GermanSentence

A1 Word order

Verb in Second Position

Verbzweitstellung

In a German main clause the finite verb is always the second element. The first element can be the subject, but it can just as easily be a time expression, an object or a whole subordinate clause; whatever it is, it counts as one element and the verb follows it. This is why putting something other than the subject first pushes the subject after the verb.

Sentences that use it(30 of 297)

Real sentences from the lexicon. The marked words are what show the rule.

  • central to this sentence C1

    Parteienforscher Höhne sieht darin keinen ostdeutschen Sonderfall, benennt aber eine historische Spur und ein Szenario für den Fall der Regierungsübernahme. Eine Analyse von Lars Frohmüller, MDR Am 6. September wählt Sachsen-Anhalt einen neuen Landtag.

    The party researcher Höhne sees no East German special case in this, but he does name a historical trail and a scenario for the event of a takeover of government. An analysis by Lars Frohmüller, MDR. On 6 September Saxony-Anhalt elects a new state parliament.

    In each clause the finite verb occupies the second position even when another element is fronted.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence C1

    Hinzu komme die Strukturschwäche des Landes, sagt Höhne, abgebaute Arbeitsplätze, gescheiterte Ansiedlungen wie Solar Valley, dem Industriestandort in Bitterfeld-Wolfen.

    'Add to that the structural weakness of the region, says Höhne, jobs that have been cut, failed settlement projects like Solar Valley, the industrial site in Bitterfeld-Wolfen.'

    The fronted prefix 'Hinzu' occupies the first position, forcing the finite verb into second place.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    Die einen, wie Gesundheitsminister Carsten Linnemann (CDU), gehen joggen, die anderen, wie Finanzminister Lars Klingbeil (SPD), fahren eine Runde mit dem Rennrad.

    Some, like Health Minister Carsten Linnemann (CDU), go jogging, while others, like Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD), go for a ride on their racing bikes.

    Both clauses are statements, so the finite verb stands in second position, directly after the fronted subject group ('Die einen …', 'die anderen …').

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence C1

    Da flüchten sich viele zu Rechtsaußenparteien und fallen autoritären Versprechen anheim." Der Sachsen-Anhalt-Monitor 2025 zeigt diesen Widerspruch: 90 Prozent sind mit ihrem Leben zufrieden, der Zukunft des Landes trauen nur 17 Prozent etwas zu.

    That is why many flee into far-right parties and fall prey to authoritarian promises." The Saxony-Anhalt Monitor 2025 shows this contradiction: 90 percent are satisfied with their lives, but only 17 percent trust the future of the state.

    'Da' occupies the first position, so the finite verb must come second.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    Kurz vor der Wahl in Sachsen-Anhalt führt die AfD die Umfragen klar an.

    Shortly before the election in Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD is clearly leading in the polls.

    The fronted temporal phrase forces the finite verb into second position and pushes the subject after it.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    Der Herbst wird arbeitsreich und die Koalition setzt sich in der Klausur in Neuhardenberg schon selbst Deadlines. Sehr bald werden die Menschen die Grundausrichtung der Politik sehen, verspricht Kanzler Friedrich Merz.

    The autumn will be busy, and in its retreat at Neuhardenberg the coalition is already setting deadlines for itself. 'Very soon people will see the basic direction of the policy,' promises Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

    In both main clauses the finite verb occupies the second position even when an adverbial like 'Sehr bald' comes first.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B1

    Das Signal: Wir wollen fit sein für das, was da kommt.

    The signal: we want to be fit for whatever is coming.

    In the main clause after the subject wir, the finite verb wollen stands in second position.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    Neuhardenberg Es ist früh morgens, noch vor 7 Uhr, da trainieren die Kabinettsmitglieder schon.

    Neuhardenberg. It is early in the morning, still before 7 o'clock, and already the cabinet members are training.

    The fronted adverb da occupies first position, so the finite verb comes second and the subject follows it.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence C1

    Warum die Partei gerade hier so stark ist, hat mdr Sachsen-Anhalt den Parteienforscher Benjamin Höhne von der TU Chemnitz gefragt, der lange in Sachsen-Anhalt gearbeitet hat.

    The political scientist Benjamin Höhne from Chemnitz University of Applied Sciences, who worked in Saxony-Anhalt for a long time, was asked by mdr Saxony-Anhalt why the party is particularly strong here.

    The finite verb of the main clause occupies the second structural position despite the long fronted element.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    Die Regierung muss schnell ins Handeln kommen.

    The government must act quickly.

    The finite verb 'muss' occupies the second position of the main clause after the subject phrase.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    Denn vor allem die Wirtschaft wird ungeduldig.

    For above all the economy is becoming impatient.

    Despite the initial conjunction, the finite verb 'wird' stands in second position of the clause.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    Umfragen sehen die AfD bei 42, die CDU bei 22 Prozent.

    Polls put the AfD at 42 and the CDU at 22 percent.

    The finite verb sehen occupies the second position of a declarative main clause.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    "Und das wollen wir jetzt anpacken." Dabei appellierte der SPD-Politiker in den tagesthemen auch an die Geschlossenheit bei bevorstehenden schwierigen Entscheidungen.

    And that is what we want to tackle now." In the tagesthemen news programme, the SPD politician also called for unity in the face of upcoming difficult decisions.

    The fronted element 'das' fills position one, pushing the finite modal 'wollen' into second position.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    Wir wollen Arbeitsplätze sichern, neue schaffen und wir wollen unsere sozialen Sicherungssysteme auf Vordermann bringen.

