Knowing when something happens is super important! In German, just like in English, we use special words to talk about time, like heute (today), morgen (tomorrow), or jetzt (now). But where do these "time indicators" go in a German sentence? It might seem a bit tricky at first, but there are some simple rules and common patterns that can help you out, especially at the A1 level.

Understanding this basic word order is a key part of building clear sentences, a skill we focus on in our A1 German course.

The Verb is King (or Queen!) in Position 2

The most important rule for simple German statements (not questions) is that the main verb (the action word) almost always comes in the second position. This is super important! No matter what you put in the first position, the verb will usually be second.

Think of it like this:
Position 1 | Verb (Position 2) | Rest of the sentence...

Time Indicators: Flexible Friends

Time indicators like heute (today), morgen (tomorrow), gestern (yesterday), jetzt (now), bald (soon), or immer (always) are quite flexible. They can often go in a couple of different places in a sentence.

Option 1: Time Indicator in Position 1 (Most Common for Emphasis)

One very common way to use a time indicator is to put it right at the beginning of the sentence (Position 1). When you do this, you are often emphasizing when something is happening.

Remember our verb rule! If the time indicator is in Position 1, the verb still comes in Position 2.

Structure: Time Indicator (Pos 1) | Verb (Pos 2) | Subject | Other details...

Examples:

• Heute lerne ich Deutsch. (Today I am learning German.)
• Morgen gehe ich ins Kino. (Tomorrow I am going to the cinema.)
• Jetzt mache ich meine Hausaufgaben. (Now I am doing my homework.)
• Gestern hatte ich Geburtstag. (Yesterday was my birthday.)

Option 2: Time Indicator After the Subject and Verb

Another common place for time indicators is after the subject and the verb. This is often a more neutral way to state when something happens, without special emphasis on the time.

Structure: Subject (Pos 1) | Verb (Pos 2) | Time Indicator | Other details...

Examples:

• Ich lerne heute Deutsch. (I am learning German today.)
• Wir gehen morgen einkaufen. (We are going shopping tomorrow.)
• Er spielt jetzt Fußball. (He is playing football now.)
• Sie arbeitet immer viel. (She always works a lot.)

As you can see, the sentence "Ich arbeite heute mit meinem Bruder" (I am working with my brother today) uses this second option, where heute comes after the subject 'ich' and the verb 'arbeite'.

What About Questions?

When you ask a yes/no question, the verb moves to Position 1, and the time indicator often comes after the subject.

Structure (Yes/No Question): Verb (Pos 1) | Subject | Time Indicator | Other details?

• Lernst du heute Deutsch? (Are you learning German today?)
• Geht ihr morgen schwimmen? (Are you (plural) going swimming tomorrow?)

For W-questions (like Wann? - When?), the W-word is in Position 1, the verb in Position 2, and the time indicator might be part of the answer, not the question itself, or it could specify a timeframe within the question.

• Wann lernst du Deutsch? (When do you learn German?) - Ich lerne heute. (I learn today.)
• Wann kannst du morgen kommen? (When can you come tomorrow?)

TEKAMOLO - A Little Look Ahead (But Don't Worry Yet!)

As you learn more German, you'll hear about something called "TEKAMOLO." This is a general guideline for the order of different types of information in a sentence: TEmporal (Time), KAusal (Cause/Reason), MOdal (Manner), LOkal (Location).

For A1, just focusing on "Time" (Temporal) is enough. The basic idea is that time information often comes relatively early in the middle part of the sentence if it's not in Position 1. But the two main options we discussed (Position 1 or after subject+verb) are your best starting points!

We introduce concepts like TEKAMOLO gradually in our courses like the A2 German level, once the A1 foundations are solid.

Conclusion: Practice Makes Perfect!

The position of time indicators in German might seem a bit flexible, but the key is to always remember the verb in Position 2 for statements.

The most common places for time indicators are:

• Position 1 (for emphasis, with the verb still in Position 2).
• After the subject and verb (for a more neutral statement).

Listen to how native speakers talk, read simple German texts, and try making your own sentences. Consistent practice, especially in a structured environment like our online German classes or German classes in Chennai, will make this much easier!

Viel Spaß beim Lernen! (Have fun learning!)