![]() ![]() The rest of the sentence structure then behaves as normal. We must follow with the conjugated verb in the main clause. In the subordinate clause the verb is already sent to the end because of the subordinating conjunction. ![]() Whenever we invert the subordinating clause in German, we must follow the verb-comma-verb rule. This is known as the verb-comma-verb rule. The verb (werde) in the main clause is now in position 1. We then finish the clause with a comma.īut now the sentence structure does something strange. Because we have used a subordinating conjunction, the verb (ausgehen) must go to the end. When we invert the subordinate clause in German and put it at the front, the subordinating conjunction (wenn) will be the first word in the sentence. Wenn wir heute Abend ausgehen, werde ich mich nicht betrinken.ĭid you notice a change in the sentence structure in the second example? Pos.1 Here’s an example: Ich werde mich nicht betrinken, wenn wir heute Abend ausgehen. However in German you can swap the two clauses around. So far we have seen the main clause appear first, followed by the subordinate clause. Inverting the Subordinate Clause (Verb-Comma-Verb Rule) ![]() The verb now gets thrown out of position 2, all the way to the end of the sentence.The subordinating conjunction effectively takes position 0.This is the major difference between main and subordinate clauses. Now one of the first things you’ll notice is that the conjugated verb in the subordinate clause has moved all the way to the end. Once we start the subordinate clause, think of it as a new sentence, so the position numbers start from the beginning again. A comma always goes at the end of the main clause in order to separate them. The subordinating conjunction, weil, starts the subordinate clause. Once we have done this we have started the subordinate clause, the second half of the sentence. Now we’ll add the subordinating conjunction, weil (because). Let’s start off with a main clause: Position 1 The two clauses are always separated with a comma (,) The main clause is the part of the sentence which comes before the subordinating conjunction, and then after that we have the subordinate clause. Now let’s take a look at how word order is affected by them. So now we know what a German subordinate clause is, and how we introduce one. Relative pronouns generally replace ‘that’ or ‘who’ when we want to talk about a noun without using the actual noun twice in a sentence. My boyfriend, who is American, speaks good German. Mein Freund, der Amerikaner ist, spricht gut Deutsch. Using a relative pronoun introduces a relative clause which acts in the same way as a subordinate clause. In some sentences we use relative pronouns to add information about a noun. Subordinate Clauses with Relative Pronouns We can use subordinate conjunctions to add further information, explanations or to add doubt. Whenever we use any of these words, we introduce a subordinate clause. Subordinating conjunctions are some of the most common words you’ll encounter in the German language. Two of the most common ways of starting a subordinate clause are using subordinating conjunctions and relative pronouns: Subordinate Clauses with Conjunctions Subordinate clauses are introduced in a few different ways. Without the subordinate clause we’d just be guessing. They could be going to bed early because they are tired, ill, went to bed late the night before. Without the subordinate clause, we would know the person is going to bed early but we don’t know why. I’m going to bed early because I have to get up at 6am. Here’s an example of how a subordinate clause gives us vital information: Ich gehe früh ins Bett, weil ich um 6 Uhr aufstehen muss. To keep things clear, let’s add some colour to make these complex sentences easy to follow: Main clause + subordinate clause = complex sentence When both a main clause and a subordinate clause appear in a sentence this is known as a complex sentence. This allows us to expand upon an idea, and give more information. In German sentences we can add more information to main clause (Hauptsatz) by adding a subordinate clause (Nebensatz). GERMAN GRAMMAR STRUCTURE HOW TO
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