Word Order in the Middle Field
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Learn the usual order of objects and adverbial phrases in a German main clause. Practise N-D-A, pronoun order, prepositional complements, and Te-Ka-Mo-Lo.
Explanation
The middle field
In a German main clause, the middle field is the part after the conjugated verb and before a possible final verb part.
- Heute hat Mira ihrem Bruder die Fotos gezeigt.
- Wir wollen am Samstag mit dem Zug nach Leipzig fahren.
The rules below describe the usual neutral order. Speakers can change it to give special emphasis.
Objects: N-D-A
With noun phrases, the usual order is:
| Order | Example |
|---|
| nominative - dative - accusative | Der Lehrer erklärt den Kindern die Aufgabe. |
With two pronouns, accusative normally comes before dative:
| Order | Example |
|---|
| nominative - accusative pronoun - dative pronoun | Der Lehrer erklärt sie ihnen. |
A dative or accusative object normally comes before a prepositional complement:
- Ich schicke meiner Tante eine Nachricht aus dem Urlaub.
- Samir erinnert seinen Freund an den Termin.
Adverbial phrases: Te-Ka-Mo-Lo
When several adverbial phrases occur, a useful neutral pattern is Te-Ka-Mo-Lo:
| Order | Question | Example |
|---|
| temporal | when? | am Freitag |
| causal | why? | wegen des Wetters |
| modal/instrumental | how? with what? | mit dem Bus |
| local | where? where to? | zur Arbeit |
Am Freitag fährt Nora wegen des Wetters mit dem Bus zur Arbeit.
Not every sentence needs all four parts. Use the parts that are relevant, then place them in this order.
A quick check
- Find the conjugated verb.
- Put the subject and objects in a neutral order.
- Place noun objects before prepositional complements.
- Arrange several adverbial phrases as Te-Ka-Mo-Lo.
- Put an infinitive or participle at the end when the verb form has two parts.
Exercises
- Build sentences in the neutral order. Watch the position of dative, accusative, and prepositional complements. (10)
- Fill the gaps with the phrases in the appropriate order. Remember Te-Ka-Mo-Lo. (10)
- Write neutral sentences for a short email. Use every cue and watch the word order. (5)
A2 · German · Grammar