Subordinate Clause Verb-Final
In German subordinate clauses (Nebensätze) the conjugated verb goes to the very end, so listeners can spot the clause and its function.
Subordinate Clause Types
Common subordinate clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions (weil, dass, wenn, ob) and include time clauses (als, bevor, nachdem), conditional clauses (wenn), and purpose clauses (damit).
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☁️ …, weil die Straßen nass sind. | … because the streets are wet. |
| 🌇 …, obwohl die Sonne unterging. | … although the sun set. |
| 🗺️ …, nachdem sie eine Karte gesehen hatten. | … after they had seen a map. |
| 🏕️ …, bevor sie das Zelt aufstellten. | … before they pitched the tent. |
| 🔍 …, damit alle den Weg finden. | … so that everyone finds the way. |
| ❓ …, ob der Pfad wirklich kürzer ist. | … whether the path is really shorter. |
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Word Order
The finite verb is pushed to the clause-final position, and any infinitives, participles, or separable prefixes stay immediately before it, preserving the verbal complex at the end.
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Examples
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☁️ Wir blieben drinnen, weil es draußen regnete. | We stayed inside because it was raining outside. |
| 🏞️ Sie gingen weiter, obwohl der Nebel die Sicht erschwerte. | They went on although the fog made visibility difficult. |
| 🌧️ Nachdem der Regen aufgehört hatte, setzten sie ihre Wanderung fort. | After the rain stopped, they continued their hike. |
| ⛺ Bevor sie ins Zelt gingen, sammelten sie noch Holz. | Before they went into the tent, they collected some wood. |
| 💡 Er sprach laut, damit alle den neuen Weg hörten. | He spoke loudly so that everyone heard the new path. |
| ❔ Sie fragten den Ranger, ob der Weg sicher sei. | They asked the ranger whether the path was safe. |
// No quiz for this section (examples only).
Relative Clauses
Relative clauses (Relativsätze) are a type of subordinate clause introduced by relative pronouns like der, die, das, and they also place the verb at the end while providing additional information about a noun.
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🗻 Der Wanderer, der vorneweg lief, kann den Pfad sehen. | The hiker who was walking ahead can see the trail. |
| 🏕️ Das Zelt, das auf dem Hügel stand, war von weitem sichtbar. | The tent that stood on the hill was visible from afar. |
| 🌲 Die Bäume, zwischen denen sie den Weg suchten, waren sehr dicht. | The trees between which they looked for the path were very dense. |
| 🧭 Der Kompass, den sie teilten, zeigte nach Süden. | The compass that they shared pointed south. |
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Indirect Questions
Indirect questions introduced by verbs like fragen, wissen, ob or question words form subordinate clauses with the verb at the end, unlike direct questions where the verb comes first.
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ❓ Er fragte, wann der nächste Regenschauer käme. | He asked when the next rain shower would come. |
| 🗣️ Sie wollte wissen, wo der sichere Lagerplatz sei. | She wanted to know where the safe campsite was. |
| 🤔 Wir fragten uns, ob der Weg durch den Wald kürzer sei. | We wondered whether the path through the forest was shorter. |
| 🧳 Der Guide sagte, wie viele Pausen eingelegt würden. | The guide said how many breaks would be taken. |
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Combining Clauses
When a subordinate clause precedes the main clause, the main clause follows with the verb in first position; when the main clause comes first, the subordinate clause nests in with its final-verb order.
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Summary
Subordinate clauses in German consistently place the conjugated verb at the end, marking the clause boundary and aligning with the introducing conjunction or relative pronoun; mastering this pattern improves both comprehension and expression.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025