Sentence structure of main clauses in German
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A main clause can stand alone as a full sentence. A main clause contains at least a subject, a verb and an object. The four cases are the reasons why we can identify the different role (subject or object position) of pronouns or nouns. Further, the German cases lead to a various range of ordering the parts of a sentence. This is important, if we are writing texts.
For example:
- Der Lehrer fragt den Schüler. - The teacher asks the student.
- Den Schüler fragt der Lehrer. - The student is asked by the teacher.
Lesson outline
Hide- 1.The basic rules of sentence structure
- 1.1.Regular word order with Subject and Verb
- 1.2.Word order of compound tenses and separable prefixes
- 2.Different types of objects
- 3.Exercises
- 3.1.Exercise of rewriting German main clauses
- 3.2.Exercise of forming a sentence
- 3.3.Exercise of the German sentence structure.
- 3.4.Exercise: Create a German main clause!
The basic rules of sentence structure
There are two different ways of forming the sentence structure. The first is for basic sentences, the other for compound tenses and sentences with separable prefixes.
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Regular word order with Subject and Verb
The regular word order used in basic sentences in German is as follows.
| subject | conjugated verb (finite verb) | object |
|---|---|---|
Der Mann (The man) | ist (is) | unser Professor (our professor) |
Word order of compound tenses and separable prefixes
- The finite verb is always second in a sentence.
- The infinite verb is always at the end of a sentence (could be a infinitive, past participle, prefix)
| type of the first position | first position in the sentence | finite verb | subject | indirect object | time | place | direct object | infinite verb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| subject | Der Lehrer | hat | dem Schüler | heute | im Unterricht | eine Frage | gestellt | |
| indirect object | Dem Schüler | hat | der Lehrer | heute | im Unterricht | eine Frage | gestellt | |
| time | Heute | hat | der Lehrer | dem Schüler | im Unterricht | eine Frage | gestellt | |
| place | Im Unterricht | hat | der Lehrer | dem Schüler | heute | eine Frage | gestellt | |
| direct object | Eine Frage | hat | der Lehrer | dem Schüler | heute | im Unterricht | gestellt |
If the direct object is a pronoun, it is places before the indirect object:
sie (die Frage):
Der Lehrer hat sie dem Schüler heute im Unterricht gestellt.
Different types of objects
There are different types of objects in German.
| Example | category of object |
|---|---|
Maria wirft den Apfel. (Maria throws the apple) | accusative object (Wen/was?) |
Der Apfel gehört ihr. (The apple belongs to her) | dative object (Wem?) |
Der Apfel ist ihrer. (The apple is hers) | genitive object (Wessen?) |
Sie denkt an ihn. (She thinks of him) | prepositional object |
Exercises
- Exercise of rewriting German main clauses
- Exercise of forming a sentence
- Exercise of the German sentence structure.
- Exercise: Create a German main clause!
Exercise of rewriting German main clauses
Rewrite the following sentences, using the present perfect tense of the verb.
For example:
- Sie mussten schneller packen.
- Sie haben schneller packen müssen.
1. Sie mussten schneller laufen. - müssen.
(They needed to run faster - They had to run faster)
2. Wir machten die Box auf. - aufgemacht.
(We opened the box - Wie had opened the box)
3. Er wollte nicht heimgehen. - wollen.
(He didn't want to go home)
4. Sie wollte es ihm zeigen. - zeigen .
(She did want to show it to him - She has wanted to show it to him)
5. Seine Oma brachte es ihm mit. - beigebracht.
(His grandma did teach him - His grandma has taught him)
6. Meine Mutter ließ mich gehen. - gelassen.
(My mother did let me go - My mother had let me go)
7. Er konnte gut rechnen. - rechnen .
(He was able to calculate well - He has been able to calculate well)
8. Die Alte setzte sich auf die Bank. - gesetzt.
(The old one sat down on the bench - The old one has sitten down on the bench)
9. Die Bahn fuhr vor 10 Minuten ab. - 10 Minuten .
(The tram left 10 minutes ago - The train has left 10 minutes ago)
10. Der Opa ging - ist .
(The grandpa left - The grandpa had left)
Exercise of forming a sentence
Exercise of the German sentence structure.
Fill in the missing words. Rewrite each of the following sentences, beginning with the bold element. Pay attantion to capilitaziation.
For example:
- Sie wollten die Katze im Tierheim kaufen.
- Die Katze wollten sie im Tierheim kaufen.
