Main clauses (V2) and subordinate clauses (verb-final)
German has two word-order rules — and they are the rules. (1) In a main clause, the conjugated verb is in second position, no matter what comes first. (2) In a subordinate clause introduced by a word like weil (because), dass (that), or wenn (if/when), the verb flies all the way to the end. Ich gehe nach Hause, weil ich müde bin. Mastering these two patterns is half of A1 German.
Verb-second (V2) — the main-clause rule
In a German statement, exactly one element sits in slot 1, and the conjugated verb sits in slot 2. Slot 1 can be the subject, a time word, a place — anything. Ich | lerne | heute Deutsch. Heute | lerne | ich Deutsch. In Berlin | lerne | ich Deutsch. Notice that when something else is in slot 1, the subject ich jumps to right after the verb. The verb itself never moves — it's locked in slot 2.
Subordinate clauses — verb to the END
When you start a clause with weil (because), dass (that), wenn (if / when), or ob (whether), the conjugated verb jumps to the very last position of that clause. Ich gehe nach Hause, weil ich müde bin. = 'I'm going home because I'm tired.' Notice bin at the end. Compare with denn (also 'because') from lesson 13, which keeps normal word order: Ich gehe nach Hause, denn ich bin müde. Same meaning, different grammar.
dass — that (reported speech, opinions)
dass introduces what someone says, thinks, or knows. Ich weiß, dass du müde bist. = 'I know that you are tired.' Anna sagt, dass sie kommt. = 'Anna says that she's coming.' Verb at the end, every time. The English 'that' can often be dropped ('I know you are tired'), but German dass cannot — and you can't forget the comma either.
wenn — if / when
wenn covers two English words: 'if' (a condition) and 'when' (a recurring time, never a one-off). Wenn ich Zeit habe, lerne ich Deutsch. = 'When/if I have time, I study German.' Notice two things. (1) Verb at the end of the wenn-clause: habe. (2) When the wenn-clause comes first, the next clause starts with the verb — that's V2 counting from the start of the whole sentence: the wenn-clause itself fills slot 1, so the main verb (lerne) lands right after.
Modals + subordinate clauses
When you combine yesterday's modals with today's verb-final rule, the conjugated verb (the modal) goes LAST, behind even the infinitive. Ich glaube, dass Tom gut Deutsch sprechen kann. = 'I think that Tom can speak German well.' Order inside the dass-clause: subject — adverbs — object — infinitive — modal. Read it once and don't try to translate word-for-word — let the bracket do its work.
