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In sentences, Germans usually save the best for last. The central message
of the sentence clusters near the end bracket, where the sentence stress usually falls. Here is a summary of items that cluster at the end bracket.
1) NOUNS FOLLOWING SEIN (PREDICATE NOUNS)
| Wo ist hier eine Bank? |
| Where is there a bank here? |
2) ADJECTIVES FOLLOWING SEIN (PREDICATE ADJECTIVES)
| Während der Messe sind wir ziemlich ausgebucht. |
| During the fair we’re rather booked up. |
3) DESTINATIONS, DIRECTIONS
| Wo möchten Sie denn hin? |
| Where do you want to go to? |
| Dann nehmen Sie die S-Bahn zum Hauptbahnhof. |
| Then take the S-train to the main station. |
4) INDEFINITE EXPRESSIONS (singular with ein or plural without article)
| Ich habe da einen wichtigen Termin. |
| I’ve got an important appointment there. |
| Mike kauft für dreitausend Mark Reiseschecks. |
| Mike buys 3000 DM worth of traveler’s checks. |
End bracket expressions are extensible. In this example, the infinitive follows the indefinite expression and extends the end bracket:
| Mike möchte für dreitausend Reiseschecks kaufen. |
| Mike would like to buy 3000 DM worth of travelers checks. |
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