Sentence Structure Flashcards
(17 cards)
Section 1: Main Clauses (Hauptsätze)
What is the most fundamental rule for the placement of the conjugated verb in a standard German main clause (statement)?
The conjugated verb always goes in the second position.
Memory Tip: Think of the German verb as a fixed point, like an anchor, always in the second spot in a main statement. ⚓
Section 1: Main Clauses (Hauptsätze)
In a German W-question (e.g., “Wo wohnst du?”), where are the question word and the conjugated verb placed?
The question word is in the first position, and the conjugated verb is in the second position.
Memory Tip: “W” for “Word first,” then the verb. “Wo-Verb…” 🗣️
Section 1: Main Clauses (Hauptsätze)
How do you form a Yes/No question in German (e.g., “Kommst du heute?”)?
The conjugated verb moves to the first position.
Memory Tip: The verb jumps to the very front to ask for a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’. 🤸♀️
Section 1: Main Clauses (Hauptsätze)
When a German main clause uses a modal verb (e.g., können, müssen, wollen), where do the conjugated modal verb and the main verb (infinitive) go?
The modal verb is the “boss” in position two, but the “worker” (main verb) finishes the job at the end of the line. 💼➡️🔚
Beispiele:
Sie muss lernen. (She must learn.) - muss is the modal verb, lernen is the main verb at the end.
Wir dürfen nicht rauchen. (We are not allowed to smoke.) - dürfen is the modal verb, rauchen is the main verb.
Section 2: Subordinate Clauses (Nebensätze)
What is the defining characteristic of verb placement in any German subordinate clause (e.g., those introduced by weil, dass, wenn)?
The conjugated verb always goes to the very end of the subordinate clause.
Memory Tip: Subordinate means “submissive,” so the verb gets pushed to the back. Like a long train, the engine (verb) is at the end. 🚂🔚
Beispiel: “Ich weiß, dass er morgen kommt.”
Section 2: Subordinate Clauses (Nebensätze)
If a subordinate clause starts a German sentence, what happens to the word order in the following main clause?
The main clause must start with its conjugated verb (i.e., the verb is in the first position of the main clause, right after the comma).
Memory Tip: If the subordinate clause “takes” the first position, the main clause verb has to immediately follow, keeping the “verb-second” rule for the overall sentence. It’s a “verb-first” within the main clause after the comma. 🤝
Beispiel: Weil es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause.
Section 2: Subordinate Clauses (Nebensätze)
How are separable verbs (e.g., einkaufen) treated in German subordinate clauses?
The prefix and the verb remain together (they are not separated) and go to the very end of the clause.
Memory Tip: In subordinate clauses, separable verbs “stick together” like glue, unlike their separated selves in main clauses. 👯♀️
Section 3: Object Placement & Word Order Tendencies
In a sentence with two nouns as objects (one dative, one accusative), which usually comes first?
The dative object (indirect object) usually comes before the accusative object (direct object).
Memory Tip: “DI” - Dative Indirect. Giving to whom (Dative) before what (Accusative). 🎁🧑🤝🧑
Section 3: Object Placement & Word Order Tendencies
In a sentence with two pronouns as objects (one dative, one accusative), which usually comes first?
The accusative pronoun (direct object) comes before the dative pronoun (indirect object).
Memory Tip: “A-D” - Accusative then Dative when it’s just pronouns. Pronouns like being concise, so the direct one gets there first. 💨
Section 3: Object Placement & Word Order Tendencies
What is the “Alt vor Neu” (Old before New) principle in German word order?
Information that is already known or has been previously mentioned (often pronouns or nouns with definite articles) tends to come before new or indefinite information (often nouns with indefinite articles).
Memory Tip: Known things get to the front of the line. If it’s already “in the club,” it gets priority. 🎟️
Section 3: Object Placement & Word Order Tendencies
What does the acronym TeKaMoLo stand for, and what does it describe?
It stands for Temporal (Time), Kausal (Reason), Modal (Manner), Lokal (Place). It describes the common order for adverbial phrases in a German sentence.
Memory Tip: Think of it like a checklist for ordering adverbs: Time first, then Why, then How, then Where. ⏰➡️🤷♀️➡️💪➡️📍
Section 4: Negation (“nicht”)
Where do you generally place “nicht” when you want to negate a specific word or phrase (e.g., an adverb, adjective, noun with a definite article)?
“nicht” is placed directly before the specific element it negates.
Memory Tip: “Nicht” points right at what it’s saying “no” to. 👉🚫
Section 4: Negation (“nicht”)
Where does “nicht” go when you want to negate the entire verb or the entire sentence?
“nicht” often goes at the very end of the clause.
Memory Tip: To negate the whole action, “nicht” waits until the very end, covering everything that came before. 🛑🔚
Section 4: Negation (“nicht”)
In sentences with two verbs (e.g., Perfekt tense, modal verbs), where is “nicht” placed?
“nicht” is placed before the main verb (the infinitive or past participle).
Memory Tip: “Nicht” stands guard right before the “action” verb that it’s negating. ⚔️
Section 5: Conjunctions
What is the main grammatical rule for the verb when using the conjunction “weil” (because)?
“weil” introduces a subordinate clause, so the conjugated verb goes to the end of the clause.
Memory Tip: “Weil” pushes the verb to the back, like a “verb-ender.” ➡️verb🔚
Section 5: Conjunctions
What is the main grammatical rule for the verb when using the conjunction “deshalb” (therefore)?
“deshalb” connects two main clauses. It’s placed in the first position of the second main clause, and the conjugated verb immediately follows it (in the second position).
Memory Tip: “Deshalb” takes the first slot, then the verb takes its usual main clause second slot. “Deshalb-Verb…” 1️⃣2️⃣
Section 5: Conjunctions
How does “weshalb” (which is why / why) differ grammatically from “deshalb”?
“weshalb” introduces a subordinate clause (verb at the end), similar to weil or wann. “deshalb” connects two main clauses.
Memory Tip: “Wes-halb” has a ‘W’ like other question words, which often lead to subordinate clauses. “Des-halb” is direct. 🤔
