Conjunctions (Edexcel GCSE German): Revision Notes
Conjunctions
Conjunctions are essential connecting words that help you create longer, more sophisticated sentences in German. This is particularly important for your Writing exam, where you need to demonstrate your ability to link ideas effectively and show complex grammatical structures.
Mastering conjunctions will significantly boost your GCSE German marks, especially in writing tasks where examiners look for varied sentence structures and sophisticated language use.
What are conjunctions?
Conjunctions are words that join two parts of a sentence together. In German, there are two main types that behave very differently from each other. Understanding when and how to use each type will significantly improve your written German and help you achieve higher marks in your GCSE exam.
The two main types are:
- Coordinating conjunctions - keep normal word order
- Subordinating conjunctions - change word order dramatically
Coordinating conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions are simple connecting words that join two clauses whilst keeping the normal word order in both parts of the sentence. These are the easiest type to use because they don't change how you structure your sentence.
| German | English |
|---|---|
| aber | but |
| denn | because |
| oder | or |
| und | and |
When you use these conjunctions, simply place them between your two clauses and continue with normal word order.
Worked Example: Using Coordinating Conjunctions
- Ich sehe fern und ich höre Musik. (I watch TV and I listen to music.)
- Sie kommt heute aber er bleibt zu Hause. (She's coming today but he's staying at home.)
- Wir gehen ins Kino oder wir bleiben hier. (We're going to the cinema or we're staying here.)
Notice how the word order remains exactly the same in both parts of each sentence.
Subordinating conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions are more complex because they change the word order in the second clause. When you use a subordinating conjunction, the verb moves to the end of that clause, and you must place a comma between the two clauses.
| German | English | German | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| als | when (past) | während | while |
| bevor | before | warum | why |
| da | since/because | was | what |
| damit | so that | weil | because |
| nachdem | after | wenn | if/when |
| obwohl | although | wie | how |
Critical Rule: With subordinating conjunctions, the verb ALWAYS goes to the end of the subordinate clause, and you MUST use a comma to separate the clauses.
Worked Example: Verb Position with Subordinating Conjunctions
- Er geht spazieren, obwohl es kalt ist. (He's going for a walk, although it's cold.)
- Obwohl es kalt ist, geht er spazieren. (Although it's cold, he's going for a walk.)
Notice that when you start the sentence with the conjunction clause, the main clause verb comes immediately after the comma - this creates a verb-comma-verb pattern.
Using 'sondern' instead of 'aber'
Sondern is a special coordinating conjunction that means 'but' or 'but rather'. However, you can only use sondern in very specific circumstances.
Essential Rules for 'sondern': You can ONLY use sondern when ALL three conditions are met:
- The first clause must be negative
- The two clauses must have the same subject
- The two clauses must contradict each other directly
When these conditions aren't met, you must use aber instead.
Worked Example: 'sondern' vs 'aber'
Correct usage of 'sondern':
- Es ist nicht warm, sondern kalt. (It's not warm, but cold.)
- Sie kommen nicht früh, sondern spät. (They're not coming early, but late.)
When to use 'aber' instead:
- Es ist kalt, aber schön. (It's cold, but beautiful.) - not contradictory
- Ich bin müde, aber sie ist wach. (I'm tired, but she's awake.) - different subjects
Conjunctions with perfect tense
When using subordinating conjunctions with the perfect tense, the word order becomes more complex. The conjunction sends the auxiliary verb (haben/sein) to the end of the clause, and the past participle goes just before it.
Worked Example: Perfect Tense with Subordinating Conjunctions
- Weil ich meine Arbeit gemacht habe, gehe ich aus. (Because I've done my work, I'm going out.)
- Nachdem sie gegessen hat, geht sie schlafen. (After she has eaten, she goes to sleep.)
Notice: past participle (gemacht/gegessen) + auxiliary verb (habe/hat) at the end.
Conjunctions with future tense and modal verbs
With future tense, the conjunction sends werden to the end, with the infinitive placed just before it:
Future Tense Example: Da ich morgen nach London fahren werde, brauche ich meinen Koffer. (As I'm going to London tomorrow, I need my suitcase.)
With modal verbs, the modal verb goes to the end, with the infinitive placed just before it:
Modal Verb Example: Ich weiß nicht, was ich machen soll. (I don't know what I should do.)
Question words as conjunctions
Interrogative words (question words) can also function as conjunctions when they introduce indirect questions. In these cases, they create subordinate clauses with the verb at the end.
Worked Example: Question Words as Conjunctions
- Ich verstehe nicht, warum sie böse ist. (I don't understand why she's angry.)
- Sie weiß nicht, wo sie ist. (She doesn't know where she is.)
- Ich will wissen, wann der Zug kommt. (I want to know when the train is coming.)
Notice how these are no longer direct questions, so they follow subordinating conjunction rules.
Translation practice
Translation Practice
German to English:
- Ich gehe ins Bett, weil ich müde bin.
- Er kauft Brot und sie kauft Milch.
English to German:
- Although it's raining, we're going out.
- I don't know what he wants.
Answers:
- I'm going to bed because I'm tired. 2. He's buying bread and she's buying milk.
- Obwohl es regnet, gehen wir aus. 2. Ich weiß nicht, was er will.
Key Points to Remember:
- Coordinating conjunctions (aber, denn, oder, und) keep normal word order
- Subordinating conjunctions send the verb to the end and require a comma
- Use sondern only when the first clause is negative and contradicts the second
- With perfect tense, the auxiliary verb goes to the end after the past participle
- Question words can act as conjunctions in indirect questions
- Always check your word order- it's crucial for accuracy marks in your exam