Where the German verb goes
A German statement puts the conjugated verb in position 2. Position 1 can be the subject or something else. If you start with the time, the subject moves after the verb. It does not stay in front.
Ich lerne heute Deutsch.
Heute lerne ich Deutsch.
Both are ordinary main clauses. lerne is the second unit each time. heute is one unit, not a place where the verb is “late”.
A yes/no question starts with the verb. A question with a question word starts with that word, then the verb.
Lernst du heute Deutsch?
Wann lernst du Deutsch?
After weil, dass and obwohl the conjugated verb goes to the end of that clause. This is the pattern exam writing marks when a sentence looks fluent but the verb is still in position 2.
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.
Say the clause out loud and stop on the verb. If you hear the verb before krank, move it. The sentence builder lets you drag the verb instead of only reading about it.
Open the verb-position lesson · Build the sentence · B1 writing, where weil shows up
Cases · Two-way prepositions · Separable verbs · Plurals
Author: Fahrplan Deutsch. Last reviewed 2026-10-27. reviewed: false. A native-speaker review is still open.
Questions
Why is the verb not at the end of a normal sentence?
In a statement the conjugated verb is the second idea, not the second word. Heute lerne ich Deutsch still has lerne in position 2, because Heute is position 1.
When does the verb go to the end?
After weil, dass and obwohl the conjugated verb closes the clause. The sentence builder in the app trains that pattern.