Statement: verb in second position
Aussagesatz: Verb an Position 2
In statements the conjugated is always the second element (V2).
Structure
Subjekt + Verb + … (Verb immer an 2. Stelle)
subject + verb + … (verb always in 2nd position)
Details
- Part of Speech
- Sentence Structure
- Word Type
- Word order
- Register
- Standard
Explanation
What it is. A statement (Aussagesatz) is a normal sentence that tells someone something. The most important rule in German is the position-2 rule (V2): the conjugated is always the second element of the sentence - not necessarily the second word, but the second element.
Word order. "Element" means a complete chunk: a , a time phrase, an . The most natural order is subject - verb - rest:
- Ich trinke Kaffee. - I drink coffee.
- Wir lernen heute Deutsch. - We are learning German today.
You may put a different element in first position (the Vorfeld) for emphasis - a time, a place, an . When you do, the subject jumps to the third position, right after the verb. This is called inversion, and the still stays in position 2:
- Heute trinke ich Kaffee. - Today I drink coffee.
- In Berlin wohnt meine Schwester. - My sister lives in Berlin.
Common mistakes. Beginners keep English order and write Heute ich trinke Kaffee - wrong, because the has slipped to position 3. As soon as something other than the opens the sentence, swap the subject and the verb. Also remember: only one element fits in front of the , never two.
About Statement: verb in second position
In statements the conjugated is always the second element (V2).
If another element starts the sentence, the moves after the (inversion): Heute trinke ich Kaffee.
Im steht das finite immer an zweiter Stelle.
Caution
If something other than the subject starts the sentence, the subject moves after the verb: 'Heute trinke ich Kaffee' - never 'Heute ich trinke'.