Is German word order dependent?

If you remember nothing else about German word order, remember this: the subject will either come first or immediately after the verb if the subject is not the first element. This is a simple, hard and fast rule. The only verb-second exception is for dependent or subordinate clauses.

What is an example of a dependent clause sentence?

After Aidan returned from his fishing trip, he took a long nap. (After Aidan returned from his fishing trip is a dependent clause. It contains the subject Aidan and the verb returned. The clause does not express a complete thought and cannot stand on its own as a sentence.)

What is the order of words in a German sentence?

Rules for basic German sentence structure The basic order is SVO: subject, verb, object. The verb, the main verb or the conjugated part of the verb is always the second element of the sentence. If the subject does not precede the verb, main verb or conjugated part, it must follow it immediately.

Does Wahrend change word order?

The “normal” word order, as we expect it to be, is Subject Verb Object. Ich werfe den Ball. Coordinating conjunctions have no effect on word order: und, denn, sondern, aber, and oder. The most common subordinating conjunctions are: während, bis, als, wenn, da, weil, ob, obwohl, and dass.

Is word order German?

The verb in German can be in the second position (most common), initial position (verb first), and clause-final position. The most basic word order in German, just like in English, is the subject-verb-direct object sequence: Your browser does not support the audio element.

Does word order matter in German?

In German, there is a clear structure to a sentence, so word order really matters. In German, the verb is always the second idea in a sentence.

What are some common German words?

10 common German phrases: the basics

Hallo (Hello)
Tschüss (Bye)
Bitte (Please)
Danke (Thanks)
Entschuldigung (Excuse me)
Sorry (Sorry)
Formal: Können Sie mir helfen?; informal: Kannst du mir helfen? (Can you help me?)
Formal: Sprechen Sie English?; informal: In Sprichst du Englisch? (Do you speak English?)

What is the German word order?

How do you use two verbs in a sentence in German?

Two Verbs In A Sentence When you have two verbs in a German sentence, you place the conjugated verb in the second position and the unconjugated verb at the end of the sentence. Note – A conjugated verb is a verb that changes to indicate the gender, tense, number, person or other aspects of the sentence.

How are dependent clauses separated in German grammar?

Dependent Clauses in German Grammar. Introduction. Dependent clauses, also known as subordinate clauses or Nebesätze in German cannot stand alone as sentences – they always depend on an independent or main clause. Dependent and independent clauses are separated by a comma.

Which is the best description of German word order?

German Word Order in Main Clauses (Hauptsätze) The following description of German word order is based on the structure of main clauses, also called independent clauses . A “main clause” has a subject and a predicate and can form a complete sentence that is able to stand alone.

What is the Order of conjunctions in German?

Conjunctions – Word Order in German. Introduction. Coordinating conjunctions connect two main clauses. Subordinating conjunctions and conjunctional adverbs connect main/independent clauses with dependent/subordinate clauses. Using subordinating conjunctions and conjunctional adverbs changes the word order in the clause.

When does a dependent clause follow a main clause?

A note on word order: a dependent clause can follow, precede, or be inserted into the main clause. When it precedes, it normally occupies the first position, necessitating an inverted order in the independent clause (i.e. with the subject located in the third position). Mach deine Arbeit fertig, bevor du nach Hause kommst.