Changes

German word order in complex sentences is based on a so-called "bracket construction," with the most important parts being close to the beginning and at the end. In sentences with more than one verb, the remaining verb or verbs go at the very end:

German word order in complex sentences is based on a so-called "bracket construction," with the most important parts being close to the beginning and at the end. In sentences with more than one verb, the remaining verb or verbs go at the very end:

''Ich <u>habe</u> ihr das Buch in der Schule <u>gegeben</u>.'' (I gave her the book at school.)

''Ich <u>habe</u> ihr das Buch in der Schule <u>gegeben</u>.'' (Lit: I have her the book in the school given.)

In the example above, the verb ''haben'' is conjugated in the first person singular and placed just after the subject, and the past participle of ''geben'' (to give) is placed at the end of the sentence. The sentence also contains a direct object (das Buch = the book), an indirect object (ihr = her), and a place indicator (in der Schule = at school).

In the example above, the verb ''haben'' is conjugated in the first person singular and placed just after the subject, and the past participle of ''geben'' (to give) is placed at the end of the sentence. The sentence also contains a direct object (das Buch = the book), an indirect object (ihr = her), and a place indicator (in der Schule = at school).