Difference between revisions of "Language/German/Grammar/Subject-and-Verb"

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<div class="pg_page_title">[[Language/German|German]]  → [[Language/German/Grammar|Grammar]] → [[Language/German/Grammar/0-to-A1-Course|0 to A1 Course]] → Basic Sentence Structures → Subject and Verb</div>
<div class="pg_page_title">German Grammar → Basic Sentence Structures → Subject and Verb</div>


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As a beginner in German, starting with basic sentence structures is fundamental. In this lesson, you will learn how to form simple sentences with subject and verb. Understanding these concepts will serve as a foundation to build more complex sentences in the future.
== Introduction ==
 
== Subject ==
 
In a basic sentence, the subject is the element that performs the action or that is being talked about. In German, the subject usually comes before the verb. For example:
 
* "Ich esse" (I eat)
* "Du trinkst" (You drink)
* "Er läuft" (He runs)
* "Sie schreibt" (She writes)
* "Es regnet" (It rains)
* "Wir sprechen Deutsch" (We speak German)
* "Ihr lernt schnell" (You learn quickly)
* "Sie spielen Tennis" (They play tennis)
 
As you can see in these examples, the subject is always in the nominative case. This is a concept that we will explore further in a future lesson.
 
== Verb ==
 
The verb is the element that indicates the action or state of being. In German, it usually comes after the subject. However, in some cases, the verb can come first to express a particular emphasis or to form a question.
 
* "Ich trinke" (I drink)
* "Du isst den Apfel" (You eat the apple)
* "Er spielt Fußball" (He plays soccer)
* "Sie liest ein Buch" (She reads a book)
* "Es gibt viele Leute" (There are many people)
* "Wir lernen Deutsch" (We learn German)
* "Ihr habt Hunger" (You are hungry)
* "Sie sprechen Englisch" (They speak English)


=== Verb conjugation for regular verbs ===
In this lesson, we will learn how to form basic sentences in German using the subject and verb. Understanding the structure of a sentence is essential for effective communication in any language. By mastering this basic skill, you will be able to express yourself more confidently and accurately in German.


Verbs in German can be classified into regular and irregular. Regular verbs follow a set pattern to form their different tenses and modes. In the present tense, for example, regular verbs follow this structure:
== Subject and Verb Agreement ==


* Subject (nominative case) + Verb stem + conjugation ending
In German, like in English, the subject and verb must agree in number and person. This means that the verb form changes depending on the subject. Let's take a look at some examples:


Here are some examples of present tense conjugation for regular verbs:
* The dog barks. (singular subject)
* The dogs bark. (plural subject)
* He sings. (singular subject)
* They sing. (plural subject)


{| class="wikitable"
As you can see, the verb form changes from "barks" to "bark" and from "sings" to "sing" when the subject changes from singular to plural. This is an important concept to understand when forming sentences in German.
! German !! Pronunciation !! English
|-
| Ich spiele || [ɪç ˈʃpiːlə] || I play
|-
| Du lernst || [du ˈlɛrnst] || You learn
|-
| Er schläft || [eːɐ̯ ˈʃlɛft] || He sleeps
|-
| Sie tanzt || [zi ˈtant͡sən] || She dances
|-
| Es regnet || [ɛs ˈʁɛɡnət] || It rains
|-
| Wir arbeiten || [vɪʁ aɐ̯ˈbaɪtn̩] || We work
|-
| Ihr sprecht || [iːɐ̯ ˈʃpʁɛçt] || You speak (informal plural)
|-
| Sie hören || [ziː ˈhøːrən] || They listen
|}


As you can see, almost all regular verbs in the present tense end with the letters "-e" or "-st" for the second person singular (Du), and "-t" or "-en" for the third person singular (Er/Sie/Es).
== Basic Sentence Structure ==


Knowing the conjugation pattern for regular verbs will allow you to form simple sentences that express the action being performed by the subject.
In German, the basic sentence structure is similar to English. It follows the pattern of subject-verb-object (SVO) in declarative sentences. Let's break down the components of a basic sentence:


== Subject-verb agreement ==
1. Subject: The subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action of the verb. It can be a single word or a phrase. For example:
  * The cat
  * My friend
  * In the park


In German, the form of the verb changes depending on the subject. That means that verbs are conjugated according to the number (singular or plural) and person (first, second, or third) of the subject. For example:
2. Verb: The verb is the action or state of being in the sentence. It expresses what the subject is doing or being. For example:
  * sleeps
  * is reading
  * plays


* "Ich spiele" (I play)
3. Object: The object is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb. It answers the question "what" or "whom" after the verb. For example:
* "Du spielst" (You play)
  * the book
* "Er/sie/es spielt" (He/she/it plays)
  * a song
* "Wir spielen" (We play)
  * the piano
* "Ihr spielt" (You play - informal plural)
* "Sie spielen" (They play)


As you can see, in the first and third-person singular, the verb stem is different. Similarly, in the second-person singular and informal plural, the verb stem remains the same as the infinitive. In the first, second, and third-person plural, the verb conjugation ends in "-en".
Let's see some examples of basic sentences in German:


== Negation ==
* Die Katze schläft. (The cat is sleeping.)
* Mein Freund liest ein Buch. (My friend is reading a book.)
* Ich spiele Klavier. (I am playing the piano.)


