Main clauses (Hauptsätze) are complete sentences that can stand alone. Subordinate clauses (Nebensätze) depend on a main clause and cannot stand alone. They add extra information and are introduced by subordinating conjunctions.
Roles
- Main clause expresses the primary idea or statement.
- Subordinate clause provides additional information, such as reason, time, condition, or contrast.
- In punctuation, subordinate clauses are separated by commas.
Examples:
- Main clause: Ich gehe ins Kino. (I’m going to the cinema.)
- Subordinate clause: weil ich Zeit habe. (because I have time.)
- Combined: *Ich gehe ins Kino, weil ich Zeit habe.
Word Order
- In main clauses, the verb occupies the second position (V2 word order).
- In subordinate clauses, the verb is placed at the end.
- This rule applies regardless of the clause’s length or complexity.
Examples:
- Main clause: Ich esse heute Pizza. (I’m eating pizza today.)
- Subordinate clause: ..., weil ich heute keine Zeit habe. (...because I have no time today.)
Conjunctions
- Main clauses can stand alone or be joined by coordinating conjunctions (e.g., und, aber, oder) that do not change word order.
- Subordinate clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions (e.g., weil, dass, wenn, obwohl, damit) which send the verb to the end.
- Some relative pronouns (e.g., der, die, das) also introduce subordinate clauses.
Examples of subordinating conjunctions:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| weil | because |
| dass | that |
| wenn | if/when |
| obwohl | although |
| damit | so that |
| bevor | before |
| nachdem | after |
| sobald | as soon as |
Example sentences:
- Main clause with coordinating conjunction: *Ich gehe ins Kino, und mein Bruder bleibt zu Hause.
- Subordinate clause with subordinating conjunction: *Ich gehe ins Kino, weil ich Zeit habe.
- Relative clause: *Der Mann, der dort steht, ist mein Lehrer.
What effect do subordinating conjunctions (weil, dass, wenn, etc.) have on German word order?
They send the verb to the end of the clause.
Subordinating conjunctions introduce dependent clauses and push the conjugated verb to the very end.
that you are coming
dass du kommst
"dass du kommst" means "that you are coming." "dass" introduces a subordinate clause expressing a statement.
Summary Table
| Feature | Main Clause (Hauptsatz) | Subordinate Clause (Nebensatz) |
|---|---|---|
| Can stand alone? | Yes | No |
| Role | Main idea | Additional information |
| Word order | Verb in 2nd position | Verb at the end |
| Introduced by | (often no conjunction) or coordinating conjunctions (und, aber) | Subordinating conjunctions (weil, dass, wenn, obwohl, etc.) or relative pronouns |
| Punctuation | No comma if alone; comma before coordinating conjunction | Always preceded by a comma |
| Example | Ich gehe ins Kino. | ..., weil ich Zeit habe. |
Main clauses are the backbone of a sentence, while subordinate clauses provide context and depth by adding reasons, conditions, time markers, or contrasts. The key to mastering German sentence structure is recognizing these roles and applying the correct word order and conjunction rules.
Flashcards (1 of 8)
- English: because
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
