morgenlese
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A1 Beginner

Verbzweitstellung (verb in position 2)

In a German main clause, the conjugated verb is always the second part of the sentence. The first part can be the subject, a time, a place, or an object. If something other than the subject comes first, the subject moves right after the verb.

Pattern

position 1 (subject / time / place / object) + verb + (subject) + rest

Common mistake

Putting the subject before the verb when the sentence starts with a time phrase.

Heute ich gehe ins Kino.

Heute gehe ich ins Kino.

Quick check

  1. Morgen ______ nach Wien.

    ich fahre · fahre ich · ich fahren

    Show answer

    fahre ich — Morgen is in position 1, so the verb comes next and then the subject.

  2. Am Wochenende ______ oft Fußball.

    spielen wir · wir spielen · spielt wir

    Show answer

    spielen wir — After a time phrase in position 1, the verb comes second: spielen wir.

  3. Im Sommer ______ meistens schön.

    das Wetter ist · das Wetter sein · ist das Wetter

    Show answer

    ist das Wetter — Im Sommer takes position 1, so ist comes second and das Wetter follows.

Stories that practice it

MorgenleseNr. 21

Das Passwort

A1Technology · 3 min

Monday morning, home office: Sara types her password, and the computer says it's wrong. Again and again.

Negation: nicht vs. kein · Verbzweitstellung (verb in position 2) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 37

Der falsche Bus

A1Comedy · 3 min

Paul is so tired that he falls asleep on the bus to work. When he opens his eyes, he is not where he should be.

Verbzweitstellung (verb in position 2) · Negation: nicht vs. kein · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 53

Der Taxifahrer

A1Work · 3 min

One day in Goran's Berlin taxi: a man on the phone, a tourist with a lot of questions and a very nervous bride.

Verbzweitstellung (verb in position 2) · Akkusativ (accusative case) · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 97

Fußball am Sonntag

A1Sports · 3 min

The kids' football team has a game on Sunday, but their goalkeeper is sick. Who will stand in goal?

Verbzweitstellung (verb in position 2) · Negation: nicht vs. kein · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 117

Mein Tandempartner

A1Relationships · 3 min

Every Thursday Lukas and Carmen swap languages over coffee: one hour of German, one hour of Spanish. This week they meet in a kitchen instead.

Präsens (present tense) · Verbzweitstellung (verb in position 2) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 125

Meine Schwester Ana

A1Relationships · 3 min

Marko lives in Berlin, and his sister Ana comes from Novi Sad to visit for a week. She loves every minute of it, maybe a little too much.

Präsens (present tense) · Verbzweitstellung (verb in position 2) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 129

Mit dem Zug nach Hamburg

A1Travel · 3 min

Lena is taking the train alone for the first time, and she has a window seat. But someone is already sitting in it.

Präsens (present tense) · Verbzweitstellung (verb in position 2) · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 141

Samstag im Park

A1Sports · 3 min

On a sunny Saturday, Mia and her friends play football in the park. Then Paul arrives with his small, very fast dog.

Präsens (present tense) · Verbzweitstellung (verb in position 2) · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 145

Urlaub am Meer

A1Travel · 3 min

The Haddad family spends a week by the North Sea, but the weather has its own plans. Will they see the sun at all?

Präsens (present tense) · Verbzweitstellung (verb in position 2) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 157

Wo ist mein Regenschirm?

A1Daily life · 3 min

Every morning the sky is blue, and every afternoon Tom gets wet. On Wednesday, he has a plan.

Verbzweitstellung (verb in position 2) · Negation: nicht vs. kein · 6 new words

Verbzweitstellung (verb in position 2): German grammar with examples · Morgenlese