Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinierende Konjunktionen
German subordinating conjunctions such as dass, weil, wenn and ob send the conjugated verb to the end of their clause. That is why Er kommt heute becomes Ich weiß, dass er heute kommt, and Ich bin krank becomes Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.
Learn weil, dass, wenn, ob and word order.
Lesson at a glance
Summary
Learn weil, dass, wenn, ob and word order.
- 11 rules
- 15 worked examples
- 25 interactive exercises
Rules & Explanations
Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinierende Konjunktionen
Want to say 'because,' 'when,' 'that,' or 'if' in German? You need subordinating conjunctions! But here's the catch: they change word order. The verb gets kicked to the end of the clause. 'Ich weiß, dass er kommt' (I know that he is coming) — the verb 'kommt' goes to the end!
Subordinating conjunctions create a 'subordinate clause' where the conjugated verb goes to the last position. This is one of German's most important word order rules.
English subordinating conjunctions don't change word order: 'I know that he is coming.' German does: 'Ich weiß, dass er kommt' — the verb moves!
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.
I stay home because I am sick.
These conjunctions appear in almost every complex sentence. Mastering them is essential for expressing reasons, conditions, time, and reported speech.
What Are Subordinating Conjunctions?
Was sind subordinierende Konjunktionen?
Think of the subordinate clause as a 'verb prison.' When a subordinating conjunction appears, it locks the verb at the end of its clause. The verb can't escape until the clause ends!
- Subordinating conjunctions connect a main clause to a subordinate (dependent) clause. The subordinate clause cannot stand alone — it depends on the main clause for meaning.
- The key rule: In a subordinate clause, the conjugated verb goes to the end. 'Ich weiß, dass er heute kommt' — 'kommt' is kicked to the final position.
- Common subordinating conjunctions include: dass (that), weil (because), wenn (when/if), ob (whether/if).
Germans expect the verb at the end after these conjunctions. 'Ich weiß, dass er kommt heute' sounds completely wrong — 'heute' must come before the verb.
Common Subordinating Conjunctions
Häufige subordinierende Konjunktionen
These conjunctions all send the verb to the end of their clause:
| Use | Meaning | Example | Example | Conjunction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Statements, opinions, reported speech | that | Ich weiß, dass er krank ist. | I know that he is sick. | dass |
| Giving reasons | because | Ich bleibe, weil es regnet. | I stay because it is raining. | weil |
| Conditions, repeated events | when, if, whenever | Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. | When/If it rains, I stay home. | wenn |
| Indirect yes/no questions | whether, if (in questions) | Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt. | I don't know whether he is coming. | ob |
ALL of these send the verb to the end. No exceptions!
Word Order in Subordinate Clauses
Wortstellung in Nebensätzen
Compare main clause word order with subordinate clause word order:
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Main clause | Subject + verb + ... | Er kommt heute. |
| Subordinate clause | Conjunction + Subject + ... + verb | ..., dass er heute kommt. |
| Main clause | Er + ist + heute + krank. | He is sick today. |
| Subordinate clause | ..., weil + er + heute + krank + ist. | ...because he is sick today. |
With modal verbs, both verbs go to the end (modal last):
| Main | Subordinate |
|---|---|
| Er muss heute arbeiten. | ..., weil er heute arbeiten muss. |
| Sie kann gut singen. | ..., dass sie gut singen kann. |
In perfect tense, haben/sein goes to the very end:
| Main | Subordinate |
|---|---|
| Er hat das Buch gelesen. | ..., weil er das Buch gelesen hat. |
| Sie ist nach Berlin gefahren. | ..., dass sie nach Berlin gefahren ist. |
Common Subordinate Clause Mistakes
Häufige Nebensatz-Fehler
These mistakes happen all the time. Watch out!
✗Ich weiß, dass er kommt heute.
✓Ich weiß, dass er heute kommt.
Verb must be at the end. Everything else comes before it.
🧠 Verb = last word in subordinate clause. Always!