    We want to secure jobs, create new ones, and we want to bring our social security systems up to scratch.

    The finite modal verb occupies the second position after the subject in the first main clause.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B1

    "Das Wachstum muss zurückkommen.

    The growth has to come back.

    The subject is fronted and the finite modal verb takes the second position in this main clause.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence C1

    "Wir wollen den Aufbruch, das ist auf dieser Klausur nochmal deutlich geworden", sagte der Vizekanzler im Interview mit den tagesthemen. Es gehe jetzt darum, das Land wirtschaftlich wieder stärker zu machen.

    "We want a fresh start – that became clear once again at this retreat," said the vice-chancellor in an interview with the tagesthemen news programme. He said the task now was to make the country economically stronger again.

    Both main clauses inside the quotation are declarative, so the finite verb stands in second position after the first constituent.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    Finanzminister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) sieht die Bundesregierung nach der gemeinsamen Kabinettsklausur in Neuhardenberg auf einem guten Weg.

    Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) sees the federal government as being on a good path after the joint cabinet retreat in Neuhardenberg.

    The subject phrase fills the first position, forcing the finite verb into second place.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence C1

    In den tagesthemen appellierte der SPD-Chef auch an die Geschlossenheit der Koalition: Es gehe jetzt darum, das Land wieder stärker zu machen.

    In the Tagesthemen news programme, the SPD leader also appealed for unity within the coalition: the country, he said, now needed to be made strong again.

    The fronted prepositional phrase occupies position one, so the finite verb follows immediately in second position.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    Nach zwei Tagen Kabinettsklausur gibt sich Vizekanzler Klingbeil kämpferisch.

    After two days of cabinet retreat, Vice-Chancellor Klingbeil puts on a combative show.

    The fronted adverbial phrase pushes the finite verb into second position, with the subject following it.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    "Wir brauchen als Land Zuwanderung - wir brauchen sie, wenn wir funktionieren wollen." "Es gibt keine Staatsbürger erster oder zweiter Klasse", betonte er.

    "We need immigration as a country - we need it if we want to function." "There are no first- or second-class citizens," he emphasized.

    In main declarative sentences the finite verb occupies the second position, even when another element precedes it.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    Die Bundesregierung will eine Steuer auf zuckerhaltige Getränke einführen.

    The federal government wants to introduce a tax on sugary drinks.

    In this declarative main clause the finite verb will occupies the second position after the subject phrase.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence C1

    Das "deutsche Volk" im Sinne der Verfassung, "das sind auch Deutsche, die hinzugekommen sind“, sagte der Bundespräsident zur Eröffnung einer Podiumsdiskussion.

    "The German people" in the sense of the constitution "also includes Germans who have come to join it", said the Federal President at the opening of a panel discussion.

    The quoted material occupies first position, so the finite verb 'sagte' comes second and the subject follows it.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    Demnach soll die Steuer nicht nur bei zuckerhaltigen Getränken wie Limonaden fällig werden.

    Accordingly, the tax is to apply not only to sugary drinks such as lemonades.

    The fronted adverb 'Demnach' forces the finite verb into second position.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence C1

    Das zeigt ein Eckpunktepapier, das dem ARD-Hauptstadtstudio vorliegt.

    A key-points paper that has been passed to the ARD capital studio shows this.

    The object 'Das' is fronted for emphasis, so the finite verb 'zeigt' must still occupy second position and the subject is pushed behind it.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    Das Vorhaben ist umstritten. Die geplante Zuckersteuer könnte mehr Produkte betreffen als gedacht.

    The plan is controversial. The planned sugar tax could affect more products than originally thought.

    Declarative main clause: the finite modal könnte occupies the second position after the subject phrase.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence C1

    Kurz vor den Landtagswahlen in Sachsen-Anhalt, Berlin und Mecklenburg-Vorpommern hat sich Bundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier gegen Ausgrenzung und Abwertung von Menschen mit Zuwanderungsgeschichte gewandt.

    Shortly before the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier spoke out against the exclusion and devaluation of people with an immigration background.

    The fronted time phrase occupies position one, so the finite auxiliary hat must be second and the subject follows.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence C1

    Es ist die erste Publikumsveranstaltung des Bundespräsidenten in seinem Übergangsquartier - und Steinmeier nutzt sie für eine Warnung vor einem Rückfall in völkisches Denken.

    It is the Federal President's first public event in his transitional residence – and Steinmeier uses it to warn against a relapse into völkisch (ethno-nationalist) thinking.

    The finite verb stands in second position in both main clauses.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence C1

    Nun ist das Kabinett zu einer zweitägigen Klausur in Neuhardenberg zusammengekommen, um den "Herbst der Reformen" einzuleiten.

    The cabinet has now assembled for a two-day retreat in Neuhardenberg in order to launch the 'autumn of reforms'.

    The finite auxiliary ist stands in second position after the initial adverb Nun.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    Zudem stehen im September Wahlen in drei Bundesländern an.

    Moreover, elections are coming up in September in three federal states.

    The finite verb stehen must occupy the second position even when the sentence opens with an adverb.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence C1

    Und der Druck auf die Bundesregierung wächst, weitere Details auszuarbeiten und die geplanten Vorhaben auch umzusetzen.

    And the pressure on the federal government is growing to work out further details and also to implement the planned projects.

    The finite verb wächst stands in second position after the subject phrase, as required in a main clause.

    tagesschau.de

Next in word order