Word Order

Before going through this chapter, it would be best to have gone through most (or all) of the previous chapters. This is because this chapter is both focused and broad: it is looking at ordering the different individual parts of the entire sentence.

Verbs

In the main clause

The 'primary' verb in the main clause is always the second idea (die Katze is one idea). The rest of the verbs go to the end of the clause (including the past participle).

In questions

The verb in questions is the first idea if there is no 'question word' in it. Question words are warum (why), wie (how), was (what), etc.

If there is a question word present in the sentence, then the verb is the second idea.

In imperatives (commands)

In commands, the verb is always the first idea.

In subordinate clauses

Subordinate clauses are clauses that start with subordinating conjunctions, which are...

• während

• indem (while)

• falls (in case)

• als

• wenn

• ob

• nachdem

• seit

• so dass (so that)

• damit

• bevor

• dass

• weil

• obschon (although)

• obwohl (although).

Subordinate clauses must always be in a sentence containing a main clause. In other words, they cannot be a complete sentence by themselves.

In a subordinate clause, the conjugated verb goes to the end.

• Der Tierarzt sagte, dass mein Hund nach Hause gehen dürfte. --> The vet said that my dog could go home.

  • The underlined portion is the subordinate clause because it begins with 'dass,' and 'dass' is a subordinating conjunction.

Remember how I said that the primary verb is the second idea of the sentence? The entire subordinate clause is an idea, so if the main clause comes right after the subordinate clause, then the primary verb in the main clause is the first word of the main clause.

• Dass mein Hund nach Hause gehen dürfte, wusste ich nicht. --> That my dog was allowed to go home, I did not know.

  • The underlined portion is the subordinate clause. The italicized portion is the main clause. The bolded word is the primary verb and the second idea of the entire sentence.

In the presence of coordinating conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions are...

• und

• aber

• oder.

Coordinating conjunctions do NOT change the word order at all. They merely join clauses together. Do NOT get them mixed up with the subordinating conjunctions.

In relative clauses

Relative clauses are clauses that give more information about the noun in the main clause. Relative clauses begin with a pronoun corresponding with the noun in the main clause.

Relative clauses are similar to subordinate clauses in terms of word order rules, but they must always come after the noun.

• Der Hund, den meine Mutter adoptiert, ist schwartz. --> The dog that my mom is adopting is black.

  • The pronoun is bolded. 'Den' corresponds with 'der Hund,' which is the noun of the main clause that comes before the pronoun. The relative clause is underlined. The primary verb is still the second idea because 'der Hund ist schwarz' is the main clause and the relative clause acts as an interjection.

Objects

The subject always comes first or third in the sentence. The subject is always in the nominative case.

The object in accusative form could be first, but it usually comes later- after the subject.

Doubled Things

Double infinitives

If there are 2 infinitives in a clause, the third verb- the conjugated one- should come before the two infinitives.

• Meine Mutter sagte, dass ich meine Jacke hätte mitgenommen sollen. --> My mom said that I should have brought my jacket.

Double time

If there are 2 expressions of time in a clause, the more specific one comes second.

• Ich muss morgen um 15 Uhr da sein. --> I must be there at 3 PM tomorrow (3 PM is more specific than 'tomorrow').

Double nouns

If there are two nouns after the primary verb, then the noun in the dative case comes before the noun in the accusative case.

• Mein Bruder gab dem Hund einen Keks. --> My brother gave the dog a cookie.

  • 'Dem Hund' is dative, so it comes before 'einen Keks,' which is accusative.

Double pronouns

If there are two or more pronouns in the sentence, then the order of pronouns is...

1. The pronoun in the nominative case,

2. The pronoun in the accusative case, and

3. The pronoun in the dative case.

• Er gab es ihm. --> My brother gave it (to) him.

  • 'Er' is the subject's pronoun in the nominative case, 'es' is the object's pronoun in the accusative case, and 'ihm' is the other person/thing's pronoun in the dative case.