✗Weil ich bin müde, bleibe ich zu Hause.
✓Weil ich müde bin, bleibe ich zu Hause.
In the weil-clause, the verb (bin) must go to the end.
🧠 Subordinate conjunction → verb to end.
✗Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich muss arbeiten.
✓Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich arbeiten muss.
With modals: infinitive + modal at end (arbeiten muss).
🧠 Modal clauses: infinitive then modal at the end.
✗Confusing weil with denn
✓denn keeps normal word order, weil doesn't
denn is a coordinating conjunction (no word order change). weil is subordinating (verb to end).
🧠 denn = normal. weil = verb to end.
✗Forgetting the comma before the conjunction
✓Always use a comma before subordinating conjunctions
German requires a comma: 'Ich weiß, dass...' not 'Ich weiß dass...'
🧠 Comma + conjunction + ... + verb at end.
Subordinating vs. Coordinating Conjunctions
Subordinierende vs. koordinierende Konjunktionen
| Type | Word Order | Conjunctions |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinating | Normal (verb pos 2) | und, oder, aber, denn, sondern |
| Subordinating | Verb at end | dass, weil, wenn, ob |
Coordinating conjunctions (und, oder, aber, denn) don't change word order. Subordinating ones do!
und, aber, oder, denn, sondern: normal word order. dass, weil, wenn, ob: verb to the end. deshalb, dann, trotzdem: verb right after them (position 2).
wenn vs. ob vs. dass
| Conjunction | Meaning | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| wenn | when/if/whenever | Conditions, repeated events, future | Wenn ich Zeit habe, komme ich. |
| ob | whether/if | Indirect yes/no questions | Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt. |
| dass | that | Statements, opinions, facts | Ich weiß, dass er kommt. |
wenn = if/whenever (conditions, repeated events). ob = whether (questions). dass = that (statements).
wenn = conditions or repeated events. ob = yes/no questions. dass = statements and facts.
Subordinate Clause First
Nebensatz zuerst
When the subordinate clause comes first, the main clause starts with the verb: 'Weil ich müde bin, gehe ich ins Bett.' The main clause verb is right after the comma because the whole subordinate clause counts as position 1.
Wenn der Nebensatz zuerst kommt, beginnt der Hauptsatz mit dem Verb: 'Weil ich müde bin, gehe ich ins Bett.'
Subordinate clause first → main clause verb immediately after comma.
[Weil ich müde bin], [gehe ich]... Verb-verb at the border!
Separable Verbs in Subordinate Clauses
Trennbare Verben in Nebensätzen
In subordinate clauses, separable verbs come back together at the end: 'Ich weiß, dass er morgen ankommt' (not 'an...kommt'). The prefix and verb reunite!
In Nebensätzen kommen trennbare Verben am Ende wieder zusammen: 'Ich weiß, dass er morgen ankommt.'
Separable verbs reunite at the end of subordinate clauses.
Main clause: Er kommt an. Subordinate: ...dass er ankommt. Together again!
Dialogue: Making Excuses
Dialog: Ausreden finden
Anna
Kommst du heute Abend zur Party?
Are you coming to the party tonight?
Main clause, normal word order
Ben
Ich weiß nicht, ob ich kommen kann.
I don't know whether I can come.
ob + kommen kann (both verbs at end)
Anna
Warum? Ich hoffe, dass du kommst!
Why? I hope that you come!
dass + kommst (verb at end)
Ben
Weil ich morgen früh aufstehen muss.
Because I have to get up early tomorrow.
weil + aufstehen muss (infinitive + modal at end)
Anna
Ich finde es schade, dass du nicht kommen kannst.
I think it's a shame that you can't come.
dass + kommen kannst (verb + modal at end)
Ben
Wenn ich früher fertig bin, komme ich vielleicht doch.
If I finish earlier, maybe I'll come after all.
Wenn-clause first: wenn ich fertig bin, komme ich...
