In the German declarative sentence, the finite verb in the basic pattern stands in position two. Before the verb, exactly one sentence element may appear; afterwards, the subject and complements follow in the sentence bracket or in the middle field. The order of subject, object, and adverbial elements is flexible, but the verb-second position remains.

PositionPosition	FunktionFunction	BeispielExample
11	VorfeldFront Field	HeuteToday
22	VerbVerb	kommtcomes
33	SubjektSubject	der Zugthe train
44	ErgänzungComplement	pünktlichon time

Coordinating conjunctions connect two main clauses without changing the word order in either clause. With and, or, but, and for and similar connectives, the verb-second position remains in both clauses. The relationship between the clauses becomes semantically visible, not through a new sentence structure.

KonnektorConjunction	FunktionFunction	BeispielExample
undand	Verknüpft gleichrangige AussagenConnects equally ranked statements	Ich lerne und ich arbeiteI study and I work
oderor	Zeigt eine AlternativeShows an alternative	Du bleibst oder du gehstYou stay or you go
aberbut	Markiert einen GegensatzMarks a contrast	Er ist müde, aber er kommtHe is tired, but he comes
dennfor	Gibt einen Grund im HauptsatzGives a reason in the main clause	Ich gehe früh, denn ich bin müdeI go early, for I am tired

Subordinating conjunctions introduce a subordinate clause and move the finite verb to the end of the sentence. The subordinate clause is separated from the main clause by a comma and can express temporal, causal, or conditional relationships. For forming such structures, the word order of the subordinate clauses is decisive, as is visible in the learning area [Subordinating Conjunctions].

KonnektorConjunction	FunktionFunction	BeispielExample
weilweil	Gibt einen Grund als NebensatzExpresses a reason as a subordinate clause	Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil es regnetI stay at home, because it is raining
wennwenn	Beschreibt eine wiederkehrende oder zukünftige BedingungDescribes a recurring or future condition	Wenn ich Zeit habe, rufe ich anIf I have time, I will call
alsals	Bezieht sich auf einen einmaligen Zeitpunkt in der VergangenheitRelates to a unique past moment	Als ich klein war, hatte ich AngstWhen I was little, I was afraid
bevorbevor	Markiert eine vorhergehende HandlungMarks a preceding action	Wir essen, bevor wir gehenWe eat before we go
nachdemnachdem	Markiert eine nachfolgende HandlungMarks a subsequent action	Nachdem sie angekommen war, begann das TreffenAfter she had arrived, the meeting began

Correlative conjunctions occur in pairs and connect two parts logically. Both ... and as well as as either ... or require a fixed pairing of the two sentence elements or sentences. Such pairings are especially important for clear connections, as treated in [Correlative Conjunctions].

PaarPair	FunktionFunction	BeispielExample
sowohl... als auchboth... and	Verbindet zwei passende ElementeConnects two matching elements	Sowohl Anna als auch Ben kommenBoth Anna and Ben arrive
entweder... odereither... or	Zeigt eine Alternative zwischen zwei MöglichkeitenShows an alternative between two possibilities	Entweder wir fahren heute oder wir bleibenEither we drive today or we stay
weder... nochneither... nor	Verneint beide MöglichkeitenNegates both possibilities	Weder er noch sie antwortetNeither he nor she answers

Adversative and concessive connectives mark a contrast between two statements. But and however connect two pieces with counterbalance, while nevertheless counters an expected consequence. The meaning lies not in word order, but in the logical relationship of the statements.

KonnektorConjunction	FunktionFunction	BeispielExample
aberbut	Einfacher GegensatzSimple contrast	Er wollte kommen, aber er blieb zu HauseHe wanted to come, but he stayed at home
jedochhowever	Formeller GegensatzFormal contrast	Sie ist krank, jedoch arbeitet sie weiterShe is sick, however she continues to work
trotzdemnevertheless	Hebt einen Gegengrund aufLift a counterargument	Es regnet, trotzdem gehen wir spazierenIt is raining, nevertheless we go for a walk

Temporal connectives order events by time and direction. Wenn can express a condition or repetition and usually refers to a one-time past moment; bevor and nachdem order actions before or after another event. In embeddings, the subordinate clause word order with the verb at the end also applies here.

KonnektorConjunction	FunktionFunction	BeispielExample
wennwenn	Allgemeine oder wiederholte ZeitbeziehungGeneral or repeated time relation	Wenn es dunkel wird, gehen wir hineinWhen it gets dark, we go inside
alsals	Einmalige VergangenheitOne-time past	Als ich ankam, begann esWhen I arrived, it began
bevorbevor	Früherer ZeitpunktEarlier time	Ich wasche die Hände, bevor ich esseI wash my hands before I eat
nachdemnachdem	Späterer ZeitpunktLater time	Nachdem er gegessen hatte, ging erAfter he had eaten, he left

Questions with connectives preserve their logical connection, but the word order depends on the embedding. In direct questions the finite verb precedes the subject; in embedded questions the word order of the subordinate clause remains. This allows reasons, conditions, and time relations to be captured precisely even in questions.

FragetypQuestion Type	FunktionFunction	BeispielExample
DirektfrageDirect question	Verb steht vor dem SubjektVerb precedes the subject	Kommst du, weil du Zeit hastAre you coming because you have time
Eingebettete FrageEmbedded question	Nebensatz mit Verb am EndeSubordinate clause with verb at the end	Ich frage, ob du kommstI ask whether you are coming
Frage mit ZeitbezugQuestion with time relation	Logische Verbindung bleibt erhaltenThe logical connection remains	Wann gehst du, nachdem du gegessen hastWhen will you go after you have eaten

In negations with connectives, not or no stands in the position required by the negated sentence part. In the subordinate clause the verb-final position remains, and the negation refers to the appropriate sentence element or the whole statement. The clear positioning of negation helps keep the logical relationships unchanged.

NegationNegation	FunktionFunction	BeispielExample
nichtnot	Verneint das Verb oder die ganze AussageNegates the verb or the whole statement	Ich gehe nicht, weil ich müde binI am not going, because I am tired
keinno	Verneint ein NomenNegates a noun	Er hat keinen Kaffee, denn er schläftHe has no coffee, because he is sleeping
nicht mehrnot anymore	Verneint eine fortdauernde HandlungNegates a continuing action	Ich lerne nicht mehr, nachdem der Kurs endetI am not studying anymore after the course ends

Instead of a subordinate clause, a connection can also be expressed by participial or infinitive constructions. Such forms condense content and avoid a full subordinate clause structure. They are especially suitable when two actions are closely related and the logical connection remains clear.

The key features are the basic patterns of the main clause, the verb-final position in the subordinate clause, and the pairwise or coordinating linking of sentence parts. Causal, temporal, adversative, and correlative connectives order statements logically and make relationships between actions, reasons, and contrasts unambiguous. Whoever masters these patterns can connect sentences precisely and correctly with logical connectives.