{"id":9911,"date":"2018-05-30T13:55:01","date_gmt":"2018-05-30T13:55:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=9911"},"modified":"2018-05-31T15:11:55","modified_gmt":"2018-05-31T15:11:55","slug":"german-subordinating-conjunctions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/german-subordinating-conjunctions\/","title":{"rendered":"German Subordinating Conjunctions"},"content":{"rendered":"

Guten Tag! Today I\u2019m bringing you a simple post on German subordinating conjunctions.<\/strong> If even the name of this makes you yawn, don\u2019t worry – I’m going to keep it simple! German subordinating conjunctions are basically \u2018joining words\u2019 such as because, although, <\/strong>and before.<\/strong> In this post I\u2019ll explain what these kinds of joining words do, list some of the common German ones so you can learn them, and give example sentences for each, so you can use them.<\/p>\n

What are subordinating conjunctions?<\/h2>\n
\"\"

Image via Pixabay.<\/p><\/div>\n

German subordinating conjunctions are words that link two clauses together in a sentence. The first clause is the main one, and the second clause is the \u2018subordinate\u2019 clause. The subordinate clause is like a follow-up or a back-up for the main clause.<\/p>\n

In English, an example might be: I am happy because I passed my exam. \u2018I am happy\u2019 is the main clause, and \u2018I passed my exam\u2019 is the subordinate clause. You can say you are happy, and you can say you passed your exam, but a subordinate conjunction links the two by making them connected:<\/b> You are happy because <\/i>you passed your exam. Here are some examples of German subordinating conjunctions:<\/p>\n

German subordinating conjunctions<\/h2>\n

Bevor \u2013 before
\n<\/strong>Lass mich fertig schreiben, bevor<\/strong> ich es vergesse.
\n<\/strong>Let me finish writing, before<\/strong> I forget it.<\/p>\n

Bis \u2013 until<\/strong>
\nIch werde es tun, bis<\/strong> es mir nicht mehr gef\u00e4<\/span>llt.
\nI will do it until<\/strong> I don\u2019t like it anymore.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dass \u2013 that<\/strong>
\nIch wei\u00df<\/span>, dass<\/strong> er morgen Geburtstag hat.
\nI know that<\/strong> it\u2019s his birthday tomorrow.<\/span><\/p>\n

Nachdem \u2013 after
\n<\/strong>Wir gehen, nachdem<\/strong> wir gegessen haben.
\nWe will go after<\/strong> we have eaten.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ob \u2013 whether\/if<\/strong>
\nIch wei\u00df<\/span> nicht, ob<\/strong> ich mit dir mitgehen will.
\nI don\u2019t know whether\/if<\/strong> I want to go with you.<\/span><\/p>\n

Obwohl \u2013 although\/even though<\/strong>
\nEr mag Katzen, obwohl<\/strong> er keine hat.
\nHe likes cats, although\/even though<\/strong> he doesn\u2019t have any.<\/p>\n

Solange \u2013 as long as
\n<\/strong>Du kannst bleiben, solange<\/strong> du willst.
\nYou can stay as long as<\/strong> you want.<\/span><\/p>\n

Weil \u2013 because<\/strong>
\nIch bin grantig, weil<\/strong> ich keinen Kaffee habe.
\nI am grumpy because<\/strong> I don\u2019t have any coffee.<\/p>\n

Warum \u2013 why<\/strong>
\nIch wei\u00df<\/span> nicht, warum<\/strong> sie b<\/span>\u00f6<\/span>se ist.
\nI don\u2019t know why<\/strong> she is angry.<\/span><\/p>\n

Breaking down the subordinating conjunctions<\/span><\/h3>\n

When a subordinating conjunction is used, the verb goes to the end:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ich wei<\/span>\u00df<\/span> nicht, warum sie b<\/span>\u00f6<\/span>se ist.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>I don\u2019t know why she is<\/strong> angry.<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The subordinating conjunction can <\/span>also sometimes<\/span> be placed at the beginning of a sentence:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Warum<\/strong> sie b<\/span>\u00f6<\/span>s<\/span>e ist, wei<\/span>\u00df <\/span>ich nicht.
\nWhy<\/strong> she is angry, I don\u2019t know.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

There is usually a comma before a subordinating conjunction:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ich wei<\/span>\u00df<\/span> nicht , warum<\/strong> sie b<\/span>\u00f6<\/span>se ist.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

E<\/span>ach sentence with a subordinating conjunction could be split into two, smaller sentences. It is the conjunction that joins them and makes them make sense:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ich <\/span>wei<\/span>\u00df<\/span> nicht \u2013 <\/span>I don\u2019t know
\nSie ist <\/span>b<\/span>\u00f6<\/span>se \u2013 <\/span>She is angry<\/span><\/p>\n

Ich wei<\/span>\u00df<\/span> nicht, warum<\/strong> sie b<\/span>\u00f6<\/span>se ist \u2013 <\/span>I don\u2019t know why<\/strong> she is angry.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

I hope this makes sense! <\/span><\/p>\n

Let me know if there are any subjects you’d like me to cover, grammar-related or otherwise. And check out the grammar<\/a> tag to see what’s in the archives already! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

Bis bald!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Guten Tag! Today I\u2019m bringing you a simple post on German subordinating conjunctions. If even the name of this makes you yawn, don\u2019t worry – I’m going to keep it simple! German subordinating conjunctions are basically \u2018joining words\u2019 such as because, although, and before. In this post I\u2019ll explain what these kinds of joining words…<\/p>\n

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