The sentence bracket (Satzklammer) is a core principle of German sentence structure. It describes how parts of a verb are split and placed at different positions in a sentence, forming a structural “frame.” This framing allows additional elements—such as objects, adverbs, or subordinate clauses—to appear inside the sentence. Understanding the sentence bracket is essential for mastering word order in main clauses, questions, and sentences with complex verb forms.
In this guide, you will learn:
what the sentence bracket is and why it exists in German
which verb forms create a sentence bracket
how sentence brackets structure main clauses
common learner mistakes with split verb forms
This guide helps English-speaking learners understand German word order as a framed system rather than a linear sequence.