Subordinating Clauses (Nebensätze)

A subordinating clause (or dependent clause) is a part of a sentence that cannot stand on its own. It adds extra information (like why, when, or that something happened) and must be attached to a main clause.

The V-Final (Verb-Last) Rule

The defining feature of a German subordinate clause is the V-Final Rule: the conjugated verb moves to the very end of its clause.

These clauses are introduced by a subordinating conjunction.

Common Subordinating Conjunctions: * dass (that) * weil (because) * ob (whether, if) * wenn (if, when) * als (when - for a single past event) * bevor (before) * nachdem (after) * obwohl (although) * damit (so that)

Examples of V-Final

Watch how the verb moves to the end after the conjunction.

• Main Clause: Er ist zu Hause. Er ist krank. (He is at home. He is sick.)

• With Conjunction: Er ist zu Hause, weil er krank ist.

  • The verb ist moves to the end of the clause introduced by weil.

• Main Clause: Ich denke etwas. Du hast Recht. (I think something. You are right.)

• With Conjunction: Ich denke, dass du Recht hast.
  • The verb hast moves to the end.

Verb Brackets in V-Final Clauses

If a subordinate clause has a two-part verb (like a modal verb or perfect tense), the conjugated verb moves all the way to the end, after the other verb part.

• Modal Verb:

  • ...weil ich nicht schwimmen kann. (because I can't swim.)
  • ...weil er das Buch lesen wollte. (because he wanted to read the book.)

• Perfect Tense:

  • ...weil er das Buch gelesen hat. (because he has read the book.)
  • ...weil sie nach Berlin gefahren ist. (because she has driven to Berlin.)

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