The Verb Comes Second

Level 1

Put the conjugated verb in second place: Ech schaffen haut (I work today). If something else comes first, the subject moves after the verb: Haut schaffen ech (Today I work).

How It Works

Statements. The conjugated verb is always part number two:

  • Ech schaffen haut. (I work today.)
  • Haut schaffen ech. (Today I work.)

You can start with the subject, a time, a place or even the object. Whatever comes first, the verb stays second, and the subject moves behind it. See fronting for emphasis.

Question-word questions work the same way: the question word comes first and the verb second. Wat méchs du haut? (What are you doing today?)

Yes or no questions put the verb first: Bass de midd? (Are you tired?) See yes/no questions.

The verb bracket. When a sentence has two verbs, only the conjugated one stays in second place. The infinitive or past participle goes to the end, and everything else sits between them:

  • Ech kann haut net schaffen. (I can't work today.)
  • Ech hunn en Hutt kaaft. (I bought a hat.)

Subordinate clauses are different: after words like datt and well, the conjugated verb goes to the end. See verb at the end in subordinate clauses.

Examples (6)

  1. Ech schaffen haut.

    I work today.

    The subject comes first and the verb second.

  2. Haut schaffen ech.

    Today I work.

    Word by Word: Today work I.

    haut comes first, so the subject ech moves behind the verb.

  3. Wat méchs du haut?

    What are you doing today?

    Word by Word: What do you today?

    The question word comes first and the verb second.

  4. Ech kann haut net schaffen.

    I can't work today.

    Word by Word: I can today not work.

    kann is in second place, and the infinitive schaffen goes to the end.

  5. Ech hunn en Hutt kaaft.

    I bought a hat.

    Word by Word: I have a hat bought.

    hunn is in second place, and the participle kaaft goes to the end.

  6. Bass de midd?

    Are you tired?

    In a yes or no question the verb comes first.

Common Mistakes

  • Keeping the English order after a time word.

    Haut ech schaffen.
    Haut schaffen ech.

    The verb must stay in second place, so the subject moves after it.

  • Putting the infinitive right after the modal verb.

    Ech kann schaffen haut net.
    Ech kann haut net schaffen.

    The infinitive goes to the very end of the sentence.

  • Putting the past participle next to hunn.

    Ech hu kaaft en Hutt.
    Ech hunn en Hutt kaaft.

    The past participle goes to the end of the sentence.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

The Verb Comes SecondLevel 1

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.