Day 18: Weil, dass, wenn: connecting sentences
und/aber/denn · deshalb/trotzdem · weil/dass/wenn/ob/als → verb at the end
What you learn today
- Connect sentences with und, aber, oder, denn, sondern (position 0)
- Use deshalb, trotzdem, dann, außerdem, sonst (position 1 → inversion)
- Build subordinate clauses with weil, dass, wenn, ob, obwohl, als – verb to the end
- Distinguish als / wenn / wann and ask indirect questions
Grammar
Connecting sentences: und, aber, denn, deshalb …
Position 0 conjunctions vs adverbs that take position 1
Subordinate clauses: weil, dass, wenn, ob, als …
The conjugated verb goes to the END
Vocabulary (25 words)
| German | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| weil → verb at the end | because | Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich in Berlin wohne. I learn German because I live in Berlin. |
| denn → normal word order | because, since | |
| dass → verb at the end | that | Ich glaube, dass er recht hat. I think that he is right. |
| wenn → verb at the end | if; when(ever) | Wenn ich Zeit habe, komme ich. If I have time, I’ll come. |
| ob → verb at the end | whether, if | Weißt du, ob sie kommt? Do you know whether she is coming? |
| obwohl → verb at the end | although | |
| als → verb at the end | when (single past event) | Als ich klein war, … When I was small, … |
| bevor → verb at the end | before | |
| aber | but | |
| oder | or | |
| sondern | but rather | |
| deshalb → inversion | that’s why, therefore | Ich bin krank, deshalb bleibe ich zu Hause. I’m ill, that’s why I’m staying home. |
| trotzdem → inversion | nevertheless, anyway | |
| außerdem → inversion | besides, moreover | |
| sonst → inversion | otherwise | |
| glauben glaubt | to believe, think | |
| hoffen hofft | to hope | Ich hoffe, dass du kommst. I hope (that) you’re coming. |
| meinen meint | to mean; to think (opinion) | |
| der Grund die Gründe | reason | |
| die Prüfung die Prüfungen | exam | Ich habe die Prüfung bestanden! I passed the exam! |
| bestehen hat bestanden | to pass (an exam) | |
| die Zukunft | future | |
| wichtig | important | |
| sicher | sure, safe | |
| krank | ill, sick |
Summary
- Position 0: und, aber, oder, denn, sondern
- Position 1: deshalb, trotzdem, dann, außerdem, sonst → verb next
- Verb last: weil, dass, wenn, ob, obwohl, als, bevor, damit …
- als (once, past) · wenn (if / whenever) · wann (question)
🇩🇪 Culture tip: German sentences can get long – Mark Twain joked that a German sentence is like diving: the writer disappears and comes up on the other side of the Atlantic with the verb in his mouth. Now you know why: subordinate clauses!
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