GERMAN WORD ORDER ORDER s

Sentences are made up by placing a variety of words in a specific order. If the order is wrong, the sentence is difficult to understand. Simple sentences often follow the same pattern as English ones. person/thingactionrest of sentence Mein VaterspieltFußball. So what happens when your sentences become longer and more complex? YOU MUST LEARN SOME RULES!

The normal position of verbs Asking a question using a question word Asking a question without using a question word The effect of using linking words The position of past participles & infinitives There are rules regarding: Time, manner, place word order

The normal position of verbs The most important thing about a German sentence is that the main verb (SNAP verb) comes as the second idea (but not necessarily the second word) in the sentence Ich (subject)fahrenach Bonn. Jede Wochefahreichnach Bonn. Am Montagfahreichnach Bonn. Remember: In German you don’t always have to start the sentence with the person’s name or a pronoun (ich, du, er, etc.) but your SNAP verb must still be your second idea. Beginning a sentence with something other than the subject is called ‘INVERSION’.

Asking a question using a question word In questions beginning with a word like ‘Wann?’, ‘Wie?’, ‘Wo?’ etc. the SNAP verb always comes second in the sentence. Therefore the INVERSION rule continues to apply Warumkommstduspät? Wannfährtder nächste Zugab? Weristdein Freund?

Asking a question without using a question word In German you can make a statement into a question by turning around (or ‘inverting’) the subject and the SNAP verb. This is more complicated in English than it is in German because in English we add extra words like ‘do’ and ‘does’. DON’T add any extra words in German! She goes to Germany. Does she go to Germany? Siefährtnach Deutschland. Fährtsienach Deutschland?

The position of past participles & infinitives The infinitive or the past participle always go at the end of the clause because there is only room for the SNAP verb to appear as second idea Ichmöchteins Kinogehen. Der Hundhatmeinen Schuhgegessen.

Time, manner, place word order Information about when, how or where something is happening is always given in this order in a German sentence. 12TimeMannerPlace Ichfahrejede Wochenach Bonn. Dufährstjede Wochemit dem Zugnach Bonn.

The effect of using linking words In English word order is unaffected by linking words. Some linking words in German act in the same way as their English equivalents and don’t change the word order. aberdennoderund Other common linking words cause a major change in the normal word order, sending the verb right to the end of the clause. alsbevordamitnachdem obwohlweilbisdass obwährendwenn IchfindeFußballprima. weilichfinde.Fußballprima

Fragewörter (Question Words) WasWas ist das? WerWer ist das? Wo Wo wohnst du? WarumWarum lernst du Deutsch? WannWann hast du Deutsch? WieWie kommst du zur Schule?

Fragen stellen (Asking Questions) Ja/Nein Frage –Verb in 1st position Kommst du aus Mukilteo?Ja! / Nein.  Info Frage –Question word and then verb Woher kommst du?Ich komme aus Mukilteo. Wann hast du Deutsch?Ich habe Deutsch am Nachmittag.

Fragen stellen (Asking Questions) What kind of questions do we know how to ask? –Kommst du aus Mukilteo? –Wie alt bist du? –Woher kommst du? –Wie geht es dir? –...

Sätze Üben (Sentence Practice) Elements: time phrases, verb, subject, „extra info“ Mit dem Flugzeug komme ich zur Schule Im Sommer ist es heiß. Im Juli habe ich Geburtstag. Deutsch habe ich am Nachmittag. Write: 5 sentences with the verb in 2nd position. Play aroundwith the word order of the other elements.