What is a Clause?
A complex sentence is formed by an independent clause and a dependent clause. The dependent clause is, hence the name, dependent on the main clause, often due to a conjunction which connects a condition to the main statement. For example, in the following sentence, the dependent clauses will be underlined.
- If it doesn’t rain tomorrow, I will play soccer.
- I am sad because I can’t play soccer today.
- Before I schedule a soccer practice, I will check the weather.
In all of these examples, the main clause can stand alone.
- I will play soccer.
- I am sad.
- I will check the weather.
These all make sense alone and are complete thoughts and thus proper sentences. However, the subordinate clause alone is not a complete thought. There is more information needed in order to complete the thought.
- If it doesn’t rain tomorrow
- Because I can’t play soccer today
- Before I schedule a soccer practice
These clauses are phrased with the key words “if”, “because”, and “before”, and leave more information to be desired.
In German, independent and dependent clauses are essential to recognize in order to properly structure sentences.
Types of Independent Clauses
Simple Questions
The word order for simple questions is a verb, followed by a pronoun, and the further information.
Examples
(1). Siehst du die Frau?
- Literal translation: (See you the lady?)
(2). Hast du die Milch getrunken?
- Literal translation: (Have you the milk drank?)
Complex Questions (with question words)
The usual word order for these types of complex questions entails the placement of the question words first.
Examples
(1). Warum ist die Sonne heiß?
- (Why is the sun hot?)
- NOT: Die Sonne ist heiß warum?
(2). Wie kann ich Gewicht verlieren?
- Literal translation: (How can I weight lose?)
- NOT: Ich kann Gewicht verlieren wie?
In this sense, these types of questions resemble English.
The Question Words
| The Question Words | ||
| Deutsch | Englisch | Remarks |
| wer | who | “wer” is declined (nominative = wer / accusative = wen / dative = wem / genitive = wessen) |
| was | what | |
| wann | when | |
| wo | where | |
| warum | why, for what purpose | |
| wieso | why, how so | |
| weshalb | why, which is why | |
| weswegen | why, for what reason | |
| wofür | why (for what) | Used to refer to a future reason |
| wozu | why (for what) | Used to refer to a future reason |
| wie | how | In some cases, the word “wo” is used with a preposition instead of “wie”. For example, “wodurch”, “woher”. |
Commands
For commands, the verb (action) comes first.
Examples
(1). Sage mir, warum du gestern verhaftet wurdest!
- Literal translation: (Tell me, why you yesterday arrested were!)
(2). Singe mir dein Lieblingslied vor.
- (Sing me your favorite song.)
Again, this is similar to English.
Types of Dependent Clauses
Dass
The German word “dass” means “that”, in the sense of “I know that…” or “I can see that…”. The usage of “dass” shifts the following verb to the end of the sentence.
Examples
(1). Ich liebe dich. (I love you.)
(2). Ich glaube, dass ich dich liebe.
- Literal translation: (I think, that I you love.)
Subordinating Conjunctions
These are words used to connect subordinate clauses with the main clauses. A main clause is an independent clause, and a subordinate clause is a dependent clause.
In English, subordinating conjunctions can be exemplified by words like “so that, because, if, and although”. In German, subordinating conjunctions can be largely translated one-to-one in terms of definition, except that the grammatical structure and placement of them within a clause is different. A subordinating conjunction will shift the verb to the end of the clause.
Examples
(1). Ich habe Äpfeln gekauft, damit ich sie essen kann.
- Literal translation: I have apples bought, so that I them eat can.
Here, the subordinate clause is “damit ich sie essen kann”, because it is dependent on information in order to have a full meaning. The subordinate conjunction is “damit” (so that), and thus shifts the verb “kann” (conjugated version of “können” (can) for first person) to the end of the sentence.
A table of common subordinating conjunctions which require this verbal shift is provided below:
Table of Common Subordinating Conjunctions
| The Most Common Subordinating Conjunctions | |
| Deutsch | Englisch |
| als | as, when |
| als ob | as if |
| bevor | before |
| bis | until |
| da | because, as, since |
| damit | so that, in order to |
| dass | that |
| nachdem | after (that) |
| ob | whether, if |
| obwohl | although, despite the fact that |
| seitdem | since (then) |
| so dass | so that |
| während | while, during |
| weil | because |
| wenn | if, when |
Sentences with No Subordinating Conjunctions
In the case of no subordinate conjunction, a main clause following a subordinate clause places a conjugated verb before the pronoun.
Examples
(1). Wenn ich Matthews Artikeln auf Expatden lese, lerne ich viel.
- Literal translation: (When I Matthew’s articles on Expatden read, learn I a lot.)
The subordinate clause (Wenn ich Matthews Artikeln auf Expatden lese) is followed first by a comma, second by a conjugated version of the verb “lesen” (to read), in this case “lerne” (read), and third by the pronoun “ich” (I).
The Two “Because” Words: Denn and Weil
German has two words translatable as “because” in English. They have essentially the same meaning, but take different grammatical structures. Whereas “denn” functions similar to the English “because”, “weil” forces the following verb to the end of the clause.
Examples
(1). Ich mag Taylor Swift, denn sie ist sehr talentiert.
- Literal translation: (I like Taylor Swift because she is very talented.)
(2). Ich mag Taylor Swift, weil sie sehr talentiert ist.
- Literal translation: (I like Taylor Swift because she very talented is.)
- In the second example, the verb “ist” (conjugated third person of “sein”, the verb meaning “to be”) is pushed to the end of the clause
The Two “If” Words: Ob and Wenn
As with the above situation, German has two words translatable as the English “if”. However, in this situation, the structures as well as the meanings are different. For the purposes of learning, the word “ob” can be defined as “whether”, and the word “wenn” can remain defined as “if”. Both will shift the following verb to the end of the clause.
Examples
(1). Ich weiss nicht, ob es heute regnen wird.
- Literal translation: (I don’t know whether it today rain will.)
(2). Wenn es heute regnet, lass uns ins Kino.
- Literal translation: (If it today rains, let’s go to the movies.)
- NOT: Whether it rains today, let’s go to the movies.
What to Read Next
- Basic German Grammar Structure for Beginners
- German Declensions: Rules, Regulations, and Chart
- German Nouns: Gender, Masculine, Feminine, and Plural Forms
- German Articles: Definite, Indefinite, Negative, and Zero
- German Pronouns: Personal, Possessive, Reflexive, Table, and More
- German Adverbs: Explanation, List, and Usage
- German Prepositions: Accusative, Dative, Genitive, and More
Or go back to our Learn German Language page for more learning resources.