KAPITEL 6 | TEIL 1 - INDEPENDENT CLAUSES |
		B. Word order in the independent clause: the first and second position (Wortstellung im Hauptsatz: erstes und zweites Satzglied) The verb is the central element of a sentence. In an independent (also called main) clause, the conjugated verb is always in the second position. All other parts of the verb (past participles, infinitive, separable prefix, etc.) are in the last position. Many different elements can be in the first position. In addition to the subject, adverbs of time or adverbs of place are quite often in the first position in an independent clause.  Putting an element other than the subject into the first position stresses that particular element. If the subject is not in the first position, then it usually follows the verb (and is in the third position). Subject Verb Direct object Mein Vater kauft Gemüse. My father buys vegetables. Intermatik Audio: kap6/IMK-K6-GR-0006 Direct obj. Verb Subject Gemüse kauft mein Vater My father buys vegetables.Intermatik Audio: kap6/IMK-K6-GR-0007 Ind. object Verb Subject Mir hilft mein Vater. My father helps me. Intermatik Audio: kap6/IMK-K6-GR-0008 Prep. phrase Verb Indirect object Subject Zum Geburtstag gratuliert mir mein Vater. My father congratulates me on my birthday. Intermatik Audio: kap6/IMK-K6-GR-0009 Adverb of place Verb Subject Im Garten arbeitet mein Vater. My father works in the garden. Intermatik Audio: kap6/IMK-K6-GR-0010 Adverb of time Verb Indirect object Subject Past participle Heute morgen hat mir mein Vater gratuliert. My father congratulated me this morning. Intermatik Audio: kap6/IMK-K6-GR-0011