VerbstellungVerb position describes where the conjugated verb appears in the sentence. In German, the position depends on the sentence type: main clause, subordinate clause, or question.
Level: A1
The three basic positions
The conjugated verb can appear in three positions:
- Position 2 in a normal declarative sentence (main clause): Ich lerne Deutsch.
- Position 1 in the yes/no question and in the imperative: Lernst du Deutsch?
- Am Ende in the subordinate clause: …, weil ich Deutsch lerne.
If you recognize the sentence type, you'll immediately know where the verb belongs.
Verb at the end of the subordinate clause
As soon as a subordinating conjunction (because, that, if, although) or a relative pronoun introduces the sentence, the verb goes to the Ende.
Ich glaube, dass er morgen kommt.
When there are two verbs, the conjugated verb comes last, behind the other verb: …, weil ich früh aufstehen muss.
Position 1 for questions and commands
Within the Ja/Nein-Frage The verb is at the very beginning: Kommst du mit?
At the Imperativ (command, request) the verb also comes first: Komm bitte her!
Within the W-Frage The question word comes first and the verb is back in position 2: Wann kommst du?
examples
| Example | Declaration |
|---|---|
| Wir trinken jeden Morgen Kaffee. | Declarative sentence: Verb "to drink" in position 2. |
| Hast du den Brief schon geschrieben? | Yes/No question: Verb hast in position 1. |
| Sie weiß, dass ich oft zu spät komme. | Subordinate clause with "dass": verb "kommen" at the end. |
| Warum lernst du Deutsch? | W-question: Question word "why" at the front, verb "learns" in position 2. |
| Mach bitte das Fenster zu! | Imperative: Verb "mach" in position 1. |
Frequently asked questions
Where is the verb located in the German main clause?
In a main clause (declarative sentence), the conjugated verb is always in position 2. There is exactly one element before the verb.
Where is the verb located in the subordinate clause?
In a subordinate clause, the conjugated verb comes at the end. A subordinating conjunction like "weil," "dass," or "wenn" moves the verb to the end.
Where does the verb appear in a question?
In a yes/no question, the verb is in position 1 (Are you coming?). In a wh-question, the question word comes first and the verb is in position 2 (When are you coming?).
You will learn this term in the German course A1 from Deutsch1, with explanatory videos, exercises and feedback.
Related terms
Verb in position 2 , verb at the end of the sentence , sentence bracket , word order