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Learn to Speak German Online:
German Grammar Guidebook

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Subordinating Conjunctions

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Subordinating conjunctions join two sentences in a logical hierarchy. Sentences joined into a larger sentence in this manner are called clauses. The subordinate clause is the one containing the subordinating conjunction.
 

Because he is sick, we help. (subordinate clause = because he is sick)
He will go, if she can. (subordinate clause = if she can)

Subordinate Word Order (Flipping the Brackets)

To use German subordinate word order, flip the front bracket (F.B.) immediately behind the end bracket (E.B.). Write bracket verbs as one word when the forms are adjacent.

NORMAL WORD ORDER
 

  F.B. E.B.
Sie rufen an.
Sie können eins finden.
Mike kann nicht verstehen.

SUBORDINATE WORD ORDER
 

  E.B. F.B.
Gut, daß Sie  anrufen.  
..., wenn Sie eins finden können.
..., weil er nicht  verstehen kann.

Subordinate clauses are set off from the main clause by a comma.

Subordinating Conjunctions, Interrogatives as Conjunctions

The subordinating conjunctions we have seen are wenn (if) and daß (that). In addition, all the interrogative words, when used as conjunctions, call for subordinate word order:

INTERROGATIVE
 

Bis wann ist die Post geöffnet?
Until when is the post office open?

INTERROGATIVE AS SUBORDINATING CONJUNCTION
 

Wissen Sie, bis wann die Post geöffnet ist?
Do you know until when the post office is open?


Examples of Subordinating Conjunctions

  • Mit der Bahn, wenn es geht.
  • Ach, Herr Smith! Gut, dass Sie anrufen. Je eher, desto besser.