The Verbklammer (verb bracket) is the defining structure of German sentences. The conjugated verb always occupies position 2. Any additional verb parts — a separable prefix, an infinitive, or a Partizip II — lock to the very end of the clause. Everything else fills the space in between. One rule, five different bracket types.
Every multi-verb construction creates a bracket. The conjugated part sits in position 2; the second part anchors the end of the clause.
| Modal verb | Ich kann heute kommen. | I can come today. |
| Separable verb | Ich rufe morgen an. | I'll call tomorrow. |
| Perfekt | Ich habe das Buch gelesen. | I have read the book. |
| Futur I | Ich werde das morgen machen. | I will do that tomorrow. |
| Passive | Das Haus wird gerade gebaut. | The house is being built. |
Separable verbs split when conjugated in a main clause: the verb stem goes to position 2 and the prefix travels to the very end of the sentence. In the infinitive or Partizip II form they stay together.
anrufen splits: rufe (P2) · an (END). The prefix an anchors the end.
aufmachen: macht (P2) · auf (END).
anfangen: fängt (P2) · an (END).
In a subordinate clause the whole verb cluster — all parts — moves to the end of the clause. The conjugated verb comes last, after any infinitives or participles. This is the mirror image of the main clause bracket.
Perfekt in Nebensatz: Partizip II first, conjugated haben last.
Modal in Nebensatz: infinitive kommen before conjugated kann.
Separable verb in Nebensatz: prefix re-attaches — angerufen — then hat.
The middle field — the space between P2 and END — follows a default order: Time before Manner before Local (place). You can move elements to position 1 for emphasis, but the middle field default rarely changes.
| Zeit (Time) | Ich fahre morgen mit dem Zug nach Berlin. | I'm travelling to Berlin by train tomorrow. |
| Art (Manner) | Ich fahre gern mit dem Zug. | I like travelling by train. |
| Ort (Local) | Ich warte hier. | I'm waiting here. |
| Full order | Ich fahre morgen gern mit dem Zug nach Berlin. | Time → Manner → Place. |