What is a Subordinating Conjunction?
A subordinating conjunction (unterordnende Konjunktion) connects a main clause to a dependent (subordinate) clause.
The key rule: the subordinating conjunction sends the conjugated verb to the end of the dependent clause.
The Three Most Important Ones
1. weil — because
Used to give a reason.
| Without weil | With weil |
|---|---|
| Ich bleibe zu Hause. Das Wetter ist schlecht. | Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil das Wetter schlecht ist. |
| (I stay at home. The weather is bad.) | (I stay at home because the weather is bad.) |
2. dass — that
Used after verbs of saying, thinking or knowing.
| Without dass | With dass |
|---|---|
| Er denkt: „Sie kommt nicht." | Er denkt, dass sie nicht kommt. |
| (He thinks: "She is not coming.") | (He thinks that she is not coming.) |
3. wenn — when / if
Used for conditions (if) or time (when/whenever).
| Context | Example |
|---|---|
| Condition (if) | Wenn du lernst, wirst du Erfolg haben. (If you study, you will succeed.) |
| Time (when) | Wenn ich nach Hause komme, esse ich. (When I come home, I eat.) |
Do not confuse wenn (when/if for repeated events) with als (when — for a single past event):
- Wenn ich jung war, spielte ich Fußball. (Whenever I was young → general past habit)
- Als ich jung war, spielte ich Fußball. (When I was young — one period in the past)
Word Order after the Comma
When the dependent clause comes first, the main clause inverts (verb–subject):
| Structure | Example |
|---|---|
| Main → Subordinate | Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil es kalt ist. |
| Subordinate → Main | Weil es kalt ist, bleibe ich zu Hause. |
Note how the main clause verb (bleibe) comes immediately after the comma.
Other Useful Subordinating Conjunctions
| Conjunction | Meaning |
|---|---|
| obwohl | although |
| damit | so that |
| bevor | before |
| nachdem | after |
| bis | until |
| während | while |
| seitdem | since (time) |
Writing a longer sentence
Ich mache meine Hausaufgaben, bevor ich fernsehe. (I do my homework before I watch TV.) → "bevor" sends "sehe" to the end: bevor ich fern**sehe.*
Real world: explaining reasons in essays and emails
weil is the most-used conjunction in German writing: „Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich in Deutschland studieren will." (I am learning German because I want to study in Germany.) „Das Projekt ist erfolgreich, weil das Team gut zusammengearbeitet hat." — note the verb at the very end of the weil-clause every time.
Real world: giving conditions and rules
wenn appears in rules, advice, and instructions: „Wenn du Hilfe brauchst, ruf mich an." (If you need help, call me.) „Wenn es regnet, nimmst du den Regenschirm." (When it rains, you take your umbrella.) „Wenn du fertig bist, kannst du gehen." — school rules, parental advice, and workplace instructions all use wenn.
Real world: reported speech and thinking with dass
dass is essential for reported speech and indirect statements: „Die Lehrerin sagt, dass die Prüfung morgen stattfindet." (The teacher says the exam is tomorrow.) „Ich glaube, dass du recht hast." (I think you're right.) News reports, formal emails, and academic writing rely heavily on dass.
When the subordinate clause comes first, the main clause inverts immediately after the comma: „Weil es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause." — the main clause verb (bleibe) jumps to position 1 of the main clause, right after the comma. This double inversion is a hallmark of fluent German.
Practice Problems
Combine these sentences using 'weil': 'Sie ist müde. Sie hat viel gearbeitet.'
Show answer
Why does the verb go to the end after 'weil' and 'dass'?
Show answer
Reorder: Start with the subordinate clause — 'Wenn du fertig bist, kannst du spielen.'