Die Nebensätze
- A subordinate clause (Nebensätze) is a type of clause that cannot stand alone and must add meaning to the main clause.
- A subordinate clause always begins with a conjunction (Konjunktion).
- The verb in a subordinate clause always stands at the end of the clause.
- If the subordinate clause comes before the main clause, the verb of the main clause is inverted to position 1.
1. Conditional subordinate clauses (Konditionalsätze) with "wenn" and "falls"
1.1. Conjunction "wenn" (if, when)
| Main clause first, subordinate clause after | Subordinate clause first, main clause after |
|---|---|
| Ich nehme einen Regenschirm, wenn es regnet. (I take an umbrella if it rains.) | Wenn es regnet, nehme ich einen Regenschirm. (If it rains, I take an umbrella.) |
Main clause + wenn + S + O + V
Wenn + S + O + V, V + S + O
Explanation:
"Wenn" is used when a condition can happen.
If the subordinate clause comes first, the verb of the main clause is inverted to position 1.
1.2. Conjunction "falls" (in case, if by chance)
| Main clause first, subordinate clause after | Subordinate clause first, main clause after |
|---|---|
| Ich rufe dich an, falls ich Hilfe brauche. (I will call you if I need help.) | Falls ich Hilfe brauche, rufe ich dich an. (If I need help, I will call you.) |
Main clause + falls + S + O + V
Falls + S + O + V, V + S + O
Explanation:
"Falls" emphasizes a lower likelihood than "wenn", used in uncertain situations.
If the subordinate clause comes first, the main clause verb is inverted.
2. Causal subordinate clauses (Kausalsätze) with "weil" and "da"
2.1. Conjunction "weil" (because, since)
| Main clause first, subordinate clause after | Subordinate clause first, main clause after |
|---|---|
| Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin. (I stay at home because I am sick.) | Weil ich krank bin, bleibe ich zu Hause. (Because I am sick, I stay at home.) |
Main clause + weil + S + O + V
Weil + S + O + V, V + S + O
Explanation:
"Weil" emphasizes the reason for the action, commonly used in spoken language.
If the subordinate clause comes first, the main clause verb is inverted.
2.2. Conjunction "da" (since, because)
| Main clause first, subordinate clause after | Subordinate clause first, main clause after |
|---|---|
| Ich gehe nicht raus, da es regnet. (I don't go out because it is raining.) | Da es regnet, gehe ich nicht raus. (Since it is raining, I don't go out.) |
Main clause + da + S + O + V
Da + S + O + V, V + S + O
Explanation:
"Da" is commonly used in written language.
"Da" can stand at the beginning of the sentence without changing the meaning.
3. Concessive subordinate clauses (Konzessivsätze) with "obwohl"
| Main clause first, subordinate clause after | Subordinate clause first, main clause after |
|---|---|
| Er geht zur Arbeit, obwohl er krank ist. (He goes to work although he is sick.) | Obwohl er krank ist, geht er zur Arbeit. (Although he is sick, he goes to work.) |
Main clause + obwohl + S + O + V
Obwohl + S + O + V, V + S + O
Explanation:
"Obwohl" expresses contrast between two clauses.
Can be replaced by "trotzdem" in the main clause.
4. Modal subordinate clauses (Modalsätze) with "indem"
| Main clause first, subordinate clause after |
|---|
| Du lernst Deutsch, indem du jeden Tag übst. (You learn German by practicing every day.) |
Main clause + indem + S + O + V
Explanation:
"Indem" describes the way an action is done.
5. Result subordinate clauses (Folgesätze) with "sodass"
| Main clause first, subordinate clause after |
|---|
| Er spricht leise, sodass niemand ihn hört. (He speaks quietly so that no one hears him.) |
Main clause + sodass + S + O + V
Explanation:
"Sodass" expresses the result of the action in the main clause.
6. Temporal subordinate clauses (Temporalsätze)
| Conjunction | Example |
|---|---|
| bis (until) | Warte hier, bis ich zurückkomme. (Wait here until I return.) |
| nachdem (after) | Nachdem er gegessen hatte, ging er ins Bett. (After he had eaten, he went to bed.) |
Main clause + time conjunction + S + O + V
Note:
"Nachdem" is used with Plusquamperfekt.
7. Temporal subordinate clauses (Temporalsätze)
7.1. Introduction
Temporal subordinate clauses describe the point or duration of time when an action happens.
The verb in the subordinate clause always stands at the end.