To form a negative sentence in German, you have to use the word "nicht" (not) after the subject or after the first verb in the sentence. For example:
As you can see, the basic sentence structure in German is quite straightforward. Now let's move on to some specific rules and exceptions.


* "Ich spiele nicht" (I do not play)
=== Subject-Verb Agreement with Pronouns ===
* "Du isst den Apfel nicht" (You do not eat the apple)
* "Wir lernen nicht Deutsch" (We do not learn German)
* "Sie spricht nicht Englisch" (She does not speak English)


== Word order ==
When using pronouns as the subject of a sentence, it is important to pay attention to the gender and number of the pronoun. This will determine the correct form of the verb. Let's look at some examples:


In a typical German sentence, the word order is as follows:
* Er isst. (He is eating.)
* Sie trinkt. (She is drinking.)
* Es schläft. (It is sleeping.)
* Wir spielen. (We are playing.)
* Ihr lest. (You all are reading.)
* Sie singen. (They are singing.)


Subject (nominative case) + Verb + Object (accusative case)
As you can see, the verb form changes depending on the pronoun used as the subject. This is an important aspect of subject-verb agreement in German.


However, this structure is not fixed, and the position of the object can change depending on the context or emphasis.
=== Inversion in Questions ===


For example:
In German, questions often have a different word order compared to declarative sentences. The subject and verb are inverted, meaning that the verb comes before the subject. Let's see some examples:


* "Ich trinke den Saft" (I drink the juice)
* Schläft die Katze? (Is the cat sleeping?)
* "Den Saft trinke ich" (The juice, I drink)
* Liest mein Freund ein Buch? (Is my friend reading a book?)
* "Ich arbeite in der Firma" (I work at the company)
* Spielst du Klavier? (Are you playing the piano?)
* "In der Firma arbeite ich" (At the company, I work)


As you can see, the word order changes to emphasize the object of the sentence or the place where the action takes place.
As you can see, the verb comes before the subject in these questions. This is a common feature of German grammar.


== Exercises ==
== Word Order in Subordinate Clauses ==


Practice forming basic sentences with subject and verb by using the following vocabulary:
In German, the word order can change when using subordinate clauses. A subordinate clause is a part of a sentence that cannot stand alone and depends on the main clause for its meaning. Let's look at an example:


* Ich (I)
* Ich gehe ins Kino, weil ich einen Film sehen möchte. (I am going to the cinema because I want to watch a movie.)
* Du (You)
* Er (He)
* Sie (She)
* Es (It)
* Wir (We)
* Ihr (You - informal plural)
* Sie (They)
* spielen (to play)
* lernen (to learn)
* essen (to eat)
* trinken (to drink)
* arbeiten (to work)
* sprechen (to speak)


# Form sentences with the new vocabulary, following the subject-verb-object word order.
In this example, the word order in the subordinate clause "weil ich einen Film sehen möchte" is different from the main clause "Ich gehe ins Kino." The verb "sehen" comes at the end of the clause, after the subject "ich" and the object "einen Film." This change in word order is a characteristic feature of German grammar.
# Practice negating the sentences using the word "nicht".


== Conclusion ==


<span class='maj'></span>
Congratulations! You have learned how to form basic sentences in German using the subject and verb. Understanding the subject-verb agreement, basic sentence structure, and word order in German is essential for effective communication. Keep practicing and applying these concepts in your conversations and writing. Danke schön! (Thank you very much!)
==Sources==
* [https://germanwithlaura.com/german-word-order/ German Word Order: Your Essential Guide | German with Laura]
* [https://learngerman.dw.com/en/sentence-construction-subject/l-37382992/gr-38306217 Sentence construction: subject | Grammar - Learn German - DW]
* [https://blog.lingoda.com/en/how-to-form-basic-german-sentences/ The basic German sentence structure - Lingoda]


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|title=German Grammar → Basic Sentence Structures → Subject and Verb
|keywords=German, language, grammar, subject, verb, sentence structure, regular verbs, conjugation
|keywords=German grammar, basic sentence structures, subject and verb agreement, word order, German language
|description=In this lesson, you will learn how to form simple sentences with subject and verb. Understanding these concepts will serve as a foundation to build more complex sentences in the future.
|description=Learn how to form basic sentences in German using the subject and verb. Understand the subject-verb agreement, basic sentence structure, and word order in German.
}}
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==Videos==
==Videos==
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==Related Lessons==
 
==Sources==
* [https://germanwithlaura.com/german-word-order/ German Word Order: Your Essential Guide | German with Laura]
* [https://learngerman.dw.com/en/sentence-construction-subject/l-37382992/gr-38306217 Sentence construction: subject | Grammar - Learn German - DW]
* [https://blog.lingoda.com/en/how-to-form-basic-german-sentences/ The basic German sentence structure - Lingoda]
 
