CEFR level A2 • Satzverbindung
Indirect questions (indirekte Fragen) embed a question within a statement as a subordinate clause, transforming interrogative syntax into dependent clause structure. Unlike direct questions with verb-second word order, indirect questions require verb-final position. Wh-questions retain their question word (wann, wo, warum) as a subordinating conjunction, while yes/no questions use ob (whether/if) to introduce the embedded clause.
Kernregel: German indirect questions represent a subordination pattern where interrogative clauses function as noun clause complements, maintaining question semantics while adopting subordinate clause syntax.
Indirect questions (indirekte Fragen) embed a question within a statement as a subordinate clause, transforming interrogative syntax into dependent clause structure. Unlike direct questions with verb-second word order, indirect questions require verb-final position. Wh-questions retain their question word (wann, wo, warum) as a subordinating conjunction, while yes/no questions use ob (whether/if) to introduce the embedded clause.
Key Entity: German indirect questions represent a subordination pattern where interrogative clauses function as noun clause complements, maintaining question semantics while adopting subordinate clause syntax.
Core Rule: Direct to Indirect Transformation
Direct question: Wann kommt der Zug an? (verb position 2)
Indirect question: Ich weiß nicht, wann der Zug ankommt. (verb final)
Question word wann becomes subordinating conjunction
Notice how the verb ankommt moves from position 2 in the direct question to final position in the indirect question. The question word wann functions as a subordinating conjunction triggering this transformation.
Zwei Arten von indirekten Fragen
The structure of an indirect question depends on the type of direct question it comes from.
German has two distinct cases.
Frage mit Fragewort
Keep the question word (wer, was, wo, wann, wie, warum…) — it acts as the subordinating conjunction.
-
Wo wohnt deine Schwester?
— Where does your sister live?
-
Ich weiß nicht, wo deine Schwester wohnt.
— I don't know where your sister lives.
Frage ohne Fragewort
For yes/no questions (no question word), introduce the indirect clause with ob (whether / if).
-
Ist das Café am Sonntag offen?
— Is the café open on Sunday?
-
Ich weiß nicht, ob das Café am Sonntag offen ist.
— I don't know whether the café is open on Sunday.
Häufige Einleitungen
These verbs and expressions typically introduce indirect questions at A2 level.
Verben des Wissens und Fragens
- wissen — to know
Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt.
- fragen — to ask
Er fragt mich, wo ich wohne.
- sich fragen — to wonder
Sie fragt sich, warum er nicht antwortet.
- sagen — to say / to tell
Kannst du mir sagen, wann der Film beginnt?
- erklären — to explain
Er erklärt, wie man das Formular ausfüllt.
- verstehen — to understand
Ich verstehe nicht, warum das so schwer ist.
Typische Ausdrücke
- Ich weiß nicht, … — I don't know…
- Weißt du, …? — Do you know…?
- Kannst du mir sagen, …? — Can you tell me…?
- Ich frage mich, … — I wonder…
- Ich verstehe nicht, … — I don't understand…
Satzbau
The indirect question can follow or precede the main clause; when it comes first, the main clause inverts (verb before subject).
| Hauptsatz |
Einleitung |
Nebensatz (Mitte) |
Verb (Ende) |
| Ich weiß nicht, |
wann |
das Geschäft |
schließt. |
| Kannst du mir sagen, |
ob |
der Bus heute |
fährt? |
| Sie fragt, |
warum |
er so spät |
kommt. |
| Er erklärt, |
wie |
man das Formular |
ausfüllt. |
Hauptsatz + Nebensatz
Standard order — main clause first, indirect question follows.
Ich weiß nicht, wo er wohnt.
— I don't know where he lives.
Sie fragt mich, ob ich komme.
— She asks me whether I am coming.
Nebensatz + Hauptsatz
Emphatic order — indirect question first, main clause inverts.
Warum er zu spät kam, weiß niemand.
— Why he was late, nobody knows.
Ob sie kommt, ist noch nicht sicher.
— Whether she is coming is not yet certain.
Hinweise
Das Verb steht am Ende: This applies to all verb types.
Separable verbs rejoin at the end: Das Geschäft macht um 18 Uhr zu
becomes Ich weiß nicht, wann das Geschäft zumacht.
Modal verbs also move: Er kann nicht kommen
becomes Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommen kann.
ob vs. dass: Both are subordinating conjunctions that send the verb to the end,
but they introduce different clause types. Dass reports a fact or statement
("She says that it is raining"). Ob reports a yes/no question or expresses
uncertainty ("I don't know whether it is raining"). A quick test: if the embedded
thought could be answered with Ja or Nein, use ob.
Das Komma: A comma is always written between the main clause and the
indirect question — regardless of which clause comes first. This is mandatory in standard
German writing and cannot be omitted.
Fragezeichen oder Punkt? The final punctuation follows the main clause, not the indirect question.
If the main clause is a statement, the whole sentence ends with a period:
Ich weiß nicht, wo er wohnt.
If the main clause is itself a question, the sentence ends with a question mark:
Weißt du, wo er wohnt?
Zusammenfassung
- Indirect questions are subordinate clauses — the verb goes to the end.
- Wh-questions: keep the question word (wann, wo, warum…) as the conjunction.
- Yes/No questions: introduce the clause with ob (whether / if).
- Always separate the clauses with a comma.
- When the indirect question comes first, the main clause inverts (verb before subject).
Häufig gestellte Fragen – FAQ
What is the difference between direct and indirect questions in German?
Direct questions have verb-second word order (Wo wohnt er?). Indirect questions embed the question as a subordinate clause with verb-final order (Ich weiß nicht, wo er wohnt). The question word becomes a subordinating conjunction requiring the verb at clause end.
When do I use ob in German indirect questions?
Use ob (whether/if) for yes/no questions that have no question word. Example: Direct question Kommt er? becomes Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt. Ob introduces the subordinate clause and requires verb-final position.
Where does the verb go in German indirect questions?
The conjugated verb always moves to final position in indirect questions. Example: Wann kommt der Zug? becomes Ich frage, wann der Zug kommt (verb kommt at end). This applies to both wh-questions and ob-questions.