Join sentences with weil and dass

Where is ist after weil in “Sie ist traurig, weil er weg ist”?

Take a look

Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich in Berlin wohne.I am learning German because I live in Berlin.
Er sagt, dass er müde ist.He says that he is tired.
Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause.If it rains, I stay home.
Ich bin froh, dass du hier bist.I am glad that you are here.

The rule

Weil introduces a reason. Dass adds a thought or reported statement. After both words, the changed verb goes to the end of the added clause. In the course sentence Sie ist traurig, weil er weg ist, you can see ist at the very end. Put a comma before the added clause. First find where that clause begins; then look for its verb at the end. The course has no sentence with dass.

Remember: After weil and dass, the changed verb goes at the end.

Goes with lesson 12, 16, 39 of the course.

What differs for you

English because and that introduce a reason or a statement, so the job of weil and dass is familiar. English normally keeps the finite verb near the subject after these words. German sends it to the end of the added clause: “weil er weg ist”. Keep the meaning of the connector, but rebuild the German word order.

The forms

Subordinate clauses: verb at the end

Hauptsatz	Konjunktion	Nebensatz
Ich bleibe zu Hause,	weil	ich krank bin.
Ich weiß,	dass	du keine Zeit hast.
Wir gehen spazieren,	wenn	die Sonne scheint.
Er sagt,	dass	er morgen kommt.
Sie lernt Deutsch,	weil	sie in Berlin arbeiten möchte.

Common mistakes

*weil er ist weg → weil er weg ist.
*Sie ist traurig weil er weg ist. → Sie ist traurig, weil er weg ist.

Quick check

weil / krank / ich / bin / , / ich bleibe zu Hause
Form a subordinate clause.
Answer
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin. — Verb at the end in a weil-clause
Ich denke, ___ das Wetter morgen schön wird.
Insert the correct conjunction.
Answer
dass — Opinion/statement → dass
Ich komme nicht, weil ich bin krank.
Correct the word order.
Answer
Ich komme nicht, weil ich krank bin. — In a subordinate clause, the verb goes at the end
___ du Hunger hast, können wir essen gehen.
Choose the correct conjunction.
1. Weil
2. Dass
3. Wenn
4. Ob
Answer
Wenn — Condition → wenn
Ich freue mich, dass du morgen ___ . (to come)
Put the verb in the correct place.
Answer
kommst — Verb at the end, conjugated for 'du'
Wenn es regnet, ich bleibe zu Hause.
Correct the word order.
Answer
Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. — After the subordinate clause: verb-subject in the main clause

The same exercises come back in the course — there Langula remembers what you know and asks again at the right moment. Learn German free →

Terms

Main clause: A group of words that makes a complete statement on its own: I will come tomorrow.
Subordinate clause: A group of words that adds to another sentence: because I am tired.
Word order: The order of words in a sentence: Today I am coming.

BeforeMein, dein, sein: whose is it?AfterPassive voice

Sentence structure

The verb in second position A1Where is the verb after “Heute”?→Nicht and kein A1What does “nicht” do in these sentences?→Asking questions A1Why does one question start with “Wo” and another with “Kann”?→In, auf, unter: place or direction A2Why is it “in die Schule” but “in einem Büro”?→Relative clauses B1Relative clauses give additional information about a noun.→Infinitive constructions B1Infinitive constructions with 'zu' replace subordinate clauses.→

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