V2) in most statements and many questions with a question word.
• Verb-first (V1) in yes/no questions and many commands.
• Verb-last for non-finite verb parts (infinitives, participles) and for verbs in subordinate clauses introduced by certain conjunctions.

This chapter focuses on core sentence structure: verb position in statements and questions. You will learn how to place the verb correctly, how to choose what goes in position 1, and how to form questions reliably.

The “Finite Verb” Rule: Find the Conjugated Verb First

Before you think about word order, identify the finite verb: the verb that is conjugated for the subject (ich/du/er…; present tense, etc.). In many sentences, there may be more verb material (an infinitive, a participle, a separable prefix). The key rule for statements and questions is about the finite verb.

Examples of finite verbs (bold):

• Ich arbeite heute.
• Wir können morgen kommen. (modal verb is finite)
• Sie ruft dich an. (finite verb + separable prefix later)
• Er hat das gemacht. (auxiliary is finite; participle later)

Once you know which word is the finite verb, you can place it in the correct slot.

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Statements: The Verb-Second (V2) Principle

In a normal German statement, the finite verb is in position 2. “Position 2” means the second major slot in the sentence, not necessarily the second word (because position 1 can be a multi-word element).

The Basic Template

A practical template for statements is:

Position 1 (one element) + Position 2 (finite verb) + the rest

Common “elements” that can fill position 1 include:

• the subject (Ich, der Mann, meine Freundin)
• a time expression (Heute, am Montag, um 8 Uhr)
• a place expression (In Berlin, zu Hause)
• an object (Diesen Film, das Buch)
• a longer phrase (Nach der Arbeit, wegen des Wetters)

Examples with the subject in position 1:

• Ich gehe heute ins Büro.
• Der Kurs beginnt um neun Uhr.
• Meine Freunde kommen später.

Examples with time in position 1:

• Heute gehe ich ins Büro.
• Am Montag beginnt der Kurs.
• Um neun Uhr kommen meine Freunde.

Notice what happens: when something other than the subject goes into position 1, the subject moves to the right of the verb. This is one of the most important habits to build.

Step-by-Step: Build a Correct Statement with V2

Use this method when you write or speak:

1. Choose your finite verb (the conjugated verb). Example: kommen → kommt.

2. Decide what you want to emphasize in position 1 (subject, time, place, object). Example: emphasize time: Heute.

3. Put the finite verb in position 2. Example: Heute kommt …

4. Place the subject after the verb if it is not in position 1. Example: Heute kommt er …

5. Add the remaining information (objects, adverbs, place, etc.). Example: Heute kommt er später nach Hause.

More practice pairs (same meaning, different position 1):

• Er trinkt morgens Kaffee. / Morgens trinkt er Kaffee.
• Wir lernen im Park. / Im Park lernen wir.
• Ich sehe den Film heute. / Den Film sehe ich heute.

Position 1 Must Be One Element

A frequent learner mistake is trying to put two separate elements into position 1. In German V2 statements, position 1 is typically one element (which can be long, but it functions as one unit).

Correct (one element in position 1):

• Heute gehe ich mit meiner Schwester ins Kino.
• Nach der Arbeit kaufe ich noch Brot.

Problem pattern (two separate elements before the verb):

• Heute ich gehe … (incorrect for a statement)

If you want both time and subject early, keep V2 by choosing one for position 1 and placing the other after the verb:

• Heute gehe ich …
• Ich gehe heute …

Questions: Two Main Types (V1 and V2)

German questions are very systematic. The verb position depends on the question type:

• Yes/No questions (answerable with ja/nein): finite verb in position 1 (V1).
• W-questions (with a question word like wer/was/wo/wann/warum/wie): question word in position 1, finite verb in position 2 (V2).

Yes/No Questions: Verb-First (V1)

To form a yes/no question, move the finite verb to the front:

Finite verb + subject + the rest?

Statement → question:

• Du kommst heute. → Kommst du heute?
• Sie arbeitet hier. → Arbeitet sie hier?
• Ihr habt Zeit. → Habt ihr Zeit?

Step-by-step transformation:

1. Find the finite verb in the statement.

2. Move it to position 1.

3. Put the subject immediately after it.

4. Keep the rest of the sentence in a natural order.

Example:

Statement: Heute kommt er später nach Hause. (finite verb: kommt)  Question: Kommt er heute später nach Hause?

Notice that the time expression heute can stay after the subject in the question. You can also front it in some contexts, but the most reliable default for yes/no questions is verb first.

W-Questions: Question Word + Verb-Second (V2)

W-questions begin with a question word. The question word occupies position 1, so the finite verb remains in position 2:

Question word + finite verb + subject + the rest?

Examples:

• Wann kommst du?
• Wo arbeitet sie?
• Warum lernt ihr Deutsch?
• Wie heißt du? (common: Wie heißt du?)

W-question from a statement:

Statement: Du kommst heute.  Question: Wann kommst du? / Kommst du heute?

Two important notes:

• The question word is position 1, even if it is a longer phrase: Mit wem gehst du? / In welcher Stadt wohnst du?
• Do not add an extra “do/does” helper as in English. German uses verb position, not a dummy verb.

Verb Position with Modal Verbs in Statements and Questions

With modal verbs (können, müssen, wollen, dürfen, sollen, mögen), the modal is usually the finite verb, and the main verb appears as an infinitive at the end of the clause. This creates a very clear “frame”: finite verb early, infinitive late.

Statements (V2 with Modal)

• Ich kann heute nicht kommen.
• Wir müssen morgen früh arbeiten.
• Er will ein Auto kaufen.

Even if you change position 1, the finite modal stays in position 2:

• Heute kann ich nicht kommen.
• Morgen früh müssen wir arbeiten.

