Syntax in German Grammar
Word Order in a Main Clause
A sentence consists of a subject (person or thing carrying out the action), a predicate (finite verb), and perhaps other elements. In a main clause (with a full stop at the end), the predicate is always in second place.
If there is another element of the sentence in first place in a main clause, the subject comes straight after the predicate.
Questioning
Polar questions – without an interrogative (question word): predicate first, immediately followed bythe subject.
Such polar questions are answered with 'Yes.' or 'No.'Non-polar questions – with an interrogative: interrogative first, then the predicate, immediatelyfollowed by the subject.
Interrogatives
Interrogatives begin with the letter 'w'.
Sequence of Objects in Asentence
If there are two objects in a sentence, the dative object comes before the accusative object.
A personal pronoun object always comes before a noun object.
If there are two personal pronoun objects in a sentence, the accusative object comes before the dative object.
Negation 'nicht' (not)
Negation: 'nicht' – 'not' – is used when one negates part or all of a sentence. Negation of a complete sentence: 'nicht' – 'not' – stands at the end of the sentence, but before any second verb.
Negation of part of a sentence: 'nicht' – 'not' – stands before the element to be negated.
The Question 'welch-' (which)
The question 'welch-' (which) is used when selecting one definite person or thing from among others.
The question 'welch-' (which) stands in front of the noun instead of the article.
The question 'welch-' (which) is declined in the same way as the definite article.
Causal Clauses with 'weil' (because)
The conjunction 'weil' (because) indicates a cause. The conjunction is followed by a subordinate clause (subject + other elements of the sentence + predicate at the end). If the 'weil'-clause comes first in the sentence, the main clause must begin with the predicate.
Object Clauses with “dass” (that)
Object clause with “dass”
These object clauses begin with the conjunction 'dass' - 'that'. The conjunction is followed by the subordinate clause (subject + other elements of the sentence + predicate at the end).
Some subordinate clauses replace phrases. Therefore they are also called partial clauses. If, as in this case, a subordinate clause replaces an object, it is called an object clause. The clause takes the role of an accusative object in the main sentence. The question for an object clause is the same as for an object.
Subject clauses with “dass”
If a subordinate clause takes the place of a subject, one calls this a subject clause. A subject clause gives information about the subject of a sentence and answers to the questions “wer” or “was”.
Indirect Questions
Such questions can appear as subordinate clauses in complex sentences. In a subordinate clause consisting of a non-polar question (with an interrogative at the start), the predicate is at the end..
The subordinate clause from a 'yes/no'-question begins with the conjunction 'ob' – 'if / whether', and ends with the predicate.
Conditional Clauses with 'wenn' (if)
The conjunction 'wenn' (if) – indicates a condition. The conjunction is followed by a subordinate clause (subject + other elements of the sentence + predicate at the end).
Conditional clauses are often in the subjunctive.
Concessive Clauses with 'obwohl' (although) and 'trotzdem' (nevertheless)
Concessive clauses answer the question 'despite which counter-arguments?'. A concessive clause can be intruduced by the conjunction 'obwohl' - 'although'. The conjunction is followed by the subordinate clause (subject + other elements of the sentence + predicate at the end).
A concessive clause can also begin with the conjunction 'trotzdem' - 'nevertheless' . The conjunction requires inversion ( predicate + subject +other elements of the sentence).
Consecutive Clauses with 'deshalb' (therefore)
The conjunction 'deshalb' – 'therefore' – indicates a consequence. The conjunction requires inversion (predicate + subject + other elements of the sentence).
Final Clauses with 'um…zu' (in order to) and 'damit' (so that)
Final clauses answer the questions 'What for?' and 'To what purpose?'.
If the same subject appears in both parts of the sentence, the final clause is connected to the main clause by the conjunction 'um' (in order) which is followed by the remaining elements of the clause, with the infinitive, preceded by 'zu' (to), at the end.
â
ich (= I) = ich (= I)
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• Ich lerne fleißig Deutsch. Ich will in Deutschland studieren.
I am learning German conscientiously. I want to study in Germany.
• Ich lerne fleißig Deutsch, um in Deutschland zu studieren.
I am learning German conscientiously in order to study in Germany. Zwei Škoda-Automechaniker fahren in ein einsames, österreichisches Alpendorf, um Ski zu fahren.
Two mechanics drive to an isolated Austrian alpen village to go skiing.
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The modal verb 'wollen' (to want to) does not occur in an 'um…zu' clause.
