German Subordinate Clauses
Learn how German subordinate clauses work, including verb placement, subordinating conjunctions, relative clauses, and sentence structure.
A subordinate clause in German is a dependent clause that cannot stand alone and must be connected to a main clause (Hauptsatz). The key characteristic of subordinate clauses is that the conjugated verb moves to the end of the clause.
Understanding subordinate clauses is essential for mastering complex sentence structures in German.
Structure of a Subordinate Clause
Subordinate clauses are introduced by subordinating conjunctions (e.g., dass, weil, wenn) or relative pronouns (e.g., der, die, das, welcher). The key rule is:
- The conjugated verb moves to the end of the subordinate clause.
Example:
I believe that he is tired.
She stays home because she is sick.
Word Order in Subordinate Clauses
Subordinate clauses follow a different word order than main clauses:
| Clause Type | Word Order | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Main Clause | Subject – Verb – Object | Ich kaufe ein Buch. |
| Subordinate Clause | Subordinator – Subject – Object – Verb | weil ich ein Buch kaufe. |
Example of a combined sentence:
I buy a book because I am learning German.
Common Subordinating Conjunctions
Subordinating conjunctions introduce subordinate clauses and push the verb to the end:
| Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| dass | that | Ich weiß, dass du müde bist. (I know that you are tired.) |
| weil | because | Er bleibt zu Hause, weil er krank ist. (He stays home because he is sick.) |
| wenn | if/when | Wenn es regnet, bleiben wir zu Hause. (If it rains, we stay home.) |
| ob | whether/if | Ich frage mich, ob er kommt. (I wonder whether he is coming.) |
| obwohl | although | Ich gehe spazieren, obwohl es kalt ist. (I go for a walk although it is cold.) |
| damit | so that | Er spricht langsam, damit wir ihn verstehen. (He speaks slowly so that we understand him.) |
| bevor | before | Ich esse, bevor ich zur Arbeit gehe. (I eat before I go to work.) |
| nachdem | after | Nachdem ich gegessen habe, gehe ich ins Bett. (After I have eaten, I go to bed.) |
Position of Subordinate Clauses in a Sentence
A subordinate clause can appear before or after the main clause.
1. Subordinate Clause After the Main Clause (Standard)
I stay home because I am sick.standard
2. Subordinate Clause Before the Main Clause (Inverted Word Order)
When the subordinate clause comes first, the verb in the main clause moves to the first position:
Because I am sick, I stay home.inverted
Relative Clauses (Relativsätze)
Relative clauses give additional information about a noun and are introduced by relative pronouns (der, die, das, welcher).
The relative pronoun agrees in gender, number, and case with the noun it refers to, and the verb moves to the end.
Example:
That is the man who helped me.
Declension of der/die/das in Relative Clauses
| Case | Masculine | Feminine | Neuter | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | die | das | die |
| Accusative | den | die | das | die |
| Dative | dem | der | dem | denen |
| Genitive | dessen | deren | dessen | deren |
Examples:
- Das ist der Mann, den ich gesehen habe. (That is the man whom I saw.)
- Ich kenne die Frau, deren Auto kaputt ist. (I know the woman whose car is broken.)
Word Order with Multiple Verbs
When a subordinate clause contains two verbs, the conjugated verb remains at the end, and the infinitive or participle appears before it.
Here are examples with modal verbs, perfect tense & future tense:
I believe that he can speak German.modal verbs
After I have eaten, I go to bed.perfect tense
I know that she will come.future tense
Subordinate Clauses vs. Main Clauses
Main clauses and subordinate clauses differ in verb position.
| Clause Type | Word Order | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Main Clause | Verb in second position | Ich bin müde. |
| Subordinate Clause | Verb at the end | weil ich müde bin. |
Example:
I go to bed because I am tired.
If the subordinate clause comes first:
Because I am tired, I go to bed.
Conclusion
Subordinate clauses are essential for expressing complex ideas in German. The key rules are:
- The verb always moves to the end of the subordinate clause.
- Common subordinating conjunctions include dass, weil, wenn, ob, and obwohl.
- Relative clauses use der/die/das and follow gender, number, and case rules.
- If a subordinate clause comes first, the main clause verb moves to position 1.
- Sentences with multiple verbs keep the conjugated verb last.
Mastering these structures will greatly improve your ability to form fluent, complex sentences in German.
