GermanSentence

A1 Word order

Question Words

W-Fragen

Wer, was, wo, wann, wie, warum and the rest fill the first position, and the finite verb follows in second place as in any statement. Wer and was decline for case, giving wen and wem.

Sentences that use it(7 of 7)

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

  • 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 fronted clause is an indirect w-question introduced by 'warum'.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B1

    Mit was für Verletzungen haben Sie am meisten zu tun? Michael Zyskowski: Es gibt zwei unterschiedliche Fraktionen der Unfälle.

    What kinds of injuries do you deal with most?

    The sentence opens with an interrogative phrase and inverts verb and subject.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B2

    Was geht da vor sich? Von Frank Aischmann, ARD-Hauptstadtstudio Das BSW führt einen politischen Überlebenskampf.

    What is going on there? By Frank Aischmann, ARD capital studio. The BSW is fighting for political survival.

    The question opens with the interrogative was and the finite verb stands in second position.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B1

    Was bedeutet das für Helfer und Menschen in Not?

    What does that mean for helpers and for people in need?

    The sentence opens with the interrogative 'Was' followed immediately by the finite verb, the standard pattern for w-questions.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence C1

    Welche Lehren sollten wir mit Blick auf die Klimapolitik aus diesem Sommer ziehen?

    What lessons should we draw from this summer with regard to climate policy?

    The interrogative determiner 'Welche' opens the question and the finite verb follows immediately in second position.

    tagesschau.de
  • central to this sentence B1

    Wie reagiert die Politik?

    How is politics responding?

    The question word 'Wie' occupies the first position and the finite verb follows immediately, the standard pattern for w-questions.

    tagesschau.de
  • B2

    Es geht um Geld, Zuständigkeiten und die Frage: Wie viel finanzielle Verantwortung soll der Bund übernehmen?

    It's about money, areas of responsibility, and the question: How much financial responsibility should the federal government take on?

    The question begins with the interrogative 'wie viel' asking about quantity.

    tagesschau.de

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