Word order: the verb-second rule
A1A2In a Luxembourgish main clause the conjugated verb is always the second element. Master this one rule and half your sentences come out right.
The rule in one line
In a normal main clause, the conjugated verb sits in the SECOND position — no matter what comes first. Position one can be the subject, a time expression, a place, or an object; whatever it is, the verb follows immediately.
Think of it as: [one thing] → [verb] → [everything else]. The subject then jumps to just after the verb if something else took first place.
| Ech schaffen haut zu Lëtzebuerg. | I work in Luxembourg today. | Subject first (normal). |
| Haut schaffen ech zu Lëtzebuerg. | Today I work in Luxembourg. | Time first → verb second → subject third. |
| Zu Lëtzebuerg schaffen ech haut. | In Luxembourg I work today. | Place first → verb still second. |
Why it matters for the exam
Candidates who translate word-for-word from English or French produce 'Haut ech schaffen…' — the classic mistake. Examiners hear it immediately and it costs you on grammatical structures.
The safe habit: if you begin with anything other than the subject, put the verb next, then the subject. When in doubt, just start with the subject ('Ech …') — that is always correct and keeps you fluent.
| ❌ Muer ech ginn akafen. | (wrong) Tomorrow I go shopping. |
| ✅ Muer ginn ech akafen. | Tomorrow I'm going shopping. |
Questions and yes/no
In yes/no questions the verb moves to FIRST position, before the subject. In wh-questions the question word is first and the verb second.
| Wunnt Dir zu Lëtzebuerg? | Do you live in Luxembourg? | Verb first = yes/no question. |
| Wou wunnt Dir? | Where do you live? | Question word first, verb second. |
Haut ech an d'Stad. (goen)
Time expression first, so the verb comes second.
Zënter zwee Joer ech Lëtzebuergesch. (léieren)
Verb-second after a time phrase.