Time first: today, tomorrow, on Monday

Zeit zuerst: Heute, morgen, am Montag

Start a German statement with a time expression while keeping the conjugated verb in position two.

German statements keep the conjugated verb in position two. If a time expression comes first, the subject moves behind the verb: “Ich arbeite am Montag” becomes “Am Montag arbeite ich.” Count sentence parts, not individual words: “Am Montag” is one time element.

Heute habe ich frei.

I am off today.

Morgen komme ich später.

I will arrive later tomorrow.

Am Montag arbeite ich.

I work on Monday.

Um neun habe ich einen Termin.

I have an appointment at nine.

Nachmittags lerne ich Deutsch.

I study German in the afternoon.

Abends koche ich.

I cook in the evening.

Move the time element to the front, keep the conjugated verb second, then place the subject: Ich lerne nachmittags Deutsch → Nachmittags lerne ich Deutsch.

Starting with time is natural when the schedule is the important information: Heute habe ich frei. Am Montag arbeite ich.

Do not keep subject–verb order after a fronted time phrase. “Morgen ich komme” is wrong; say “Morgen komme ich.”

Time first, verb second: Morgen | komme | ich | später.

Say one sentence each with heute, morgen, am Montag, um neun and abends, always checking the verb is second.