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German · Grammar · B1

Subordinate clauses: weil, dass, wenn and the verb at the end

A subordinate clause is a part of a sentence that cannot stand alone: “because it is raining”, “that he is coming”. In German it opens with a linking word called a subordinating conjunction, and its conjugated verb moves to the very end.

THE LINKING WORD SENDS THE VERB TO THE END Esregnetheute. Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil es heute regnet. main clause: verb in slot 2 · “It’s raining today.” “I’m staying at home because it’s raining today.” A comma always separates the two clauses. The linking word comes right after it.
This is rule 4 from German word order, taken further here: every conjunction in the table below works the same way.

Short answer: after weil, dass, wenn, ob, obwohl, als, bevor, nachdem and question words in indirect questions, put the conjugated verb last. If the subordinate clause comes first, the main clause starts with its verb: Weil es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. Und, aber, oder, denn do not move the verb.

The conjunctions that send the verb to the end

WordMeansExample
weilvile because Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich in Berlin arbeite.I’m learning German because I work in Berlin.
dassdahs that Ich finde, dass das Essen gut ist.I think (that) the food is good.
wennven if, when(ever) Wir gehen raus, wenn die Sonne scheint.We go out when the sun shines.
alsahls when (once, past) Ich war glücklich, als ich das hörte.I was happy when I heard that.
obop whether, if Ich weiß nicht, ob er heute kommt.I don’t know if he’s coming today.
obwohlop-VOHL although Sie arbeitet, obwohl sie krank ist.She’s working although she’s ill.
bevorbuh-FOR before Ich trinke Kaffee, bevor ich zur Arbeit gehe.I have coffee before I go to work.
nachdemnahkh-DAYM after Nachdem wir gegessen hatten, …After we had eaten, …
damitdah-MIT so that Ich spreche langsam, damit du mich verstehst.I speak slowly so that you understand me.
seitzite since (time) Seit ich hier wohne, …Since I’ve been living here, …
Weil or denn? Both mean “because”. Weil sends the verb to the end; denn keeps normal order. Ich gehe, weil ich müde bin and Ich gehe, denn ich bin müde mean the same. Weil is far more common in speech; denn is more written.

Which comes first: main clause or subordinate clause

Either order is correct. When the subordinate clause comes first, it counts as slot 1 of the whole sentence, so the main verb comes immediately after the comma. The result is two verbs side by side: verb, verb. Choose an order to compare.

IchIbleibestayzuatHause,homeweilbecauseesitregnet.rains
ikh BLY-buh tsoo HOW-zuh, vile es RAYG-nut “I’m staying at home because it’s raining.”
Rule: normal order in the main clause, then comma, conjunction, and the verb last.

Two verbs inside the clause

When the clause contains a modal verb, a perfect tense or a separable verb, the conjugated verb still goes last, after everything else. The other verb form stands just before it.

Modal verb
…weilbecauseichImorgentomorrowarbeitenworkmuss.must
“… because I have to work tomorrow.” The infinitive arbeiten comes first, then the conjugated modal muss at the very end.
Perfect tense
…dassthaterheschonalreadygegangengoneist.is
“… that he has already left.” Participle gegangen, then the helper ist last.
Separable verb
…wennwhendertheZugtrainankommt.arrives
“… when the train arrives.” At the end, the separable verb joins up again: ankommt, not kommt … an.
Reflexive pronoun
…obwhethersieshesichherselfschonalreadyangemeldetregisteredhat.has
“… whether she has already registered.” Pronouns like sich stay near the front, right after the subject.

Wenn or als: two words for “when”

German splits English “when” in two. Use als for a single event or period in the past. Use wenn for the present and future, for repeated events in the past (“whenever”), and for “if”.

now alsone time, in the past Als ich zehn war, …When I was ten, … wennevery time, in the past Wenn wir Oma besuchten, …Whenever we visited Grandma, … wennnow, future, or “if” Wenn du kommst, …When / if you come, …
For questions, “when?” is a third word again: wann. Wann kommst du? When are you coming? It also introduces indirect questions: Ich weiß nicht, wann er kommt.

Indirect questions: ob and question words

An indirect question reports a question inside a sentence: “I don’t know where he lives”. In German, the question word acts like a conjunction and the verb goes to the end. For a yes/no question, use ob (whether, if). These are the most polite ways to ask for information: Können Sie mir sagen, wo der Bahnhof ist?

Giving an opinion with reasons

B1 asks you to say what you think and why. These clauses do exactly that. Verbs at the end are in red. Every word has its English meaning underneath.

IchIfinde,finddassthatFahrradfahrencyclinggesundhealthyist.is
ikh FIN-duh, dahs FAHR-raht-fah-run guh-ZOONT IST “I think cycling is healthy.”
Why: Ich finde, dass … is the standard way to give an opinion. Finden means “to find”, here “to think”.
IchIglaube,believedassthatwirwemehrmoreRadwegecycle-lanesbrauchen.need
ikh GLOW-buh, dahs veer mair RAHT-vay-guh BROW-khun “I believe we need more cycle lanes.”
Why: Glauben, “to believe”, signals a slightly less certain opinion.
Dasthatistiswichtig,importantweilbecausevielemanyLeutepeopleinindertheStadtcitywohnen.live
dahs ist VIKH-tikh, vile FEE-luh LOY-tuh in dair SHTAHT VOH-nun “That’s important because many people live in the city.”
Why: Weil gives the reason; the verb wohnen closes the sentence.
Obwohlalthoughesitteuerexpensiveist,islohntpays-offesitsich.itself
op-VOHL es TOY-er IST, LOHNT es zikh “Although it’s expensive, it’s worth it.”
Why: Clause first, then verb, verb: ist, lohnt.
WennifdietheStadtcitydasthatmacht,doesfahrerideichIjedeneveryTagdayRad.bike
ven dee SHTAHT dahs MAHKHT, FAH-ruh ikh YAY-dun tahk RAHT “If the city does that, I’ll cycle every day.”
Why: German often uses the present for the future after wenn. Radfahren is separable: fahre … Rad.

Related guides

Next guideAdjective endingsThe other big B1 system, step by step. Next guideWord orderVerb second and the sentence bracket. Next guideModal verbsWhat happens to müssen and können at the end. Course mapGerman hubThe full course map from A1 to C2.