In spoken conversations simple main clauses aren't always enough to express what we want to say. So a lot of the time we use "Nebensätze" (subordinate clauses) to add extra information to the sentence.
Subordinate clauses cannot stand on their own. They are dependent on the main clause because they give additional information. They are usually introduced by a comma and a linking word (conjunction) like the ones below.
- dass (that)
- ob (if)
- weil (because)
- wenn (when)
In contrast to main clauses, the verb in subordinate clauses comes at the end.
Two main clauses:
Main and subordinate clause:
Subordinate clauses begin with conjunctions like "ob" (if), "weil" (because) or "dass" (that), the verb goes to the end and the rest of the words usually remain in the same order.
You can recognise a subordinate clause by looking at the word that introduces it, and by the fact that it can't stand alone. A subordinate clause gives extra information, but it only makes sense in the context of the main clause of the sentence.
weil - denn
Although both words have the same meaning, their influence on the sentence structure is different.
"Weil" introduces a subordinate clause, with the verb at the end of the sentence.
"Denn" is followed by a main clause, with the verb in second place. You can see this in the example below.
Both sentences have the same meaning: I can't work because I have a cold.
Zu + infinitive
It’s used like English to do something, especially after certain verbs, adjectives, or nouns. Example:
“zu” goes right before the infinitive:
- anfangen → anzufangen
- lernen → zu lernen
If the verb is separable, “zu” goes between the prefix and the stem:
- aufstehen → aufzustehen
- mitkommen → mitzukommen
Created: 06 Nov 2022
Last Update: 10 Nov 2022