Breakdown of Wir möchten jetzt den Salat bestellen.
jetzt
now
wir
we
der Salat
the salad
möchten
would like
bestellen
to order
Questions & Answers about Wir möchten jetzt den Salat bestellen.
Why is bestellen at the very end of the sentence?
This is a strict rule in German! When you use a modal verb like möchten (would like), it takes the normal verb spot (second position). The main action verb, which is bestellen (to order) here, gets pushed all the way to the very end in its original, unconjugated form.
Why does the sentence use den Salat instead of der Salat?
Salat is a masculine noun. In this sentence, it is the direct object, which is the thing being ordered. In German, masculine nouns change their article from der to den when they are the direct object. This is called the accusative case.
How is möchten different from saying we want to order?
They are very similar, but möchten translates to would like. It is a softer, more polite way to express a desire than using the verb for want, which is wollen. When ordering food or drinks, using möchten is always the standard and polite choice.
Could I move jetzt to the end of the sentence like in English?
No, you cannot put it at the very end because that spot is strictly reserved for the main verb bestellen. German prefers to put time words like jetzt (now) early in the sentence, typically right after the first conjugated verb.
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