A2 · 11.2 · Nebensätze
weil, dass, wenn: the verb goes to the end
After weil, dass, wenn, ob, obwohl, als … the conjugated verb goes to the very end of the clause.
Verb at the end
| Main clause | Linking word | … | verb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joy bleibt zu Hause, | weil | sie krank | ist. |
| Ich glaube, | dass | der Bus gleich | kommt. |
| Ruf mich an, | wenn | du Zeit | hast. |
| Er kommt nicht, | weil | er arbeiten | muss. |
Joy is staying at home because she is ill · I think the bus is coming soon · Call me when you have time · He isn’t coming because he has to work. Always a comma before the linking word.
The main linking words
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| weil | because |
| dass | that |
| wenn | if, when (every time) |
| obwohl | although |
| ob | whether, if (next-but-one topic) |
| als | when (once, in the past) (unit 12) |
Starting with the sub-clause
The whole sub-clause is position 1, so the main verb comes right after the comma.
Wenn ich Zeit habe, koche ich.When I have time, I cook.
Weil es regnet, nehmen wir den Bus.Because it’s raining, we’re taking the bus.
Good to know 1 1
1
1Separable verbs join up again at the end: …, weil der Kurs um 8 Uhr anfängt (because the course starts at 8).
Real-life GermanIn speech many people say weil with normal word order (…, weil ich habe keine Zeit, because I have no time). It’s common, but wrong in writing and exams.
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Cheat sheet: Linking sentences