7.2. Time conjunctions
| Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| bis | Until | Warte hier, bis ich zurückkomme. (Wait here until I return.) |
| nachdem | After | Nachdem er gegessen hatte, ging er ins Bett. (After he had eaten, he went to bed.) |
| bevor | Before | Bevor ich ins Bett gehe, lese ich ein Buch. (Before I go to bed, I read a book.) |
| seit(dem) | Since | Seitdem ich in Deutschland bin, lerne ich Deutsch. (Since I have been in Germany, I have been learning German.) |
| wenn | When (present/future) | Wenn ich Zeit habe, helfe ich dir. (When I have time, I will help you.) |
| als | When (past) | Als ich ein Kind war, spielte ich viel draußen. (When I was a child, I played outside a lot.) |
| solange | As long as | Solange es regnet, bleiben wir drinnen. (As long as it rains, we stay inside.) |
| während | While | Während sie kochte, hörte sie Musik. (While she was cooking, she listened to music.) |
7.3. Usage formula
Main clause first, subordinate clause after:
Main clause + time conjunction + S + O + V
Subordinate clause first, main clause after:
Time conjunction + S + O + V, V + S + O
7.4. Detailed examples
Main clause first, subordinate clause after:
- Ich kann nicht schlafen, weil mein Nachbar laut ist. (I can't sleep because my neighbor is noisy.)
- Wir gingen nach Hause, nachdem der Film zu Ende war. (We went home after the film had ended.)
Subordinate clause first, main clause after (main verb inverted):
- Nachdem der Film zu Ende war, gingen wir nach Hause. (After the film had ended, we went home.)
- Bevor ich ins Bett gehe, lese ich ein Buch. (Before I go to bed, I read a book.)
Note:
"Nachdem" always goes with Plusquamperfekt when the main clause is in Präteritum or Perfekt.
"Seitdem" can be replaced by "seit" in spoken language.
8. Final subordinate clauses (Finalsätze) with "damit" and "um...zu"
8.1. Introduction
📌 Final subordinate clauses express the purpose of an action.
8.2. Purpose conjunctions
| Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| damit | So that | Ich lerne Deutsch, damit ich in Deutschland arbeiten kann. (I learn German so that I can work in Germany.) |
| um...zu | In order to | Er geht ins Fitnessstudio, um fit zu bleiben. (He goes to the gym to stay fit.) |
8.3. Usage formula
Subordinate clause with "damit":
Main clause + damit + S + O + V
Subordinate clause with "um...zu":
Main clause + um + O + zu + infinitive
8.4. Detailed examples
Using "damit" (when subjects are different):
- Ich spreche langsam, damit du mich verstehen kannst. (I speak slowly so that you can understand me.)
- Er arbeitet hart, damit seine Familie glücklich ist. (He works hard so that his family is happy.)
Using "um...zu" (when subjects are the same):
- Er geht ins Fitnessstudio, um fit zu bleiben. (He goes to the gym to stay fit.)
- Sie lernt viel, um die Prüfung zu bestehen. (She studies a lot to pass the exam.)
Note:
"damit" is used when the two clauses have different subjects.
"um...zu" is used when both clauses have the same subject.
9. Complement subordinate clauses (Komplementsätze) with "dass" and "ob"
9.1. Introduction
📌 Complement subordinate clauses are used to extend or complete the meaning of the main clause.
9.2. Complement conjunctions
| Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| dass | That | Ich denke, dass Deutsch schwierig ist. (I think that German is difficult.) |
| ob | Whether | Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt. (I don’t know whether he is coming.) |
9.3. Usage formula
Subordinate clause with "dass":
Main clause + dass + S + O + V
Subordinate clause with "ob":
Main clause + ob + S + O + V
9.4. Detailed examples
Using "dass" (certain information):
- Ich glaube, dass er heute kommt. (I believe that he is coming today.)
- Er sagte, dass er morgen Zeit hat. (He said that he has time tomorrow.)
Using "ob" (uncertain information):
- Ich weiß nicht, ob er morgen Zeit hat. (I don’t know whether he has time tomorrow.)
- Sie fragt, ob du kommen kannst. (She asks whether you can come.)
Note:
"dass" expresses certain information.
"ob" expresses an indirect question or uncertainty.
🎯 10. Summary
A subordinate clause cannot stand alone and adds meaning to the main clause.
The verb of the subordinate clause always stands at the end.
If the subordinate clause comes first, the verb of the main clause is inverted to position 1.
There are many types of subordinate clauses with different conjunctions.