Friends discussing plans and giving reasons
Freunde besprechen Pläne und geben Gründe
Notice the verb position: ob ich kommen kann, dass du kommst, weil ich aufstehen muss, dass du nicht kommen kannst. Every subordinate clause has the verb at the end.
Quick Reference: Subordinating Conjunctions
Kurzübersicht: Subordinierende Konjunktionen
- dass, weil, wenn, ob = verb to end
- With modals: infinitive + modal at end (arbeiten muss)
- Separable verbs reunite at end (ankommt, not an...kommt)
Subordinating conjunction + Subject + ... + verb (at end)
Practice word order with different clause combinations and verb types.
- dass er kommt heute ❌ → dass er heute kommt ✓
- weil ich bin müde ❌ → weil ich müde bin ✓
- weil ich muss arbeiten ❌ → weil ich arbeiten muss ✓
Subordinating conjunction = verb prison. The verb gets locked at the end!
Subordinating conjunctions (dass, weil, wenn, ob) send the conjugated verb to the end of the clause.
Examples
Ich weiß, dass er heute kommt.
I know that he is coming today.
dass er heute kommtdass sends verb to end: kommt is last.
Examine this sentence in Sentence X-Ray →| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| dass | that |
| er | he |
| heute | today |
| kommt | comes (at end) |
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.
I stay home because I am sick.
weil ich krank binweil sends verb to end: bin is last.
Examine this sentence in Sentence X-Ray →| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ich | I |
| weil | because |
| krank | sick |
| bin | am (at end) |
Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause.
If/When it rains, I stay home.
Wenn es regnetwenn-clause first, verb regnet at end. Main clause: bleibe right after comma.
Examine this sentence in Sentence X-Ray →| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wenn | if/when |
| es | it |
| regnet | rains (at end) |
| bleibe ich | I stay (verb-subject after comma) |
Ich weiß nicht, ob er morgen kommt.
I don't know whether he is coming tomorrow.
ob er morgen kommtob (whether) sends verb to end.
Examine this sentence in Sentence X-Ray →| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ob | whether |
| er | he |
| morgen | tomorrow |
| kommt | comes (at end) |
Ich bin müde, weil ich lange gearbeitet habe.
I am tired because I worked a long time.
weil ich lange gearbeitet habeweil + perfect: gearbeitet habe at the very end.
Examine this sentence in Sentence X-Ray →| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ich | I |
| weil | because |
| lange | a long time |
| gearbeitet | worked |
| habe | have (at end) |
Wenn ich morgens aufstehe, trinke ich Kaffee.
When I get up in the morning, I drink coffee.
Wenn ich morgens aufstehewenn + separable verb: aufstehe reunites at the end.
Examine this sentence in Sentence X-Ray →| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wenn | when |
| ich | I |
| morgens | in the morning |
| aufstehe | get up (reunited at end) |
Ich glaube, dass der Zug pünktlich ankommt.
I believe that the train arrives on time.
dass der Zug pünktlich ankommtdass + separable verb: ankommt reunites at the end.
Examine this sentence in Sentence X-Ray →| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| dass | that |
| der Zug | the train |
| pünktlich | on time |
| ankommt | arrives (reunited at end) |
Ich weiß nicht, ob sie das Auto schon verkauft hat.
I don't know whether she has already sold the car.
ob sie das Auto schon verkauft hatob + perfect: verkauft hat at the very end.
Examine this sentence in Sentence X-Ray →| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ob | whether |
| sie | she |
| das Auto | the car |
| schon | already |
| verkauft | sold |
| hat | has (at end) |
Mein Bruder bleibt heute zu Hause, weil er nicht arbeiten muss.
My brother stays home today because he doesn't have to work.
weil er nicht arbeiten mussweil + modal: infinitive + modal at the end: arbeiten muss.
Examine this sentence in Sentence X-Ray →| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Mein Bruder | my brother |
| weil | because |
| er | he |
| nicht | not |
| arbeiten | work (inf.) |
| muss | must (at end) |
Wenn ich die Arbeit fertig gemacht habe, gehe ich schwimmen.
