German Word Order Flashcards
(25 cards)
What is the basic word order in a German main clause?
Subject - Verb - Object (SVO)
True or False: In German, the verb always comes second in a main clause.
True
Fill in the blank: In a German sentence, the _____ usually comes first.
Subject
What is the word order in a German question?
Verb - Subject - Object (VSO)
What happens to the verb in a subordinate clause in German?
The verb goes to the end of the clause.
Subordinating Conjunctions:
Subordinate clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions like dass (that), weil (because), ob (if/whether), wenn (if/when), etc.
Example:
In the sentence “Ich weiß, dass er kommt” (I know that he is coming), the main clause “Ich weiß” (I know) has the verb in the second position. The subordinate clause “dass er kommt” (that he is coming) has the conjugated verb “kommt” (is coming) at the very end.
Identify the correct word order: ‘Ich (I) gehe (go) nach Hause (home).’ What is the structure?
Subject - Verb - Object
True or False: Time expressions typically come last in a German sentence.
False
While time expressions can appear in various positions in a German sentence, they typically do not come last.
German sentence structure often follows the “Time, Manner, Place” (TMP) rule, placing time before manner and place.
Therefore, time expressions tend to appear earlier in the sentence, specifically after the verb or at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis.
Key Points:
In German main clauses, the conjugated verb is usually the second element, regardless of what comes before it.
Time expressions often precede place expressions within the sentence.
You can put the time expression at the beginning of the sentence for emphasis, but the verb must still follow it in the second position.
Example:
Incorrect: Ich arbeite im Garten heute. (This would sound incorrect in German)
Correct: Ich arbeite heute im Garten. (Time comes before place)
Correct (with emphasis): Heute arbeite ich im Garten. (Time is emphasized at the beginning)
What is the correct order of elements in a German sentence with time, manner, and place?
Time - Manner - Place
In a German sentence, where does the negation ‘nicht’ generally appear?
Before the element it negates.
Key points to remember:
“Nicht” is an adverb and its placement affects the meaning.
It generally precedes what it is negating.
When negating the verb, it usually appears at the end of the clause.
What is the term for a clause that cannot stand alone in German?
Subordinate clause
How do you form a yes/no question in German?
By placing the verb at the beginning of the sentence.
True or False: Adverbs can appear in different positions in a German sentence.
True
What is the function of the ‘subject’ in a German sentence?
It indicates who or what is performing the action.
In which type of clause does the subject typically follow the verb?
In a yes/no question.
Fill in the blank: In German, the word order can change due to _____ or emphasis.
Context
What is a common feature of German compound sentences?
They often contain both main and subordinate clauses.
Identify the correct word order for the sentence: ‘Tomorrow, I will go to the store.’
Tomorrow - I - will go - to the store.
What does ‘inversion’ refer to in German word order?
When the verb comes before the subject, often in questions.
True or False: The use of ‘weil’ (because) introduces a main clause.
False
What is the typical position of an object in a German sentence?
After the verb.
In a complex sentence, where does the main verb of the subordinate clause go?
At the end of the clause.
How does the presence of a modal verb affect the word order in German?
The modal verb takes the second position, with the main verb at the end.
What is meant by ‘topicalization’ in German?
Bringing an element to the front of the sentence for emphasis.
Fill in the blank: In German, the _____ usually follows the subject and verb in a subordinate clause.
Object
