Word order

The basic word order in German for ‘Haupsatz’ (the main clause/ a complete sentence):

Das Verb steht immer an Position. 2

Here you can see the verb is conjugated in the second position.

The word order in German is more flexible than in English e.g.

Wir fahren heute nach Berlin

Heute fahren wir nach Berlin

Nach Berlin fahren wir heute

Basic rules:

- The verb is always in the second position.

- The subject can be either in first or third position so it has to be directly before or after the conjugated verb.

- The other elements can come before the conjugated verb if you want to emphasize on particular thing. e.g. Mit dem Auto fahre ich nach Berlin. (here to emphasize that I will travel with car)

Sequencing of other elements: