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Learn the verb position in German sentences: in statements (Aussagesatz) the verb is second (komme), in yes/no questions first (Kommst), and in question words (W-Frage) second (kommst).
Satzart (Type of sentence)VerbstellungBeispiel (example)

Aussagesatz  (Declarative sentence )

Subjekt oder anderer Satzteil zuerst (Subject or other part of the sentence first)

An zweiter Stelle (In second position)

Ich komme aus Spanien. (I come from Spain.)

Heute komme ich nach Spanien. (Today come I to Spain.)

Ja/Nein-Frage (Yes/no question)An erster Stelle (In first position)Kommst du aus Spanien? (Do you come from Spain?)
W-Frage (W-question)An zweiter Stelle (In second position)Woher kommst du? (Where do you come from?)

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. ___ alt bist du?

(___ old are you?)

2. Ich ___ 25 Jahre alt.

(I ___ 25 years old.)

3. Mein Geburtstag ___ im Monat Mai.

(My birthday ___ in the month of May.)

4. Ich ___ morgen 30 Jahre alt.

(I ___ 30 years old tomorrow.)

5. Wir ___ eine Party zum Geburtstag.

(We ___ a birthday party.)

6. Herzlichen ___ zum Geburtstag!

(Happy ___!)

Understanding Verb Position in German Sentences

This lesson focuses on the position of verbs within sentences in German, which is a key aspect of sentence structure at the A1 beginner level. You will learn how the verb placement varies depending on the type of sentence you want to form. This knowledge helps you create clear and grammatically correct statements, yes/no questions, and question words (W-questions).

Verb Placement by Sentence Type

  • Declarative Sentences (Aussagesatz): The verb is always in the second position. The first position can be the subject or another element such as an adverb.
    Examples: "Ich komme aus Spanien." or "Heute komme ich nach Spanien."
  • Yes/No Questions (Ja/Nein-Frage): The verb comes first.
    Example: "Kommst du aus Spanien?"
  • W-Questions (W-Frage): These questions begin with a question word (like "woher"), and the verb is in the second position.
    Example: "Woher kommst du?"

Key Vocabulary & Expressions

  • kommen – to come
  • ich – I
  • du – you (informal singular)
  • heute – today
  • woher – from where

Notes on Language Differences

Unlike English, where the verb generally follows the subject word order in statements (“I come from Spain”), German requires the verb to take a set position relative to the sentence type, especially in questions. For example, in German yes/no questions the verb comes first, whereas in English the auxiliary verb often comes first (“Are you coming?”), but the main verb placement differs.

Common German question words include "woher" (where from), "was" (what), "wann" (when), and these always lead to the verb in the second position.

Summary

Mastering verb placement in German sentences is essential for constructing accurate and natural sentences. Remember that in statements the verb is second, yes/no questions place the verb first, and W-questions start with the question word followed by the verb. Practicing these patterns with everyday vocabulary will improve your fluency and confidence in German conversations.

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Sophie Schmidt

International Administration Management

Würzburger Dolmetscherschule

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 03:20