{"id":94574,"date":"2024-04-23T00:24:48","date_gmt":"2024-04-23T04:24:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/german-conjunctions\/"},"modified":"2025-01-29T00:48:05","modified_gmt":"2025-01-29T05:48:05","slug":"german-conjunctions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/german\/german-conjunctions\/","title":{"rendered":"35 Most Common German Conjunctions"},"content":{"rendered":"

In grammar<\/a>, a conjunction is a word that connects parts of a sentence<\/a>. It enables the creation of longer, more sophisticated sentences to illustrate a cohesive idea or concept.<\/p>\n

Conjunctions in the German language can be classified into two major categories: coordinating conjunctions and subordinating conjunctions. This guide will cover the fundamental German conjunctions all learners should know and memorize for basic conversations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

German Coordinating Conjunctions<\/h2>\n

Coordinating conjunctions connect parts of a sentence and provide equal emphasis on each part.<\/p>\n

German coordinating conjunctions are convenient since they don\u2019t affect the sentence structure or order. Plus, there aren\u2019t many coordinating conjunctions to memorize!<\/p>\n

When I first learned about coordinating conjunctions in German class<\/a>, I was told to think of them as the \u201cfriend\u201d or \u201cbuddy\u201d conjunctions. The analogy works for all the reasons above. So, let\u2019s take a look at our grammatical friends.<\/p>\n

und<\/em> \u2014 and<\/h3>\n

Usage:<\/strong> Cognate of English \u201cand.\u201d Connects clauses and similar, related words or phrases.<\/p>\n

Sie ist klug und hat viele Hobbys.<\/em>
\nShe is clever and has lots of hobbies.<\/p>\n

aber<\/em> \u2014 but<\/h3>\n

Usage:<\/strong> Connects clauses that contradict each other in truth or concept. Emphasis is placed on the difference between them.<\/p>\n

Ich bin m\u00fcde, aber<\/strong> ich muss zur Schule gehen.<\/em>
\nI am tired, but I have to go to school.<\/p>\n

oder<\/em> \u2014 or<\/h3>\n

Usage:<\/strong> Used to provide a list or alternate options. In German, it\u2019s also commonly used in a non-conjunctive manner at the end of the question or inquiry as a kind of affirmative, similar to the English \u201cright?\u201d<\/p>\n

Willst du ein Buch lesen oder<\/strong> Schach spielen?<\/em>
\nDo you want to read a book or play chess?<\/p>\n

Er ist ganz sympatisch, oder<\/strong>?<\/em>
\nHe is really nice, right?<\/p>\n

denn<\/em> \u2014 because, since<\/h3>\n

Usage:<\/strong> Presents a causal relationship between clauses. Note: denn<\/em> cannot be used to start a sentence (as is possible in English sentences starting with \u201cbecause\u201d or \u201csince\u201d).<\/p>\n

Ich kaufe Gem\u00fcse, denn<\/strong> ich m\u00f6chte einen Salat machen.<\/em>
\nI am buying vegetables because I want to make a salad.<\/p>\n

hingegen<\/em> \u2014 on the other hand<\/h3>\n

Usage:<\/strong> Presents a contradictory or alternate object or scenario to what was previously mentioned. Hingegen<\/em> is unique in that it acts more like a conjunctive \u201cattachment\u201d to the subject being described. It\u2019s placed within the coordinating conjunction list since it does not create a subordinate clause, nor does it change the position of the verb.<\/p>\n

Sie liebt \u00c4pfel, ihre Freundin hingegen<\/strong> liebt Orangen.<\/em>
\nShe loves apples, her girlfriend, on the other hand, loves oranges.<\/p>\n

sondern<\/em> \u2014 but rather<\/h3>\n

Usage:<\/strong> Similar to aber<\/em>, this introduces a contradictory clause. However, sondern<\/em> typically suggests a correction to the first clause.<\/p>\n

Sie wohnt nicht in Berlin, sondern<\/strong> in T\u00fcbingen.<\/em>
\nShe doesn\u2019t live in Berlin, but rather in T\u00fcbingen.<\/p>\n

doch<\/em> \u2014 yet, however<\/h3>\n

Usage:<\/strong> Similar to aber<\/em> in introducing a contradictory clause. However, doch<\/em> tends to carry a slightly more formal tone, and it may apply more significance to the clause or statement that follows it. In some cases, it may translate more accurately as \u201canyway\u201d or \u201cindeed.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ich wollte zur Party kommen, doch ich war schon verabredet.<\/em>
\nI wanted to come to the party, but I already had plans.<\/p>\n

German Subordinating Conjunctions<\/h2>\n

Subordinating conjunctions connect clauses, but an obvious relationship exists between them. A clause must be dependent on another for the entire meaning and significance of the sentence to be made clear.<\/p>\n

In German, subordinating conjunctions<\/a> do change the sentence word order.<\/strong> Namely, the verb within a subordinate clause is moved from the second position to the very end of the clause. This makes the order of a subordinating clause Subject-Object-Verb, as opposed to Subject-Verb-Object.<\/p>\n

Subordinate clauses can also start trouble with the clause following them. In German sentences, the comma is used to cleanly separate the clauses. When a sentence is started by a subordinate clause, the clause that comes after the comma will also experience a word shift\u2013specifically, the subject and verb of that clause will switch places.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019ll notice this shift in the examples below. You can also see the differences between coordinating and subordinating conjunctions in everyday German media. FluentU is helpful for identifying these grammar constructions as used by native speakers.

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