The idea
Move one whole constituent to the front and keep the finite verb immediately after it. Do not interpret second position as the second written word.
One contrast, not a prediction about every learner
Polish allows considerable word-order variation to organize information. German can also front different constituents, but its finite verb normally stays second in a declarative main clause.
Individual experience, dialect and other languages you know can change which comparisons help. Use the contrast to notice a German choice; do not treat it as a label for a whole group of people.
Repair the transfer
Diesen Text ich morgen lese.Diesen Text lese ich morgen.Move one whole constituent to the front and keep the finite verb immediately after it. Do not interpret second position as the second written word.
Examples
- Diesen ausführlichen Bericht lese ich erst am Abend.I read this detailed report only in the evening.
- Am frühen Morgen öffnet die Werkstatt ihre Türen.The workshop opens its doors early in the morning.
- Mit zwei kurzen Beispielen erklärt sie den Unterschied.She explains the difference with two short examples.
- Der Gruppe schicke ich zuerst den neuen Plan.I send the group the new plan first.
- Nach dem letzten Vortrag beginnt die offene Diskussion.The open discussion starts after the final talk.
- Die blauen Karten legen wir in die obere Schublade.We put the blue cards in the top drawer.
Read-aloud uses a synthetic German voice available on your device. Voice quality and availability vary; it does not assess your pronunciation.
No German device voice is available. You can still read the text and use the linked listening resources.
Watch out
Do not generalize a source-language pattern to every German sentence. Move one whole constituent to the front and keep the finite verb immediately after it. Do not interpret second position as the second written word.
Try it yourself
Korrigiere: Diesen Text ich morgen lese.
Show answer or example answer
Diesen Text lese ich morgen.
Diesen Text lese ich morgen. Move one whole constituent to the front and keep the finite verb immediately after it. Do not interpret second position as the second written word.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: I read this detailed report only in the evening.
Show answer or example answer
Diesen ausführlichen Bericht lese ich erst am Abend.
Diesen ausführlichen Bericht lese ich erst am Abend. Move one whole constituent to the front and keep the finite verb immediately after it. Do not interpret second position as the second written word.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: The open discussion starts after the final talk.
Show answer or example answer
Nach dem letzten Vortrag beginnt die offene Diskussion.
Nach dem letzten Vortrag beginnt die offene Diskussion. Keep the meaning of the whole sentence while using the German pattern.
Practice round
Answer three questions, then rebuild three German sentences. We keep your score.
Korrigiere: Diesen Text ich morgen lese.
Diesen Text lese ich morgen.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: I read this detailed report only in the evening.
Diesen ausführlichen Bericht lese ich erst am Abend.
Ins Deutsche übertragen: The open discussion starts after the final talk.
Nach dem letzten Vortrag beginnt die offene Diskussion.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Keep your progress
Sign up for free to save your practice results in your account and carry on with the story in the game.
Sign up to saveI already have an accountUse it today
Write three German sentences of your own that follow the pattern of “Diesen Text lese ich morgen.”. Check each one for the Polish habit this lesson corrects, then read them aloud.