Word order in subordinate clauses: the verb goes last
Subordinating conjunctions push the conjugated verb to the end of the clause — and what happens to the main clause when the subordinate clause comes first.
A subordinate clause (Nebensatz) sends its conjugated verb to the very end. This happens after subordinating conjunctions such as weil (because), dass (that), wenn (if/when), ob (whether), obwohl (although), damit (so that) and als (when, past):
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.
Be careful not to confuse these with the coordinating conjunctions und, aber, oder, denn, which keep normal word order (verb in second position).
If the subordinate clause comes first, it fills position 1, so the main clause must start with its verb (verb-second still holds across the comma):
Weil ich krank bin, bleibe ich zu Hause.
Examples
Grammatical analysisBase form ichCaseNominativ (nominative)NumberSingular (singular)Person1st person singular (ich)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form bleibenPerson1st person singular (ich)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build zu Hause, weil Grammatical analysisBase form ichCaseNominativ (nominative)NumberSingular (singular)Person1st person singular (ich)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form krankDegreePositiv (positive)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form seinPerson1st person singular (ich)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build.
I'm staying home because I'm ill.
Grammatical analysisBase form ichCaseNominativ (nominative)NumberSingular (singular)Person1st person singular (ich)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form wissenPerson3rd person singular (er/sie/es)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build, dass Grammatical analysisBase form duCaseNominativ (nominative)NumberSingular (singular)Person2nd person singular (du)Checked deterministically before build Recht Grammatical analysisBase form habenPerson2nd person singular (du)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build.
I know that you're right.
Common mistakes
After weil (a subordinating conjunction) the conjugated verb must go to the end.
Related topics
- Infinitive clauses with um…zu, ohne…zu and (an)statt…zu
- Two-Part Connectors in German: sowohl…als auch, entweder…oder, je…desto
- German Word Order: Verb Second After a Time or Place
- German wenn-Clauses: "If" and "When" with Verb-Final Word Order (A2)
- und, oder, aber, denn, sondern — German Coordinating Conjunctions (Word Order Stays)
- German Subordinate Clauses with weil and dass: The Verb Goes to the End
- German Word Order: The Verb Goes Second (V2 Rule)