A1 · 5.6 · die Satzklammer
Two verbs: the German sentence bracket
When a sentence has two verb parts, they make a bracket: one in position 2, the other at the very end. Everything else goes between them.
One pattern, many uses
| Type | Position 2 | middle … | End |
|---|---|---|---|
| modal verb | muss | morgen früh zum Arzttomorrow morning to the doctor | gehen |
| separable verb | rufe | dich heute Abendyou this evening | an |
| möchte + verb | möchte | einen Terminan appointment | machen |
| Perfekt (unit 7) | habe | gestern langelate yesterday | gearbeitet |
With “Ich” in front: I must go to the doctor tomorrow morning · I’ll call you this evening · I’d like to make an appointment · I worked late yesterday.
Good to know 1 1
1
1English keeps verbs together (“I must go to the doctor”). German pushes the second one to the end, like closing a bracket.
Nothing goes after the end verb in a simple sentence: Ich kann heute nicht kommen. (I can’t come today. Not “Ich kann kommen heute nicht”.)
Practise: Two verbs: the sentence bracket10 questions with instant feedback · free, no account needed
Cheat sheet: Word order