Satzverben

Satzverben is a term used in German linguistics and grammar to describe a class of verbs that introduce a content clause expressing a proposition, often related to speech, thought, belief, or report. These verbs themselves do not mainly denote action but rather the speaker’s stance on the proposition conveyed in the clause.

Typical members of the set include sagen, behaupten, berichten, erklären, meinen, glauben, denken, vermuten and similar verbs. They commonly govern a subordinate clause that carries the propositional content. For example: Ich glaube, dass er kommt. Er behauptet, er habe den Termin verpasst. Sie berichtete, dass das Treffen verschoben wurde. Satzverben can also be used with indirect speech without dass, especially in everyday style: Ich denke er kommt heute.

A hallmark of Satzverben is their compatibility with different ways of reporting content. The subordinate clause can be a dass-clause or an ob-clause, and it may be formed with Konjunktiv I (indirect speech) to indicate reported content. Direct speech is another native option in which the content is quoted: Er sagte: „Ich komme morgen.“ In many contexts, the choice between dass and bare clauses reflects nuances of certainty, distance, or style.

In teaching and grammar reference, Satzverben are contrasted with verbs that take other types of complements, such as infinitival or participial constructions, and with verbs describing direct actions rather than propositional content. The exact membership of the class is not strictly fixed, and some verbs can function as Satzverben in certain contexts while serving other roles in different constructions.

Overall, Satzverben play a central role in reporting, evaluating, and sharing propositional content within German sentences, shaping both clause structure and mood through their complements.