Word Order in Subordinate Clauses
In this lesson, we will learn about the word order in subordinate clauses in German. We will also explore how to use conjunctions like "weil" (because), "wenn" (if/when), and "obwohl" (although) to connect subordinate clauses to main clauses.
Word Order in Subordinate Clauses
In German, subordinate clauses are dependent clauses that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence. They provide additional information to the main clause and are introduced by subordinating conjunctions.
The word order in a subordinate clause is different from that in a main clause. Here are the key rules to remember:
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The conjugated verb (finite verb) is placed at the end of the clause.
- Ich esse Obst, weil es gesund ist. (I eat fruit because it is healthy.)
- Sie geht ins Kino, obwohl sie müde ist. (She goes to the cinema although she is tired.)
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The subject (noun/pronoun) usually follows the conjugated verb.
- Ich komme, wenn du mich einlädst. (I'll come if you invite me.)
- Er liest ein Buch, obwohl er wenig Zeit hat. (He reads a book although he has little time.)
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Other elements like objects, adjectives, adverbs, etc. come before the conjugated verb.
- Sie hat mir geholfen, als ich krank war. (She helped me when I was sick.)
- Er mag Sport, obwohl er unsportlich ist. (He likes sports although he is unsporty.)
Using Conjunctions to Connect Subordinate Clauses
Conjunctions like "weil" (because), "wenn" (if/when), and "obwohl" (although) are commonly used to connect subordinate clauses to main clauses. Here's how to use them:
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"weil" (because): It introduces a clause that explains the reason or cause.
- Ich kann nicht kommen, weil ich viel Arbeit habe. (I can't come because I have a lot of work.)
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"wenn" (if/when): It introduces a clause that expresses a condition or a point in time.
- Wenn du Zeit hast, können wir uns treffen. (If/When you have time, we can meet.)
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"obwohl" (although): It introduces a clause that presents a contrast to the main clause.
- Wir gehen spazieren, obwohl es regnet. (We are going for a walk although it's raining.)
Remember to apply the correct word order in subordinate clauses when using these conjunctions.
Summary
In this lesson, we learned about the word order in subordinate clauses in German. We saw that the conjugated verb is placed at the end of the clause, followed by the subject and other elements. We also explored how to use conjunctions like "weil," "wenn," and "obwohl" to connect subordinate clauses to main clauses.
Now that you have a solid understanding of word order in subordinate clauses, you can confidently use them to provide additional information and express various relationships in your German sentences. Practice and exposure to different examples will help you internalize this grammar concept.