CEFR A1
What you will learn
- Distinguish words from constituents and locate the finite verb in the second slot of a declarative main clause.
- Build a declarative main clause with time, place, subject or object in the first slot and the finite verb in the second.
- Distinguish declarative V2 order from verb-first yes/no questions and interrogative-first W-questions.
Before you start
- Recognise the subject and a finite present-tense verb form.
- Understand that several words can form a single constituent together.
The idea
In a declarative main clause, one constituent fills the first slot and the finite verb fills the second; that first constituent may contain several words.
The V2 rule counts functions or blocks, not words. In Am frühen Montag fährt der Bus nach Bonn, all three words Am frühen Montag form the first constituent; fährt occupies the second structural slot. “The verb is the second word” is therefore a faulty explanation.
The subject can open the sentence: Meine Nachbarin kocht heute. Time, place or an object can also do so: Heute kocht meine Nachbarin; In der Küche kocht meine Nachbarin; Diese Suppe kocht meine Nachbarin oft. When another block moves into the first slot, the subject commonly follows the verb; two constituents are not placed before the verb.
Only the finite form occupies V2. With a separable verb, the particle closes the clause; with a modal, the infinitive appears at the end. These structures form a sentence bracket and are developed in their own units: Er ruft später an; Er kann heute kommen.
Do not turn every difference into a closed list of “three exceptions”. Yes/no questions place the verb first; W-questions place the interrogative first and the verb after it. Subordinate clauses use a different architecture beyond this initial A1 unit.
Declarative main clause
| Structural slot | Function |
|---|---|
| Slot 1 | One constituent |
| Slot 2 | Finite verb |
| Middle field | Subject and remaining complements |
| Closing position | Separable particle or infinitive, when required |
The table counts constituents, not individual words.
A1 questions
| Clause type | Order |
|---|---|
| Yes/no question | Finite verb + subject + …? |
| W-question | Interrogative + finite verb + subject + …? |
These two question patterns do not follow declarative-main-clause order.
How it sounds
- Nach dem Kurs besucht Sam seine Tante.Nach dem Kurs is one block; besucht remains in V2.
- Seine Tante besucht Sam am Dienstag.The object opens the sentence; the subject follows the verb.
- Besucht Sam heute seine Tante?The yes/no question uses verb-first, not declarative V2.
Build the slot mapAnother slot map
In “Am frühen Montag fährt der Bus nach Bonn”, set how many words form the first constituent and which structural slot the finite form fährt occupies.
Now use “Heute kocht Mina in der Küche”: set how many words form the first constituent and which slot kocht occupies.
Answer available without interaction
Answer: Words inside the first constituent: 3; Structural slot of the finite form: 2
Am, frühen and Montag form one three-word time constituent; fährt occupies the second structural slot.
Answer: Words inside the first constituent: 1; Structural slot of the finite form: 2
Heute is a one-word constituent and kocht occupies the second structural slot.
Order a declarative with time firstAnother declarative with time first
Sam visits his aunt after the course. Order the four blocks to start with the time and keep V2.
Now express “Today he visits his aunt.” Order the four blocks so that time opens the declarative main clause.
Answer available without interaction
Answer: Nach dem Kurs → besucht → Sam → seine Tante.
The time block fills the first slot and besucht the second; nominative case identifies Sam as the subject.
Answer: Heute → besucht → er → seine Tante.
Heute fills the first slot, besucht the second, and the nominative pronoun er follows the verb.
Order a yes/no questionNow order a W-question
Ask whether the other person is coming along today. Order the blocks with the finite form first.
Ask when the bus arrives in Bonn. Order the blocks with the interrogative first and the finite form after it.
Answer available without interaction
Answer: Kommst → du → heute → mit?
The yes/no question follows finite verb + subject + time + final particle.
Answer: Wann → kommt → der Bus → in Bonn → an?
The W-question follows interrogative + finite form + subject + complements + separable particle.
When it doesn't hold
What breaks the rule, said out loud. Hiding it is what makes you feel cheated in the exam.
- In a yes-or-no question the verb comes first of all.Kommst du mit?
- The imperative also starts with the verb.Mach bitte das Fenster zu!
- und, aber, oder and denn take no slot: the count starts after them.Ich bleibe hier, aber du kannst gehen.
What your own language pushes you to say
Wrong Nach der Arbeit ich gehe einkaufen.
Right Nach der Arbeit gehe ich einkaufen.
English fronts adverbials all the time —«After work I go shopping»— and keeps subject before verb. German swaps those two, so this is the rule an English speaker breaks most often.
Challenge: two structures with the same pieces
Analyse “Morgen fährt der Zug nach Köln.” and “Wann fährt der Zug nach Köln?”. In each sentence, separate the constituents, identify the finite form and explain why the first is declarative V2 while the second is a W-question.
Answer available without interaction
- Separate complete groups in each sentence and distinguish constituents from words.
- Identify the finite form and justify its position by counting groups.
- Explain the function of the opening group and how the sentence type changes between the examples.
Answer: [Morgen]₁ [fährt]₂ [der Zug] [nach Köln]. · [Wann]₁ [fährt]₂ [der Zug] [nach Köln]?
In the declarative, the time constituent Morgen opens the clause and the finite form fährt occupies V2. In the question, Wann is the opening interrogative and fährt follows immediately; the same surface position serves a different interrogative structure.
Curriculum alignment and sources
- CEFR A1 · simple one-clause sentences; the word-order sequence is an editorial decision · Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: Companion Volume
- The German realization of A1 repertoire is cross-checked against language-specific reference descriptions · Reference Level Descriptions developed so far
Continue along this corridor
Practise this: The verb always comes secondGerman questions: yes/no and question words