 
 
==Other Lessons==
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Using-Time-Expressions|Using Time Expressions]]
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Using-Time-Expressions|Using Time Expressions]]
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Questions|Questions]]
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Questions|Questions]]
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* [[Language/German/Grammar/Simple-negative-sentences|Simple negative sentences]]
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Simple-negative-sentences|Simple negative sentences]]
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Be-Polite|Be Polite]]
* [[Language/German/Grammar/Be-Polite|Be Polite]]


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Latest revision as of 07:45, 17 June 2023

Next Lesson — Noun and Gender ▶️

German-Language-PolyglotClub.jpg
German → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Basic Sentence Structures → Subject and Verb

Introduction[edit | edit source]

In this lesson, we will learn how to form basic sentences in German using the subject and verb. Understanding the structure of a sentence is essential for effective communication in any language. By mastering this basic skill, you will be able to express yourself more confidently and accurately in German.

Subject and Verb Agreement[edit | edit source]

In German, like in English, the subject and verb must agree in number and person. This means that the verb form changes depending on the subject. Let's take a look at some examples:

  • The dog barks. (singular subject)
  • The dogs bark. (plural subject)
  • He sings. (singular subject)
  • They sing. (plural subject)

As you can see, the verb form changes from "barks" to "bark" and from "sings" to "sing" when the subject changes from singular to plural. This is an important concept to understand when forming sentences in German.

Basic Sentence Structure[edit | edit source]

In German, the basic sentence structure is similar to English. It follows the pattern of subject-verb-object (SVO) in declarative sentences. Let's break down the components of a basic sentence:

1. Subject: The subject is the noun or pronoun that performs the action of the verb. It can be a single word or a phrase. For example: 

  * The cat
  * My friend
  * In the park

2. Verb: The verb is the action or state of being in the sentence. It expresses what the subject is doing or being. For example: 

  * sleeps
  * is reading
  * plays

3. Object: The object is the noun or pronoun that receives the action of the verb. It answers the question "what" or "whom" after the verb. For example: 

  * the book
  * a song
  * the piano

Let's see some examples of basic sentences in German:

  • Die Katze schläft. (The cat is sleeping.)
  • Mein Freund liest ein Buch. (My friend is reading a book.)
  • Ich spiele Klavier. (I am playing the piano.)

As you can see, the basic sentence structure in German is quite straightforward. Now let's move on to some specific rules and exceptions.

Subject-Verb Agreement with Pronouns[edit | edit source]

When using pronouns as the subject of a sentence, it is important to pay attention to the gender and number of the pronoun. This will determine the correct form of the verb. Let's look at some examples:

  • Er isst. (He is eating.)
  • Sie trinkt. (She is drinking.)
  • Es schläft. (It is sleeping.)
  • Wir spielen. (We are playing.)
  • Ihr lest. (You all are reading.)
  • Sie singen. (They are singing.)

As you can see, the verb form changes depending on the pronoun used as the subject. This is an important aspect of subject-verb agreement in German.

Inversion in Questions[edit | edit source]

In German, questions often have a different word order compared to declarative sentences. The subject and verb are inverted, meaning that the verb comes before the subject. Let's see some examples:

  • Schläft die Katze? (Is the cat sleeping?)
  • Liest mein Freund ein Buch? (Is my friend reading a book?)
  • Spielst du Klavier? (Are you playing the piano?)

As you can see, the verb comes before the subject in these questions. This is a common feature of German grammar.

Word Order in Subordinate Clauses[edit | edit source]

In German, the word order can change when using subordinate clauses. A subordinate clause is a part of a sentence that cannot stand alone and depends on the main clause for its meaning. Let's look at an example:

  • Ich gehe ins Kino, weil ich einen Film sehen möchte. (I am going to the cinema because I want to watch a movie.)

In this example, the word order in the subordinate clause "weil ich einen Film sehen möchte" is different from the main clause "Ich gehe ins Kino." The verb "sehen" comes at the end of the clause, after the subject "ich" and the object "einen Film." This change in word order is a characteristic feature of German grammar.

Conclusion[edit | edit source]

Congratulations! You have learned how to form basic sentences in German using the subject and verb. Understanding the subject-verb agreement, basic sentence structure, and word order in German is essential for effective communication. Keep practicing and applying these concepts in your conversations and writing. Danke schön! (Thank you very much!)

Table of Contents - German Course - 0 to A1[edit source]


Basic Sentence Structures


Greetings and Introduction


Definite and Indefinite Articles


Numbers, Dates and Time


Verbs and Conjugation


Family and Friends


Prepositions


Food and Drinks


Germany and German-Speaking Countries


Pronouns and Possessives


Travel and Transportation


Modal Verbs


Shopping and Clothes


Music and Entertainment


Adjectives


Health and Body


Time and Temporal Prepositions

Videos[edit | edit source]

Introduction to Subjects and Objects in German - YouTube[edit | edit source]


Sources[edit | edit source]


Other Lessons[edit | edit source]



Next Lesson — Noun and Gender ▶️

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