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German word order trips up many English speakers because the finite verb often doesn't sit where English puts it. These free games and explanations aim to build the verb-second instinct, the time-manner-place rhythm, and the verb-final reflex for subordinate clauses.
Declarative main clauses follow the verb-second rule (V2): the finite verb sits in the second position, which means the second constituent - not the second word. 'Mein kleiner Bruder' is a single constituent, so 'Mein kleiner Bruder geht ins Kino' still counts as V2. Yes/no questions and imperatives are verb-first instead (Gehst du ins Kino? Geh ins Kino!). 'Ich gehe heute ins Kino' / 'Heute gehe ich ins Kino' / 'Ins Kino gehe ich heute' are all grammatical, and the verb stays in position two in each - but they aren't interchangeable: the first slot carries emphasis and links the sentence to what came before, so context decides which one sounds right.
Adverbials tend to follow the time-manner-place order: when, then how, then where. 'Ich fahre morgen mit dem Zug nach Berlin' (when → how → where). It's a soft rule, but following it generally makes you sound noticeably more natural.
In subordinate clauses (after weil, dass, wenn, obwohl, etc.), the conjugated verb jumps to the very end: 'Ich bleibe zuhause, weil ich krank bin.' This is one of the rules learners forget most often, and getting it right is one of the clearer signals of intermediate-to-advanced German.
In a declarative main clause, the finite verb occupies the second position - the second constituent, not necessarily the second word. 'Heute esse ich Pizza', 'Ich esse heute Pizza' and 'Am nächsten Montag esse ich Pizza' are all correct because esse stays in slot two. Questions and imperatives put the verb first instead.
At the very end. After conjunctions like weil, dass, wenn, obwohl, ob, als, bevor, nachdem, the conjugated verb jumps to the end: 'Ich gehe nach Hause, weil ich müde bin.' This is one of the word-order rules learners forget most often.
When you stack adverbials in a sentence, German tends to prefer the order time → manner → place. 'Ich fahre morgen mit dem Zug nach Berlin' (tomorrow → by train → to Berlin). It's a soft rule, but following it generally makes your German sound more natural.