Conjunctions (Leaving Cert German): Revision Notes
Conjunctions
Overview
Conjunctions are connecting words that join sentences together in German. They help you express relationships between ideas, such as adding information, showing contrast, giving reasons, or indicating time. Understanding conjunctions is essential for creating more complex and natural-sounding German sentences.
German conjunctions serve two main purposes: they can either connect two equal sentences (coordinating conjunctions) or connect a main sentence with a dependent clause that provides additional information (subordinating conjunctions).
The key to mastering German conjunctions lies in understanding how each type affects word order. This distinction will help you construct grammatically correct complex sentences.
Rules & formation
German conjunctions fall into two main categories, each with different rules for word order:
Coordinating conjunctions (Koordinierende Konjunktionen)
These connect two independent sentences that could stand alone and make sense by themselves. When using coordinating conjunctions, the word order remains exactly the same in both parts of the sentence as if they were separate sentences.
Subordinating conjunctions (Unterordnende Konjunktionen)
These connect a main clause with a dependent clause. The dependent clause cannot stand alone and relies on the main clause for meaning. When using subordinating conjunctions, the word order changes in the dependent clause - the verb moves to the very end of the dependent clause.
Critical Word Order Rule:
- Coordinating conjunctions = No word order change
- Subordinating conjunctions = Verb goes to the end in the dependent clause
This is the most important grammar rule to remember when using German conjunctions!
Table of coordinating conjunctions
| German | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| und | and | Ich bin hier und sie wartet auf mich im Café. (I'm here and she is waiting for me in the café.) |
| oder | or | Ich werde dich anrufen oder ich werde dir schreiben. (I'll call you or I'll write to you.) |
| denn | because | Ich will nicht lernen, denn das Wetter ist so schön. (I don't want to study because the weather is so nice.) |
| aber | but | Ich spreche mit dem Mann, aber ich kenne seinen Namen nicht. (I talk to the man but I don't know his name.) |
| sondern | but (after negation, same category) | Es ist nicht kalt, sondern sehr warm. (It's not cold but very warm.) |
Table of key subordinating conjunctions
| German | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| dass | that | Er sagte, dass du sehr fleißig bist. (He said that you are very diligent.) |
| weil | because | Ich muss jetzt schlafen, weil ich morgen früh aufstehe. (I have to sleep now because I'll get up early tomorrow.) |
| ob | if/whether | Ich weiß nicht, ob sie heute zur Universität kommt. (I don't know if she'll come to university today.) |
| seit | since | Er ist ein neuer Mensch, seit er sie kennt. (He is a new man since he's known her.) |
| während | while | Bitte füttere den Hund, während ich weg bin. (Please feed the dog while I'm away.) |
| obwohl | although | Sie lernt Deutsch, obwohl sie noch nie in Deutschland war. (She is studying German although she hasn't been to Germany before.) |
| bis | until | Warte, bis ich zurück bin! (Wait until I'll be back!) |
| bevor | before | Bitte hilf mir, bevor du gehst! (Please help me before you go!) |
| als | when (past events) | Ich war überrascht, als ich sie das erste Mal gesehen habe. (I was surprised when I saw her for the first time.) |
| damit | so that | Cathy lernt Deutsch, damit sie das Visum bekommt. (Cathy is studying German so that she'll get the visa.) |
Notice how in the subordinating conjunction examples, the verbs (highlighted in amber) are positioned at the end of the dependent clauses. This is the key difference from coordinating conjunctions!
Example sentences
Coordinating conjunctions examples:
The following examples demonstrate how coordinating conjunctions maintain normal word order in both parts of the sentence:
Coordinating Conjunction Practice:
Example 1: Sie ist nett und sie sieht gut aus. Translation: She is nice and she looks pretty. Word order: Normal in both parts (sie ist / sie sieht)
Example 2: Ich werde dich anrufen oder ich werde dir schreiben. Translation: I'll call you or I'll write to you. Word order: Normal in both parts (ich werde / ich werde)
Subordinating conjunctions examples:
These examples show how the verb position changes with subordinating conjunctions:
Subordinating Conjunction Practice:
Example 1: Ich weiß, dass wir uns wiedersehen. Translation: I know that we will meet again. Word order: Verb "sehen" moves to the end
Example 2: Ich muss jetzt schlafen, weil ich morgen früh aufstehe. Translation: I have to sleep now because I'll get up early tomorrow. Word order: Verb "aufstehe" moves to the end
Common mistakes & tips
Word order rules
The most important rule to remember is that coordinating conjunctions don't change word order, but subordinating conjunctions do. With subordinating conjunctions, the verb always goes to the very end of the dependent clause.
Common Word Order Mistake:
Correct: Ich weiß, dass du fleißig bist. (I know that you are diligent.) ❌ Incorrect: Ich weiß, dass du bist fleißig.
Always remember: subordinating conjunction → verb goes to the end!
Distinguishing "aber" from "sondern"
Both words mean "but," but they're used in very specific situations. Understanding this distinction is essential for advanced German:
- aber = general contrast, can be used in any situation
- sondern = only used after a negation when contrasting within the same category
"aber" vs "sondern" Examples:
Using sondern: Es ist nicht kalt, sondern sehr warm. Translation: It's not cold but very warm. Why sondern? Both "cold" and "warm" are temperatures (same category) + negation ("nicht")
Using aber: Ich habe keine Zeit, aber ich komme trotzdem ins Café. Translation: I have no time but I'll come to the café anyway. Why aber? Different categories of ideas (time vs. action)
Comma usage
Always put a comma before subordinating conjunctions to separate the main clause from the dependent clause. This makes it easier to read and understand the sentence structure.
Memory tip for "sondern"
Remember that sondern requires two conditions: 1) a negation (nicht/kein) in the first part, and 2) both ideas must be from the same category. If there's no negation in the first sentence, you must use "aber."
Quick Check for "sondern":
- Is there a negation in the first part? ✓
- Are both ideas from the same category? ✓
- If both answers are yes → use "sondern"
- If either answer is no → use "aber"
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- Conjunctions connect sentences and show relationships between ideas
- Coordinating conjunctions (und, oder, denn, aber, sondern) keep normal word order in both parts
- Subordinating conjunctions (dass, weil, ob, etc.) move the verb to the end of the dependent clause
- Use sondern only after negation within the same category; otherwise use aber
- Always use a comma before subordinating conjunctions to separate clauses
- The verb position is your best clue to identify which type of conjunction you're dealing with