Starting with time or place: subject–verb inversion

In brief

When you start a German statement with a time or place, put the conjugated verb immediately after that opening phrase. The subject then follows the verb: Heute arbeite ich, not Heute ich arbeite. The time or place phrase counts as one opening unit, even if it contains several words.

Form

Time or place phrase + conjugated verb + subject + rest of the sentence.

Usage

• Start with a time phrase to say when something happens: Am Montag habe ich Zeit.
• Start with a place phrase to set the scene: Im Garten spielen die Kinder.
• Keep the subject after the verb, whether it is a name, noun, or pronoun.

Examples

• Heute arbeite ich von zu Hause. — Today I’m working from home.
• Morgen fährt Anna nach Berlin. — Anna is going to Berlin tomorrow.
• Im Park spielt mein Bruder Fußball. — My brother is playing soccer in the park.

Common mistake

❌ Heute ich arbeite von zu Hause.

✅ Heute arbeite ich von zu Hause.

English allows ‘Today I work’, but in a German statement the conjugated verb comes directly after the opening time phrase.

Remember

After an opening time or place phrase, say the verb before the subject.