In my last post I explained how to form subordinate clauses with only one verb. Now, let\u2019s go one step further and have a look at subordinate clauses that contain two verbs.<\/p>\n
When a sentence contains two verbs, one of them is always a full verb and the other is either an auxiliary verb or \u2013 as the case may be \u2013 a modal verb. A full verb refers to the action, a modal verb indicates modality (likelihood, ability, permission, obligation) and an auxiliary verb helps to make a sentence more \u201cgrammatical\u201d, so to speak \u2013 especially with regard to tenses. Let\u2019s have a look at some English examples:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
full verb<\/span> \u2013 auxiliary verb<\/span> \u2013 modal verb<\/span><\/p>\n Simple Present:<\/strong> I write<\/span>. – Ich schreibe<\/span>.<\/p>\n Simple Past:<\/strong> I wrote<\/span>. \u2013 Ich schrieb. \/ Ich habe<\/span> geschrieben<\/span>.<\/p>\n Present Progressive:<\/strong> I am<\/span> writing<\/span>. \u2013 Ich schreibe<\/span>.<\/p>\n Past Progressive:<\/strong> I was<\/span> writing<\/span>. \u2013 Ich schrieb<\/span>. \/ Ich habe<\/span> geschrieben<\/span>.<\/p>\n Will-Future:<\/strong> I will<\/span> write<\/span>. \u2013 Ich werde<\/span> schreiben<\/span>.<\/p>\n Present Perfect Progressive:<\/strong> I have<\/span> been<\/span> writing<\/span>. Ich habe<\/span> geschrieben<\/span>.<\/p>\n Likelihood:<\/strong> I could<\/span> write<\/span>. \u2013 Ich k\u00f6nnte<\/span> schreiben<\/span>.<\/p>\n Ability:<\/strong> I can<\/span> write<\/span>. \u2013 Ich kann<\/span> schreiben<\/span>.<\/p>\n Obligation:<\/strong> I have<\/span> to<\/span> write<\/span>. \u2013 Ich muss<\/span> schreiben<\/span>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In all sentences, the verb \u201cto write\u201d is the full verb. The statements only differ because of their tenses and the auxiliaries or modal verbs being used. In tenses like simple present or simple past, the full verb has to be conjugated.<\/p>\n In other tenses, for example, present progressive, past progressive, will-future, and present perfect progressive, the auxiliary verb takes up the job of the finite verb (the verb that has to be conjugated). In sentences with modal verbs, the modal verb takes up the job of a finite verb, and thus has to be conjugated. Compare the following sentences in which the auxiliary verb \u201cto be\u201d has to be conjugated.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I am<\/span> writing<\/span>.<\/p>\n You are<\/span> writing<\/span>.<\/p>\n He\/she\/it is<\/span> writing<\/span>.<\/p>\n I have<\/span> been<\/span> writing<\/span>.<\/p>\n He\/she\/it has<\/span> been<\/span> writing<\/span>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Such verb-\u201cclusters\u201d do also exist in German. When a German subordinate clause contains two verbs, then both verbs come at the end of the sentence, with the full verb prior to the auxiliary or modal verb.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1. Ich hoffe, dass euch das Essen schmecken<\/span> wird<\/span>. (I hope you will<\/span> enjoy<\/span> the meal.)<\/p>\n 2. Er hatte mich angerufen, weil er mich etwas fragen<\/span> wollte<\/span>. (He called me because he wanted<\/span> to<\/span> ask<\/span> me something.)<\/p>\n 3. Ich packe meinen Koffer, weil ich morgen verreisen<\/span> werde<\/span>. (I am packing my suitcase because I will<\/span> go<\/span> on a trip tomorrow.)<\/p>\n 4. Es tut mir leid, dass ich nicht helfen<\/span> konnte<\/span>. (I am sorry that I could<\/span> not help<\/span>.)<\/p>\n 5. Ich kann heute Abend nicht weggehen, weil ich arbeiten<\/span> muss<\/span>. (I cannot go out tonight because I have<\/span> to<\/span> work<\/span>.)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As you can see, full verbs crop up in their unconjugated forms, whereas auxiliary verbs and modal verbs have to be conjugated. A further difference in comparison to English is that auxiliaries and modal verbs come after the full verb in German subordinate clauses. Compare the following word orders of main clauses and subordinate clauses in German:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 1a. Das Essen wird<\/span> euch schmecken<\/span>. (You will<\/span> enjoy<\/span> the meal.)<\/p>\n 1b. \u2026, dass euch das Essen schmecken<\/span> wird<\/span>. (\u2026 that you will<\/span> enjoy<\/span> the meal.)<\/p>\n 2a. Er wollte<\/span> mich etwas fragen<\/span>. (He wanted<\/span> to<\/span> ask<\/span> me something.)<\/p>\n 2b. \u2026, weil er mich etwas fragen<\/span> wollte<\/span>. (\u2026 because he wanted<\/span> to<\/span> ask<\/span> me something.)<\/p>\n 3a. Ich werde<\/span> morgen verreisen<\/span>. (I will<\/span> go<\/span>\/ am going on a trip tomorrow.)<\/p>\n 3b. \u2026, weil ich morgen verreisen<\/span> werde<\/span>. (\u2026 because I will<\/span> go<\/span>\/am going on a trip tomorrow.)<\/p>\n 4a. Ich konnte<\/span> nicht helfen<\/span>. (I could<\/span> not help<\/span>.)<\/p>\n 4b. \u2026, dass ich nicht helfen<\/span> konnte<\/span>. (\u2026 that I could<\/span> not help<\/span>.)<\/p>\n 5a. Ich muss<\/span> arbeiten<\/span>. (I have<\/span> to<\/span> work<\/span>.)<\/p>\n 5b. \u2026, weil ich arbeiten<\/span> muss<\/span>. (\u2026 because I have<\/span> to<\/span> work<\/span>.)<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In my last post I explained how to form subordinate clauses with only one verb. Now, let\u2019s go one step further and have a look at subordinate clauses that contain two verbs. When a sentence contains two verbs, one of them is always a full verb and the other is either an auxiliary verb or…<\/p>\n