A2Sentence structure

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.

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.

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

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Quick check

Form a subordinate clause.weil / krank / ich / bin / , / ich bleibe zu Hause
Insert the correct conjunction.Ich denke, ___ das Wetter morgen schön wird.
Correct the word order.Ich komme nicht, weil ich bin krank.
Choose the correct conjunction.___ du Hunger hast, können wir essen gehen.
Put the verb in the correct place.Ich freue mich, dass du morgen ___ . (to come)
Correct the word order.Wenn es regnet, ich bleibe zu Hause.

The answers appear after “Check”.

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

← Grammar

Sentence structure

A1The verb in second positionWhere is the verb after “Heute”?A1Nicht and keinWhat does “nicht” do in these sentences?A1Asking questionsWhy does one question start with “Wo” and another with “Kann”?A2In, auf, unter: place or directionWhy is it “in die Schule” but “in einem Büro”?B1Relative clausesRelative clauses give additional information about a noun.B1Infinitive constructionsInfinitive constructions with 'zu' replace subordinate clauses.

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