A1 · 2.4 · die Verbzweitstellung
The verb comes second in German
In a normal sentence the verb is always the second part. If something else comes first, the subject moves after the verb.
Position 2 is for the verb
| 1 | 2 · verb | 3 … |
|---|---|---|
| Joy | arbeitet | heute in der Klinik. |
| Heute | arbeitet | Joy in der Klinik. |
| In der Klinik | arbeitet | Joy heute. |
All three mean: Joy works at the clinic today. Position 1 can be one word or a whole group (“In der Klinik”, at the clinic). It still counts as one.
Good to know 1 1
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1English: Today Joy works. German: Heute arbeitet Joy. Not “Heute Joy arbeitet”.
und, aber, oder don’t count as a position: Ich bin müde, aber ich gehe zur Arbeit. (I’m tired, but I’m going to work.)
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Cheat sheet: Word order