Breakdown of Die Kinder können im Garten herumlaufen.
das Kind
the child
der Garten
the garden
können
can
im
in the; (masculine or neuter, dative)
Questions & Answers about Die Kinder können im Garten herumlaufen.
Why is the verb können in the second position and herumlaufen at the end of the sentence?
In German, in a main clause the conjugated verb must be in the second position. Here, können is the conjugated verb, so it goes in position 2:
- Die Kinder (position 1 – subject)
- können (position 2 – conjugated verb)
- im Garten (middle field)
- herumlaufen (non‑conjugated/full verb at the end)
When you have a modal verb (like können, müssen, dürfen, wollen, sollen) plus another verb, the main action verb (here: herumlaufen) usually goes to the end in infinitive form.
What kind of verb is können, and what does it add to the meaning?
Können is a modal verb. Modal verbs express things like ability, possibility, permission, necessity, or desire.
- laufen = to run
- herumlaufen = to run/walk around
- können herumlaufen = can / are able to run around (or are allowed to, depending on context)
So the children are able (or possibly allowed) to run around in the garden. English also uses “can” in this way, so the function is very similar.
What is herumlaufen exactly? Is herum a separate word?