Word order in Czech sentences is rather free. However, there are strict rules on four grammar components which have to take the second position in the sentence.

Já
jsem
se
mu
to
snažil vysvětlit.

All the highlighted words in the previous sentence are “fighting” for the second position in the sentence. You can click on each part to learn more about the respective grammar.

  1. The auxiliary verb of the past tense
  2. Reflexive pronoun se or si
  3. Short forms of personal pronouns in the dative
  4. Short forms of personal pronouns in the accusative

There are usually two or three components at once but more complicated sentences can include all of them at once.

Meaning of the Second Position

The second position does not always mean the real second position. The better wording should be “the second component of the sentence”. The first part usually including information on Who? or When? can consist of multiple words.

Moje máma
se mu
smála.
Marek a jeho rodiče
si to
nemohli zapamatovat.
Včera ráno po té velké snídani
jsem si to
nabalila.

The last example is particularly tricky as the first part of the sentence consists of six words. However, the whole part one is simply an adverbial expression answering the question When?

Complex Sentences

Complex sentences including conjunctions usually follow the same rule, the conjunction being counted as number 1. Most conjunctions in the Czech language require a comma in front of them – this can be an easy indicator of restarting the numbering.

Nešel jsem domů,
protože
jsem tě
tam nechtěl potkat.
Prodala jsem svoje auto,
jelikož
se mi
už nelíbilo.

However, the two most common conjunctions (a, ale) do not count and they only serve as a restart component.

Na dovolené jsme hodně fotili
a
opalovali
jsme se
na pláži.
Neumím tu hru,
ale
tvoje sestra
se mi ji
může pokusit vysvětlit.