1. Wir wollten das Auto in Spanien kaufen. Das Auto .
(We wanted to buy the car in Spain)
2. Sie kommen morgen zurück. Morgen .
(They come back tomorrow - Tomorrow they come back)
3. Er hat es im Auto vergessen. Im Auto er .
(He forgot it in the car)
4. Er ist am Morgen meistens müde. Meistens .
(In the morning he is tired most of the time - Most of the time he is tired in the morning)
5. Meine Eltern waren leider im Urlaub. Leider .
(My parent were unfortunately in vacation - Unfortunately my parent were in vacation)
6. Ich konnte wegen meiner Erkältung kaum schlafen. Wegen meiner Erkältung .
(I barely could sleep because of my cold - Because of my cold I could barely sleep)
7. Wir habe es gestern Mittag gemacht. Gestern Mittag .
(We did it yesterday at noon - Yesterday at noon we did it)
8. Sie fahren mit dem Bus in die Schweiz. Mit dem Bus .
(They go by bus to Switzerland - By bus they go to Switzerland)
9. Das Museum liegt außerhalb der Stadt. Außerhalb der Stadt .
(The museum is outside of the city - Outside of the city there is the museum)
10. Ich habe es oft hören müssen. Oft .
(I had to listen to that a lot of times - A lot of times I had to listen to that)
Exercise: Create a German main clause!
Exercises
- Exercise of rewriting German main clauses
- Exercise of forming a sentence
- Exercise of the German sentence structure.
- Exercise: Create a German main clause!
Exercise of rewriting German main clauses
Rewrite the following sentences, using the present perfect tense of the verb.
For example:
- Sie mussten schneller packen.
- Sie haben schneller packen müssen.
1. Sie mussten schneller laufen. - müssen.
(They needed to run faster - They had to run faster)
2. Wir machten die Box auf. - aufgemacht.
(We opened the box - Wie had opened the box)
3. Er wollte nicht heimgehen. - wollen.
(He didn't want to go home)
4. Sie wollte es ihm zeigen. - zeigen .
(She did want to show it to him - She has wanted to show it to him)
5. Seine Oma brachte es ihm mit. - beigebracht.
(His grandma did teach him - His grandma has taught him)
6. Meine Mutter ließ mich gehen. - gelassen.
(My mother did let me go - My mother had let me go)
7. Er konnte gut rechnen. - rechnen .
(He was able to calculate well - He has been able to calculate well)
8. Die Alte setzte sich auf die Bank. - gesetzt.
(The old one sat down on the bench - The old one has sitten down on the bench)
9. Die Bahn fuhr vor 10 Minuten ab. - 10 Minuten .
(The tram left 10 minutes ago - The train has left 10 minutes ago)
10. Der Opa ging - ist .
(The grandpa left - The grandpa had left)
Exercise of forming a sentence
Exercise of the German sentence structure.
Fill in the missing words. Rewrite each of the following sentences, beginning with the bold element. Pay attantion to capilitaziation.
For example:
- Sie wollten die Katze im Tierheim kaufen.
- Die Katze wollten sie im Tierheim kaufen.
1. Wir wollten das Auto in Spanien kaufen. Das Auto .
(We wanted to buy the car in Spain)
2. Sie kommen morgen zurück. Morgen .
(They come back tomorrow - Tomorrow they come back)
3. Er hat es im Auto vergessen. Im Auto er .
(He forgot it in the car)
4. Er ist am Morgen meistens müde. Meistens .
(In the morning he is tired most of the time - Most of the time he is tired in the morning)
5. Meine Eltern waren leider im Urlaub. Leider .
(My parent were unfortunately in vacation - Unfortunately my parent were in vacation)
6. Ich konnte wegen meiner Erkältung kaum schlafen. Wegen meiner Erkältung .
(I barely could sleep because of my cold - Because of my cold I could barely sleep)
7. Wir habe es gestern Mittag gemacht. Gestern Mittag .
(We did it yesterday at noon - Yesterday at noon we did it)
8. Sie fahren mit dem Bus in die Schweiz. Mit dem Bus .
(They go by bus to Switzerland - By bus they go to Switzerland)
9. Das Museum liegt außerhalb der Stadt. Außerhalb der Stadt .
(The museum is outside of the city - Outside of the city there is the museum)
10. Ich habe es oft hören müssen. Oft .
(I had to listen to that a lot of times - A lot of times I had to listen to that)
Exercise: Create a German main clause!
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I happen to be a safety and security specialist for a major oil and gas exploration company and have also done my one year TEFL Diploma. I have been teaching English to students online as well as in classrooms primarily out of passion and love for teaching English and helping the students overcome their difficulties and lack of confidence/ motivation towards using English in their every day lives. My average rating happens to be 4.99/5 with 5 star reviews on English teaching websites such as www.engoo.com and https://eikaiwa.dmm.com/.
Despite being a non native English speaker; I happen to have native level proficiency in aspects of English language and am very passionate about helping students achieve their goals and aspirations in life via use of exclusive and result orientated lesson that have allowed me to achieve my level of skills in English Language. Lastly, owing to my diversified professional back ground, I also provide consultation services with regards to motivation and self improvement and help individuals gain self confidence and to think objectively.
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