German Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions

join two clauses (sentences), both of which could stand as a full independent sentence.

The word order is as normal: verb in second position in each sentence or clause.

Subordinating conjunctions

join two clauses (parts of sentences containing a verb).

The part following this conjunction is not a complete freestanding sentence - it is weaker than the other part.

In this case the verb must go to the end.

weil

because

da

because (& since, where it means because)

obwohl

although

bevor

before

bis

until

nachdem

after

seit

since

während

while

dass

that

damit

so that

ob

if

als ob

as if

als

when, as (single action in the past)

wenn

when, whenever, if (= when, talking of an action recurring; =if, in conditional clauses)

wann

when (in indirect questions eg. Weiβt du, wann sie kommt?= Do you know, when she is coming?)