Yes/No Questions (V1 with Modal)

• Kann ich heute kommen?
• Musst du morgen arbeiten?
• Will er ein Auto kaufen?

W-Questions (Question Word + V2 with Modal)

• Wann kann ich kommen?
• Warum musst du morgen arbeiten?
• Was will er kaufen?

Practical takeaway: with modals, you almost always have a “two-verb structure.” Place the modal according to V2/V1 rules, and keep the infinitive at the end.

Verb Position with Separable Verbs in Statements and Questions

Separable verbs create another common “frame.” In main clauses (statements and most questions), the finite verb stem appears in the usual verb position (V2 or V1), and the separable prefix goes to the end of the clause.

Statements (V2 + Prefix at the End)

• Ich stehe um sieben auf.
• Er ruft seine Mutter an.
• Wir fangen jetzt an.

Change position 1, keep V2:

• Um sieben stehe ich auf.
• Seine Mutter ruft er jeden Tag an.

Yes/No Questions (V1 + Prefix at the End)

• Stehst du um sieben auf?
• Ruft er seine Mutter an?
• Fangt ihr jetzt an?

W-Questions (Question Word + V2 + Prefix at the End)

• Wann stehst du auf?
• Wen ruft er an?
• Wo fängt der Kurs an?

Practical takeaway: treat the separable prefix like something that “waits” at the end of the clause in main-clause statements and questions.

What Counts as “Position 1” in Real Sentences

Because position 1 can be a whole phrase, it helps to recognize typical “chunks” that act as one element:

• Time chunk: Heute / Morgen / Am Wochenende / Um 18 Uhr / Nach der Arbeit
• Place chunk: In Berlin / Zu Hause / Im Büro / In der Schule
• Reason chunk: Wegen des Wetters / Deshalb / Darum
• Object chunk: Den Termin / Das Buch / Meine Schlüssel

Examples with longer position 1 chunks:

• Nach der Arbeit gehe ich noch einkaufen.
• Wegen des Wetters bleiben wir zu Hause.
• Den Termin verschiebe ich auf morgen.

In each case, the finite verb is still the second slot, even though several words appear before it.

Common Word Order Patterns Inside “the Rest”

After you place the finite verb correctly, you still need a workable default order for the remaining parts. A useful beginner-friendly guideline is:

• Put the subject early (often right after the verb if it is not in position 1).
• Place time expressions relatively early.
• Place place expressions later.
• Keep non-finite verb parts (infinitive/participle/prefix) at the end of the clause.

Examples (showing the “frame”):

• Heute muss ich im Büro länger arbeiten.
• Um acht ruft sie ihren Chef an.
• Nach dem Kurs kann er nach Hause fahren.

This is not the only possible order, but it is a reliable default for clear, natural sentences.

Questions in Daily Use: Building Them Fast

Fast Method for Yes/No Questions

1) Start with the finite verb. 2) Add the subject. 3) Add the rest. 4) Keep verb parts at the end.

Practice set (turn each statement into a yes/no question):

• Du arbeitest heute. → Arbeitest du heute?
• Ihr fangt um neun an. → Fangt ihr um neun an?
• Sie kann morgen kommen. → Kann sie morgen kommen?
• Er ruft dich später an. → Ruft er dich später an?

Fast Method for W-Questions

1) Choose the question word. 2) Put it in position 1. 3) Put the finite verb in position 2. 4) Add the subject. 5) Add the rest.

Practice set (ask for the missing information):

• Er kommt um acht. → Wann kommt er?
• Sie arbeitet in Hamburg. → Wo arbeitet sie?
• Wir lernen Deutsch. → Was lernt ihr? / Was lernt ihr heute?
• Er ruft seine Schwester an. → Wen ruft er an?

Mini Drills: One Meaning, Three Forms

Use these drills to internalize verb position. Read each set aloud and notice where the finite verb goes.

Drill 1: Simple Verb

• Statement (subject first): Ich gehe jetzt.
• Statement (time first): Jetzt gehe ich.
• Yes/No question: Gehst du jetzt?
• W-question: Wann gehst du?

Drill 2: Modal Verb

• Statement (subject first): Ich muss heute lernen.
• Statement (time first): Heute muss ich lernen.
• Yes/No question: Musst du heute lernen?
• W-question: Warum musst du heute lernen?

Drill 3: Separable Verb

• Statement (subject first): Er steht früh auf.
• Statement (time first): Früh steht er auf.
• Yes/No question: Steht er früh auf?
• W-question: Wann steht er auf?

Trouble Spots and How to Fix Them

Mistake 1: Keeping the Subject Before the Verb After Fronting

Incorrect pattern:

• Heute ich gehe ins Büro.

Fix: if something else is in position 1, the verb must still be position 2:

• Heute gehe ich ins Büro.

Mistake 2: Forgetting the Verb Frame with Modals

Incorrect pattern:

• Ich kann komme heute.

Fix: modal finite early, infinitive at the end:

• Ich kann heute kommen.

Mistake 3: Losing the Separable Prefix

Incorrect pattern:

• Er ruft an seine Mutter.

Fix: prefix at the end in main clauses:

• Er ruft seine Mutter an.

Mistake 4: Using Statement Word Order for Yes/No Questions

Incorrect pattern:

• Du kommst heute? (possible as an informal “surprised” intonation question, but not the standard structure)

Standard yes/no question structure:

• Kommst du heute?

Quick Reference: Verb Position Cheat Sheet

STATEMENT (main clause):  Position 1 + finite verb + ... (+ non-finite verb parts at the end)  YES/NO QUESTION:         finite verb + subject + ... (+ non-finite verb parts at the end)  W-QUESTION:              question word + finite verb + subject + ... (+ non-finite verb parts at the end)