When I have finished the work, I go swimming.
Wenn ich die Arbeit fertig gemacht habewenn + perfect: gemacht habe at the very end.
Examine this sentence in Sentence X-Ray →| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wenn | when/if |
| ich | I |
| die Arbeit | the work |
| fertig | finished |
| gemacht | made/done |
| habe | have (at end) |
Ich hoffe, dass du mir helfen kannst.
I hope that you can help me.
dass du mir helfen kannstWith modal: infinitive + modal at end: helfen kannst.
Examine this sentence in Sentence X-Ray →| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| dass | that |
| du | you |
| mir | me |
| helfen | help (inf.) |
| kannst | can (at end) |
Er sagt, dass er nicht kommen kann.
He says that he cannot come.
dass er nicht kommen kannNegation + infinitive + modal at end.
Examine this sentence in Sentence X-Ray →| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| er | he |
| dass | that |
| nicht | not |
| kommen | come |
| kann | can (at end) |
Ich weiß, dass er das Buch gelesen hat.
I know that he has read the book.
dass er das Buch gelesen hatPerfect tense in subordinate clause: hat at very end.
Examine this sentence in Sentence X-Ray →| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| dass | that |
| er | he |
| das Buch | the book |
| gelesen | read |
| hat | has (at end) |
Ich frage mich, ob sie angekommen ist.
I wonder whether she has arrived.
ob sie angekommen istPerfect with sein in subordinate clause: ist at end.
Examine this sentence in Sentence X-Ray →| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| ob | whether |
| sie | she |
| angekommen | arrived |
| ist | is (at end) |
Weil ich krank war, bin ich zu Hause geblieben.
Because I was sick, I stayed home.
Weil ich krank warweil-clause first: war at end. Main clause: bin right after comma.
Examine this sentence in Sentence X-Ray →| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Weil | because |
| ich | I |
| krank | sick |
| war | was (at end) |
| bin | am |
| zu Hause | at home |
| geblieben | stayed |
Practice Exercises
25 interactive exercises
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Grammar is just the beginning
Practice Subordinating Conjunctions in real conversations with your AI language partner.
Related Topics
Coordinating Conjunctions
Connect sentences with und, aber, oder, denn.
Word Order in Subordinate Clauses
Master verb-final position in subordinate clauses.
Relative Clauses (Nom/Acc)
Use der, die, das as relative pronouns.
Advanced Conjunctions
Master je...desto, sowohl...als auch.
Indirect Questions
Report questions with ob and W-words.
Common questions about German subordinating conjunctions
What are subordinating conjunctions in German?
They introduce a dependent clause that cannot stand alone, and they force the conjugated verb to the final position. At A2 the four you need are dass (that), weil (because), wenn (when/if) and ob (whether); B1 adds more. Each clause is separated from the main clause by a comma.
Why does the verb go to the end after weil?
Because weil marks its clause as subordinate, and German signals that rank by moving the conjugated verb to the last slot. Ich bin krank on its own has bin in second position; after weil it becomes weil ich krank bin. The rule applies to every subordinating conjunction, not just weil.
What is the difference between wenn and ob in German?
Both can translate as if, but they are not interchangeable. Wenn introduces a condition or a repeated time: Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. Ob introduces an indirect yes-no question: Ich weiß nicht, ob er morgen kommt. If you could replace if with whether in English, German needs ob.
Where do modal verbs go in a subordinate clause?
The conjugated modal goes last, after the infinitive it governs. Er muss heute arbeiten becomes ..., weil er heute arbeiten muss. Sie kann gut singen becomes ..., dass sie gut singen kann. The rule is simple: the infinitive keeps its place at the end, and the conjugated verb slots in behind it.
Can a German sentence start with a subordinate clause?
Yes, and then the main clause inverts. The whole subordinate clause counts as the first element, so the main verb comes immediately after the comma, before the subject: Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. Compare the other order, Ich bleibe zu Hause, wenn es regnet, where nothing inverts.