IB Diploma German B SL Β· Grammar backbone 2 of 10 β Word order
IB German B Grammar
Word order
German word order runs on two rules. In a main clause the finite verb is always the second element (V2). In a subordinate clause the finite verb is kicked to the very end. Everything else β inversion, TeKaMoLo, the sentence bracket β flows from these two facts.
Work through each screen and answer the questions β some ask you to spot the order, some to build it. Collect β and press Start.
This grammar backbone powers every IB German B theme: Identities, Experiences, Human ingenuity, Social organization and Sharing the planet β so you can build accurate texts across paper 1, paper 2 and the individual oral.
Rule 1
Verb-second (V2)
In a statement, the finite verb sits in position 2. Position 1 (the Vorfeld) can hold any one element β the subject, a time phrase, an object. Whatever goes first, the verb stays second and the subject follows it (inversion):
Ich gehe heute ins Kino. β normal order (subject first).
Heutegeheich ins Kino. β 'heute' first β verb second β subject after.
Ins Kinogeheich heute. β object first, same rule.
Count elements, not words: 'Am Wochenende' is one element, so it still leaves the verb in slot 2.
Quick check
Where does the verb go?
?Which sentence has the correct main-clause order for "Today I'm going to the cinema"?
The sentence bracket
Satzklammer β verb second, the rest at the end
When a verb has two parts, they form a bracket around the sentence: the finite part stays in slot 2, and the non-finite part (past participle, infinitive or separable prefix) goes to the very end:
Ich habe gestern einen Film gesehen. β perfect: haben β¦ participle.
Ich werde morgen nach Hause kommen. β future: werden β¦ infinitive.
Ich rufe dich spΓ€ter an. β separable verb: prefix 'an' at the end.
Everything else lives inside the bracket: objects and adverbs squeeze between the two verb parts.
Type it
Your turn β verb second
1Fill the verb: Morgen ___ wir FuΓball. ("Tomorrow we're playing football.") β from spielen.
Hint: 'morgen' is first, so the verb takes slot 2, before 'wir'.
Sort it
Choose the correct order
Quick check
After weil
?Which is correct? "I'm staying home because I'm ill."
Rule 2
Subordinating conjunctions send the verb to the end
These conjunctions open a subordinate clause and drive the finite verb to the final position (with a comma before them):
weil (because) Β· dass (that) Β· wenn (if/when) Β· obwohl (although)
als (when, past) Β· ob (whether) Β· damit (so that) Β· bevor (before) Β· nachdem (after)
denn vs weil: both mean "because", but denn is coordinating (verb stays second: denn ich bin krank) while weil is subordinating (verb to the end: weil ich krank bin).
Type it
Your turn β verb to the end
2Fill the verb: Ich gehe frΓΌh ins Bett, weil ich mΓΌde ___. ("β¦ because I'm tired.") β from sein, ich-form.
Hint: after 'weil' the finite verb goes last: β¦ mΓΌde ___ .
Game Β· Match
Match the conjunction to its clause
Tap a conjunction on the left, then the clause that shows its correct order.
CONJUNCTION
weil
denn
obwohl
aber
dass
und
CLAUSE
β¦, dass er heute kommt
β¦, weil ich krank bin
β¦, aber ich komme mit
β¦, denn ich bin krank
β¦, und sie lacht laut
β¦, obwohl es regnet
Adverb order
TeKaMoLo β time, manner, place
When several adverbials pile up, German orders them Te-Ka-Mo-Lo: temporal (when) β kausal (why) β modal (how) β lokal (where):
Te Β· Ka Β· Mo Β· LoIch fahre morgen (Te) mit dem Zug (Mo) nach Berlin (Lo).
Rule of thumb: time before manner before place. 'Nach Berlin' (place) comes last, 'morgen' (time) comes first.
Quick check
Order the adverbials
?Which order is correct?
Type it
Your turn β a separable verb
3Fill the prefix at the end: Ich rufe dich morgen ___. ("I'll call you tomorrow.") β from anrufen.
Hint: the separable prefix of 'anrufen' closes the bracket at the end.
Fronted subordinate clause
Verb, comma, verb
You can put the subordinate clause first. It then fills position 1 of the whole sentence, so the main-clause verb must come immediately after the comma β giving the famous verbβcommaβverb pattern:
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.
Weil ich krank bin, bleibe ich zu Hause. β bin | bleibe.
Same with wenn:Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. β the fronted clause is element 1, verb second.
Quick check
Clause first
?Which is correct?
Sort it
Verb to the end, or verb second?
Sort each conjunction by what it does to the verb.
Sends verb to the END
Keeps verb SECOND
Type it
Your turn β clause first
4Fill the main-clause verb: Wenn es regnet, ___ ich zu Hause. ("If it rains, I stay home.") β from bleiben.
Hint: the fronted 'wenn'-clause is element 1, so the verb comes next β ich-form.
Coordinating conjunctions
The five that change nothing
The coordinating conjunctions und, aber, oder, denn, sondern simply join two clauses. They sit in "position zero" and do not affect the word order that follows:
Ich bin mΓΌde, aber ich komme mit. β verb still second.
Ich bleibe zu Hause, denn ich bin krank. β verb second.
Nicht heute, sondern morgen. β 'sondern' after a negative = "but rather".
Memory hook: the five coordinators spell out with "und, aber, oder, denn, sondern" β none of them moves the verb.
Quick check
Participle placement
?Which is correct? "I watched a film yesterday."
Type it
Your turn β a full sentence
5Translate "I stay at home because I am ill" into German (use weil).
Hint: main clause V2, then a comma, then 'weil' with the verb 'bin' at the end.
Recap
Your word-order toolkit
V2: in a main clause the finite verb is the second element; if something else is first, the subject inverts after the verb.
Satzklammer: participles, infinitives and separable prefixes close the bracket at the end.
Subordinating (weil, dass, wenn, obwohl): verb to the end. A fronted subordinate clause gives verbβcommaβverb.
Coordinating (und, aber, oder, denn, sondern): no effect on order. TeKaMoLo = timeβmannerβplace.
Cluster 3 uses this framework to slot in the trickiest bit of the noun phrase: adjective endings. Press Finish.
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You've mastered German word order for IB Diploma German B SL. π
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Next in the backbone: adjective endings β weak, mixed and strong declension.