Enumeration Adverbs
To list reasons, steps, or rules in a sequence, you can use enumeration adverbs. These are the German equivalents of "firstly," "secondly," and "thirdly."
You form them by taking the base of an ordinal number and adding the suffix -ens:
- erstens (firstly)
- zweitens (secondly)
- drittens (thirdly)
- viertens (fourthly)
- fünftens (fifthly)
When laying out a strict set of rules—like a motivational speaker explaining how to adopt a successful mindset (die Denkweise) and avoid putting tasks off (aufschieben)—these adverbs keep your steps highly organized.
Because they are adverbs, placing them at the beginning of a sentence takes up Position 1, meaning the conjugated verb must immediately follow in Position 2.
| Firstly, you must write down every resolution immediately. | Erstens müssen Sie jeden Vorsatz sofort aufschreiben. |
| Secondly, you set clear priorities for your success. | Zweitens setzen Sie klare Prioritäten für Ihren Erfolg. |
| Thirdly, you must not put anything off because of a mistake. | Drittens dürfen Sie nichts wegen eines Fehlers aufschieben. |
| Fourthly, you believe in your potential. | Viertens glauben Sie an Ihr Potenzial. |
| Fifthly, a good mindset, although difficult, is very important. | Fünftens ist eine gute Denkweise, wenngleich schwierig, sehr wichtig. |
These adverbs do not always have to start the sentence. If you place the subject in Position 1, the enumeration adverb moves later into the clause, typically sitting right after the conjugated verb.
| Firstly, we do not want to put off work anymore. | Wir wollen erstens keine Arbeit mehr aufschieben. |