Word Order
German Word Order
As you will observe many times before you finish reading or working through this short grammar, German word order often differs greatly from English word order. For this reason we have supplied a literal word-by-word translation of most German sentences, so that you can identify words within sentences, and see how German is structured. This word order may seem very strange, but actually it is very systematic, and can be explained in a few general rules.
We shall discuss word order under three different headings: (i) verbs, (2) direct and indirect objects, and (3) adverbs. As you study these sections, use whatever method of study you find easiest. Some people prefer to memorize the rule, and apply it to each situation; others prefer to memorize a single specific example, and then to set other sentences into the same pattern; others prefer to memorize many phrases and to build up rules on an unconscious basis.
The Position of Verbs in the Sentence
Four general rules can cover the position of almost all the verbs which you are likely to use in German. (As you will learn when you have advanced beyond this grammar, there are further complexities, and for all practical purposes you should be able to express yourself completely with these four rules.) After you have studied these rules, go through several pages of this grammar and examine the German sentences. Try to recognize which rule of verb position is operating, and the reason for it.
Rule 1. This is normal word order, and it corresponds more or less to English normal word order. It is the word order that is always used unless there is some reason for using another word order. The subject, with its modifiers, comes first; this is followed immediately by the working verb, its adverbs, objects, and phrases. If there is a non-working verb form (see p. 111 if you are not sure of the difference between a working verb form and a non-working form), it will be placed at the very end of the clause.
Ich habe ein Rad gemietet.
[I have a bicycle rented.]
I have rented a bicycle.
Sie müssen einen Umweg machen.
[You must a detour make.]
You have to make a detour.
Herr Schmidt ist ein vorsichtiger Fahrer.
Herr Schmidt is a cautious driver.
Normal word order is used with the following conjunctions: und (and), oder (or), aber (but), and denn (for).
Ich habe den Hörer abgehängt und ich habe es noch einmal versucht.
[I have the receiver off-hanged, and I have it still once more attempted.]
I put the receiver down and tried it again.
Die Reifen sind neu, aber die Bremse scheint nicht zuverlassig zu sein.
[The tires are new, but the brake seems not dependable to be.]
The tires are new, but the brake does not seem to be dependable.
Rule 2. This is the usual word order for asking a question, and it corresponds very closely to English question word order.
On the whole, if you begin an English sentence with a verb, you can also begin the German sentence with a working verb. As in English, the subject then follows. If there are any non-working verb forms, they go to the end of the sentence.
Kann ich hier ein Rad mieten?
[Can I here a bicycle rent?]
Can I rent a bicycle here?
Haben Sie Ihr Gepäck vorausgeschickt?
[Have you your baggage in advance sent?]
Have you sent your baggage on in advance?
Rule 3. This rule covers inverted word order. It has no exact parallel in modern English, although in archaic poetic language we occasionally use something like it. Stated most simply, the rule for inverted word order is that if anything begins a sentence or clause other than the subject: the working verb follows whatever comes first; the subject comes after the working verb; the objects and adverbial constructions come after the subject; and the non-working verb forms are placed at the end. Presented schematically, the word order is
As you will see, this is closely related to the question word order of Rule 2.
Gestern sind wir auf den Turm des Domes gestiegen.
[Yesterday have we upon the tower of the cathedral climbed.]
Yesterday we climbed the tower of the cathedral.
Im Ratskeller haben wir Wein getrunken.
[In the Ratskeller have we wine drunk.]
We drank some wine in the Ratskeller.
Da wir kein Geld mehr haben, können wir kein Billett kaufen.
[Because we no money more have, can we no ticket buy.]
Because we have no more money, we cannot buy a ticket.
Äpfel essen wir gern, aber nicht Birnen.
[Apples eat we gladly, but not pears.]
We like to eat apples, but not pears.
Wieviel kostet dies Glas aus Böhmen?
[How much costs this glass from Bohemia?]
How much does this Bohemian glass cost?
Was wünschen Sie, bitte?
[What wish you, please?]
What will you have, sir?
In the first example, an adverb comes first in the sentence, thereby causing the remainder of the sentence to fall into inverted word order. In the second sentence, a phrase serves as a beginning; in the third sentence, an entire clause, Da wir kein Geld mehr haben, causes the second clause to invert its word order. In the fourth sentence the object begins the sentence instead of the subject. The last two examples, it should be observed, begin with various question words and expressions. In such examples, the word order approximates English.
Rule 4. This rule has no parallel in English. It is used with clauses that begin with a relative pronoun (see p. 44) or with one of a group of conjunctions, of which the following are the most common:
In such clauses, the verbs are all placed at the end of the clause, with the working verb placed at the very end. A list of examples follows:
Er sagt, dass kein Zimmer frei ist.
