Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions (Subjunktionen) connect a subordinate clause to a main clause and they trigger the verb to move to the end of the clause in German. This guide covers the most common subordinating conjunctions with clear examples.
Key Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions introduce reasons, conditions, time, manner, cause, purpose, and exceptions. Each conjunction requires the finite verb to appear at the end of the subordinate clause. Here's a short list of frequently used subordinating conjunctions to get you started.
| German Word | English Word |
|---|---|
| weil | because |
| obwohl | although |
| dass | that |
| wenn | if / when |
| bevor | before |
| nachdem | after |
| als | when (past) |
| damit | so that |
| solange | as long as |
| falls | in case |
| German Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ☕ Ich trinke Kaffee, bevor ich arbeite. | I drink coffee before I work. | Time |
| 🍽️ Ich esse, weil ich Hunger habe. | I eat because I am hungry. | Cause |
| 🧺 Ich gehe in den Park, obwohl es regnet. | I go to the park although it is raining. | Concession |
| 🛒 Ich kaufe ein, damit ich Essen zu Hause habe. | I do the shopping so that I have food at home. | Purpose |
| 🕒 Ich bleibe, bis es Abend wird. | I stay until it becomes evening. | Time |
| 🚪 Ich gehe, nachdem ich die Tür geschlossen habe. | I leave after I have closed the door. | Time |
| 📬 Ich warte, obwohl ich schon müde bin. | I wait although I am already tired. | Concession |
| 🧴 Ich wasche meine Hände, bevor ich esse. | I wash my hands before I eat. | Time |
| 🔌 Ich schalte das Licht aus, damit ich Strom spare. | I turn off the light so that I save electricity. | Purpose |
Usage
A subordinate clause introduced by a subordinating conjunction cannot stand alone and normally the conjugated verb goes to the very end of that clause. The main clause can come before or after the subordinate clause, but the word order in the main clause follows normal rules.
Examples
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ☑️ Ich kann nicht kommen, weil ich krank bin. | I can’t come because I am sick. |
| 🕰️ Ich warte, bis du Zeit hast. | I’ll wait until you have time. |
| 🌧️ Ich gehe nicht raus, obwohl es schönes Wetter ist. | I’m not going out although the weather is nice. |
| 📝 Ich lerne, damit ich die Prüfung bestehe. | I study so that I pass the exam. |
Special Conjunctions
Some conjunctions like weil sometimes appear in colloquial speech with main clause word order for emphasis, but the standard grammatically correct form places the verb at the end. Conjunctions such as damit introduce purpose clauses and also require the verb at the end.
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| ⚠️ Er sagt, dass er später kommt. | He says that he will come later. |
| 🚪 Sie bleibt, obwohl die Tür offen ist. | She stays although the door is open. |
| 🔄 Ich mache das nochmal, bevor ich es abgebe. | I do it again before I submit it. |
Summary
Subordinating conjunctions link dependent clauses to main clauses and send the conjugated verb to the end of the subordinate clause. Learn the common conjunctions like weil, obwohl, dass, and wenn to express cause, condition, time, and more. Practice forming sentences with these conjunctions to internalize the word order.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025