In German main clauses (Hauptsätze), the conjugated verb must always be in the second position.
This is called the Verb-Second Rule (V2).
Basic Structure
German usually follows:
Subject + Verb + Other Information
Example:
- Ich lerne Deutsch.
(I learn German.)
Here:
Ich = position 1
lerne = position 2 ✅
Deutsch = rest of sentence
Important: “Second Position” ≠ “Second Word”
German counts sentence elements, not individual words.
Example:
- Heute lerne ich Deutsch.
(Today I am learning German.)
Breakdown:
- Heute = position 1
- lerne = position 2 ✅
- ich Deutsch = rest
Even though lerne is the second word, what matters is that it is the second sentence element.
Another example:
- Am Montag gehe ich zur Schule.
Breakdown:
- Am Montag = one element (position 1)
- gehe = position 2 ✅
- ich zur Schule = rest
What Can Be in Position 1?
Almost anything:
| Position 1 | Verb (Position 2) | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Ich | wohne | in Zürich. |
| Heute | wohne | ich in Zürich. |
| In Zürich | wohne | ich. |
Common Beginner Mistake
❌ Heute ich gehe ins Kino.
✅ Heute gehe ich ins Kino.
Why?
Because the verb must immediately follow the first element.
With Two Verbs
If there are two verbs:
- the conjugated verb goes in position 2
- the second verb goes to the end
Example:
- Ich möchte Deutsch lernen.
| Position | Word |
|---|---|
| 1 | Ich |
| 2 | möchte ✅ |
| end | lernen |
Quick Formula
Main clause:
[Anything] + conjugated verb + subject + rest
Examples:
- Morgen arbeite ich zu Hause.
- Im Sommer fahren wir nach Berlin.
- Deutsch lernt er gern.
Practice
Find grammar excercises to practice this grammar rule and many others on:
👉 https://app.language-shadowing.com/#tab=translation/DE-A1-0001