[He says, that no room free is.]
He says that there are no vacant rooms.
Ich weiss nicht, ob ich heute ankomme.
[I know not, whether I today arrive.]
I don’t know whether I’ll arrive today.
Wir kaufen es nicht, weil es zu teuer ist.
[We buy it not, because it too expensive is.]
We are not buying it because it is too expensive.
Wissen Sie, wo das Postamt ist?
[Know you, where the post office is?]
Do you know where the post office is?
Hier ist das Hotel, in dem noch Zimmer frei sind.
[Here is the hotel, in which still rooms free are.]
Here is the hotel in which there are still rooms available.
Wir können nicht kommen, weil wir nach Berlin gehen werden.
[We can not come, because we to Berlin go shall.]
We cannot come because we shall go to Berlin.
Die Kirche, deren Turm man von hier sehen kann, liegt in der Stadtmitte.
[The church, whose tower one from here see can, lies in the town middle.]
The church, the tower of which is visible from here, stands in the center of town.
These four rules cover almost all aspects of verb position for simple verbs. (For a discussion of the behavior of separable and inseparable verbs, see pp. 76 to 80.) For other specific examples that fit these general rules, read the sections on the future tense (p. 63), the passive (p. 66), the conversational past (p. 56), would and should (p. 70), and can, may, and must (p. 67).
Avoiding Intricate Word Order
It is usually possible to avoid the more complex forms of German word order simply by restating your thought in a simpler form. Instead of translating your thought word for word, phrase for phrase from English, try at first expressing yourself in the simplest sentences possible.
In other words, to avoid difficulties in German, try to use simple constructions. With a little practice you will be able to avoid quite a few difficult situations without sliding into inaccuracy or baby talk.
The first two types of German word order, described under Rules 1 and 2, should give you no trouble, since they correspond very closely to English word order. If Rules 3 and 4 seem difficult, you can avoid many difficulties by rephrasing your thought.
| INSTEAD OF SAYING: | SAY: |
|---|---|
| In the Ratskeller we drank some wine. | We drank some wine in the Ratskeller. |
| Because we have no more money, we cannot buy tickets for the theatre. | We have no more money and we cannot buy tickets for the theatre. |
| Even though we felt very seasick, we took a walk around the deck. | We felt seasick, but we took a walk around the deck. |
| The waiter whom we forgot to tip yesterday has just given us a dirty look. | That waiter has just given us a dirty look. We forgot to tip him yesterday. |
You can avoid the rather difficult dass construction8 (Rule 4) in quoting another person’s comments, simply by omitting dass (that) in your sentence. In this case your sentence uses ordinary word order.
| INSTEAD OF SAYING: | SAY: |
|---|---|
| He told me that he paid five marks for it. | He told me he paid five marks for it. |
Word Order of Adverbs and Objects
After you have thoroughly familiarized yourself with the basic rules for verb position which have been presented in the previous sections, you should be ready to learn the following, less important rules.
Direct objects and indirect objects (see p. 116) do not always occupy the same position in the sentence as they do in English. Two basic rules, however, govern the position of these elements.
Rule 1. If the direct object is a noun, it follows the indirect object.
Ich habe dem Portier den Zimmerschlüssel gegeben.
[I have to the desk clerk the room key given.]
I have given the room key to the desk clerk.
Ich habe ihm den Zimmerschlüssel gegeben.
[I have to him the room key given.]
I have given him the room key.
Rule 2. If the direct object is a pronoun, it goes before the indirect object.
Ich habe ihn dem Portier gegeben.
[I have it (the room key) to the desk clerk given.]
I have given it to the desk clerk.
Ich habe ihn ihm gegeben.
[I have it (the room key) to him given.]
I have given it to him.
Observe that it in the above sentences is translated as ihn, a masculine accusative form. You use a masculine accusative form because der Schlüssel is a masculine noun, and pronouns which refer to it must also be masculine.
The sequence of adverbs and phrases, too, is different from English, which is much more flexible. In German the sequence of thought is usually: (1) time (2) manner (3) place.
Wir haben ihn gestern abend glücklicherweise im Hotel angetroffen.
[We have him yesterday evening (time) fortunately (manner) in the hotel (place) met.]
Fortunately, we met him last night in the hotel.
It is always possible, however, to begin a sentence or clause with a phrase or an adverb, as was discussed under verb word order (p. 86).
Glücklicherweise haben wir ihn nicht angetroffen.
[Fortunately, have we him not met.]
Fortunately, we did not meet him.