• Laura sieht sich oft Filme an. Sie will mit den Freunden darüber reden.
Laura often watches films. She wants to talk about them with the friends.
• Laura sieht sich oft Filme an, um mit den Freunden darüber zu reden.
Laura often watches films in order to be able to talk about them with the friends.
Es ist schon sehr spät, deshalb gehe ich jetzt schlafen.
(It is already very late, therefore I am going to sleep now.)
Der Bus fährt nicht, deshalb gehen wir zu Fuß.
(The bus isn’t running, therefore we are going on foot.)
If the subjects are different in the two parts of the sentence, the final clause is connected to the main clause by the conjunction 'damit' (so that). The conjunction is followed by the subordinate clause (subject + other elements of the clause + predicate at the end).
ich (= I) ≠ mein Chef (= my boss)
• Ich lerne fleißig Deutsch. Mein Chef soll zufrieden sein.
I am learning German conscientiously. My boss should be content.
• Ich lerne fleißig Deutsch, damit mein Chef zufrieden ist.
I am learning German conscientiously so that my boss is content.
The two-part Conjunction “entweder … oder”
Multi-part conjunctions consist of two parts. You can link clauses or even entire sentences together. The first part appears before the first clause to be linked, the other part is between the clauses to be linked.
Relative Clauses
Relative clauses give more information about the noun in the main clause. They are usually placed right after the word they describe. Relative clauses are introduced by a relative pronoun. The relative pronoun must be in the case required by the verb in the subordinate clause. These have the same forms as the definite article (except in the dative plural). The relative pronoun is followed by the subordinate clause (subject + other elements of the sentence + predicate at the end).
– Case endings
The number and gender of the relative pronoun are determined by the noun in the main clause, its case by the verb in the subordinate clause. Relative pronouns can be linked to prepositions if required by the verb in the subordinate clause. Relative clauses (separated by commas) may be inserted in the main clause.
If the relative pronoun relates to a place, the adverb “wo” can replace the preposition and the relative pronoun.
Temporal Clauses
A temporal conjunction is followed by a subordinate clause (subject + other elements of the sentence + predicate at the end).
Conjunctions 'als' (when) and 'wenn' (when)
'Wenn' is used for present and future events or for repeated events in the past. (The repetition can be emphasised with the adverbs 'immer' - 'always', 'jedesmal' - 'every time').
Time functions in if sentences
If sentences can be conditional or temporal. A repeating action: in this case the sentence with “wenn” answers the question “when”.
Previousness and condition: The temporal clause with “wenn” expresses that the fact in the subordinate clause occurs prior to that in the main clause. The condition must be fulfilled so that the fact in the main clause can be realized.
'Als' is used for single events in the past.
Conjunction 'bevor' (before)
Conjunction 'seit' / 'seitdem' (since)
Conjunction 'bis' (until)
Conjunction 'während' (while)
Infinitive Clauses
The infinitive is always at the end of the sentence. The word “zu” may come before the infinitive, but it has no separate meaning of its own.
The infinitive occurs without “zu”:
• with modal verbs,
in the subjunctive after 'würde' ('would')
in the Future I,
after verbs of movement,
after verbs of perception,
after the verbs: 'lernen' und 'lehren' ('to learn' and 'to teach')
after the verb 'lassen' – 'to let, leave, allow'
In other cases, 'zu' comes before the infinitive at the end of the sentence. There can be a comma between a main clause and an infinitive clause with 'zu'.
Infinitive Clauses with “zu”
Structures with 'zu' before the infinitive:
• 'es ist' + adjective,
‘haben' + noun,
âIf there is only one subject in a sentence, but two verbs, they can be combined using mit. In this case the first verb is conjugated and the second verb appears in the infinitive at the end of the sentence.
If there is an infinitive sentence, it must be preceded by a comma. In an infinitive sentence, the verb in the main clause relates to the action of the secondary clause. The infinitive appears with {2} in the last position.
The infinitive with zu is especially used after particular verbs. Some of these verbs are given below:
Modal Particle
The German language is rich in modal particles. Modal particles arise primarily in the spoken language. They are uninflected words, which express a view and often express a particular emotion of the speaker. Thereby they can strengthen or weaken the effect of the spoken sentence.
“With their help the speaker can signal certainty, acceptance, distance, emotional attitude or rational and qualitative judgement.” (Helbig/Helbig 1990: Klappentext). Many modal particles can often have several meanings. They normally appear in the middle of the clause, after the verb and the pronoun. Examples of several modal particles:
