Rules and usage
Subordinate clauses introduced by weil, dass, and wenn are essential structures in German that allow you to express reasons, statements, conditions, and temporal relationships. All three use the same fundamental principle: the finite verb must move to the end of the clause, which is the defining characteristic of German subordinate clauses.
The Weil Clause: Expressing Reasons
- Use weil to give a reason or explanation for the main clause.
- Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil das Wetter schlecht ist. (I stay home because the weather is bad.)
- Sie kommt nicht, weil sie krank ist. (She doesn't come because she is sick.)
- Wir fahren nach Berlin, weil die Stadt sehr schön ist. (We drive to Berlin because the city is very beautiful.)
- The weil clause can appear at the beginning or end of the sentence. When it begins the sentence, the main clause word order inverts slightly:
- Weil das Wetter schlecht ist, bleibe ich zu Hause. (Because the weather is bad, I stay home.)
- Weil sie krank ist, kommt sie nicht. (Because she is sick, she doesn't come.)
- For negation, add nicht before the element you negate:
- Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil das Wetter nicht schön ist. (I stay home because the weather is not nice.)
✅ Positive sentence examples
| German | English |
|---|
| Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil es regnet. | I stay at home because it rains. |
| Ich glaube, dass du recht hast. | I believe that you are right. |
⛔ Negative sentence examples
| German | English |
|---|
| Ich bleibe nicht zu Hause, weil es regnet. | I don't stay at home because it rains. |
| Ich glaube nicht, dass du recht hast. | I don't believe that you are right. |
❓ Question sentence examples
| German | English |
|---|
| Bleibst du zu Hause, weil es regnet? | Do you stay at home because it rains? |
| Glaubst du, dass ich recht habe? | Do you believe that I am right? |