Conjunctions (Junior Cert German): Revision Notes
Conjunctions
Overview
Conjunctions (Konjunktionen) are connecting words that join sentences together in German. They help you create longer, more complex sentences by linking ideas. Understanding conjunctions is essential for expressing relationships between different thoughts and actions in German conversation and writing.
There are two main types of conjunctions, each with different rules for word order and usage. Learning these will help you speak more naturally and write more sophisticated German sentences.
Rules & formation
German conjunctions fall into two distinct categories that behave very differently:
The Two Types of German Conjunctions:
Coordinating conjunctions (koordinierende Konjunktionen) connect two equal, independent sentences. Both parts of the sentence could stand alone and still make complete sense.
Subordinating conjunctions (subordinierende Konjunktionen) connect a main clause with a dependent clause. The dependent clause relies on the main clause to make sense and cannot stand alone.
The key difference between these types is how they affect word order in German sentences.
Coordinating conjunctions
Coordinating conjunctions are the simpler type because they don't change German word order. When you use a coordinating conjunction, both parts of your sentence keep their normal structure, just like in English.
Think of coordinating conjunctions as joining two equal partners - neither sentence depends on the other, and both could exist independently.
Table of key coordinating conjunctions
| German | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| und | and | Ich lerne Deutsch und sie lernt Englisch |
| oder | or | Wir gehen ins Kino oder wir bleiben zu Hause |
| aber | but | Er ist nett aber etwas schüchtern |
| sondern | but (instead) | Es ist nicht kalt sondern warm |
| denn | because | Ich bleibe zu Hause denn es regnet |
Worked Example: Coordinating Conjunctions in Action
Mit "und" (and):
- Ich bin hier und sie wartet auf mich im Café.
- I'm here and she is waiting for me in the café.
Mit "oder" (or):
- Sie spielt gerne Badminton oder sie singt mit ihren Freunden.
- She likes playing badminton or she sings with her friends.
Mit "denn" (because):
- Ich will nicht lernen denn das Wetter ist so schön.
- I don't want to study because the weather is so nice.
Notice how the word order stays exactly the same in both parts of each sentence. The verb remains in the second position in both clauses, just like in simple German sentences.
Subordinating conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions create a different relationship between clauses. They connect a main clause (which can stand alone) with a dependent clause (which needs the main clause to make sense).
The crucial rule with subordinating conjunctions is that the verb moves to the very end of the dependent clause. This is a major difference from English and requires practice to master.
Word order changes
- Main clause: Normal German word order (verb in second position)
- Dependent clause: Verb goes to the end of the clause
- Comma rule: Always place a comma before the subordinating conjunction
Table of key subordinating conjunctions
| German | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| dass | that | Ich weiß, dass du fleißig bist |
| weil | because | Ich lerne, weil ich Deutsch sprechen möchte |
| ob | if/whether | Ich frage mich, ob sie heute kommt |
| seit | since | Er ist glücklich, seit er hier wohnt |
| während | while | Bitte füttere den Hund, während ich weg bin |
| obwohl | although | Sie lernt Deutsch, obwohl sie noch nie in Deutschland war |
| bis | until | Warte, bis ich zurück bin |
| bevor | before | Hilf mir bitte, bevor du gehst |
| als | when | Ich war überrascht, als ich sie gesehen habe |
| damit | so that | Er kauft einen Computer, damit er spielen kann |
Worked Example: Subordinating Conjunctions with Word Order Changes
Mit "dass" (that):
- Er sagte, dass du sehr fleißig bist.
- He said that you are very diligent.
- Notice how "bist" (are) moves to the end of the dependent clause.
Mit "weil" (because):
- Ich muss jetzt schlafen, weil ich morgen früh aufstehe.
- I have to sleep now because I get up early tomorrow.
- The verb "aufstehe" moves to the end after "weil".
Mit "obwohl" (although):
- Sie fuhr mit mir nach Bohol, obwohl ihre Freunde dagegen waren.
- She went with me to Bohol although her friends were against it.
- "Waren" (were) goes to the end of the dependent clause.
Common mistakes & tips
Most common error: Forgetting to move the verb to the end in subordinate clauses. Students often keep English word order, which sounds incorrect in German.
❌ Incorrect: Ich weiß, dass sie ist nett. ✅ Correct: Ich weiß, dass sie nett ist.
Comma confusion: Always remember to place a comma directly before subordinating conjunctions. This comma is mandatory in German, unlike in English where it's sometimes optional.
❌ Incorrect: Ich lerne Deutsch weil ich nach Deutschland fahren möchte. ✅ Correct: Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich nach Deutschland fahren möchte.
Aber vs. sondern confusion: Use "sondern" only when correcting or contrasting within the same category, and the first clause must be negative.
- Use aber for general contrasts: Er ist klein aber stark. (He is small but strong.)
- Use sondern for corrections: Es ist nicht kalt sondern warm. (It's not cold but warm.)
Practice tip: When using subordinating conjunctions, always check that your verb is at the very end of the dependent clause. Count the words to make sure!
Key Points to Remember:
- Coordinating conjunctions (und, oder, aber, sondern, denn) keep normal German word order in both clauses
- Subordinating conjunctions send the verb to the end of the dependent clause
- Always use a comma before subordinating conjunctions
- The dependent clause in subordinating constructions cannot stand alone as a complete sentence
- Practice moving verbs to the end - this is the trickiest part for English speakers learning German