Wegen vs. Deswegen
What's the difference between wegen & deswegen? When would you use one over the other? In this short blog post, we'll answer all of these questions.
Wegen and deswegen are both used to express causality in German, but they are used differently. Wegen is a preposition meaning 'because of' and is followed by a noun, indicating the cause or reason. Deswegen, on the other hand, is an adverb meaning 'therefore' or 'for that reason', and is used to refer back to something previously mentioned as the cause.
Understanding “Wegen”
“Wegen” is a preposition used to express the reason or cause for something. It's typically followed by a noun or noun phrase and can be translated as 'because of' or 'due to'. In German, it requires the genitive case, but in everyday language, the dative is often used.
Example in use:
Grasping “Deswegen”
“Deswegen” is an adverb that's used to refer back to a previously stated reason or cause. It translates to 'therefore', 'that's why', or 'for that reason'. It is often used at the beginning of a sentence to indicate a conclusion or result of something mentioned before.
For example:
Practical Examples
To further clarify, let’s look at some examples:
I'm staying home because of the weather.
It's snowing heavily. That's why the roads are closed.
When to Use Each Word
Remember, use “wegen” when directly stating the cause or reason, typically followed by a noun. Use “deswegen” when referring back to a cause or reason previously mentioned, often at the start of a new sentence or clause.
FAQs for Further Understanding
To round off your understanding, here are some FAQs:
