#4 - German verb not always in second position after 'Connectors'?!

The Golden Rule of German Sentences : Anyone who learns German knows the fundamental rule: in a standard declarative sentence, the conjugated verb always goes in the second position. This is the foundation of German sentence structure.

No matter the tense or verb type, this rule generally holds true:

• Present: 

  Ich lerne heute Deutsch. (I am learning German today.)

• Present Perfect: 

  Ich habe heute Deutsch gelernt. (I have learned German today.)

• Simple Past:

  Ich lernte gestern Deutsch. (I learned German yesterday.)

• Future:

  Ich werde morgen Deutsch lernen. (I will learn German tomorrow.)

• Modal Verb: 

  Ich kann sehr gut Deutsch sprechen. (I can speak German very well.)

• Passive: 

  E-Mail wird gerade geschrieben. (The email is currently being written.)

However, this rule can change when we connect two sentences using connectors (called Konnektoren or Konjunktionen). These words act like bridges between ideas, but depending on the type of bridge you use, the "traffic rules" for your verb change. There are three main types of connectors in German.

The 3 Types of Connectors

Let's look at how each category affects the verb's position in the second part of the sentence.

Type 1: Coordinating Conjunctions (Position 0)

These are the easiest connectors. They join two main clauses without changing the word order of the second clause. They are considered to be in "Position 0," meaning they don't count as a grammatical element in the clause they introduce. After the connector, the second sentence starts normally with the subject (Position 1) and the verb (Position 2).

• Example: Ich möchte einen Kaffee trinken, und du liest ein Buch. (I want to drink a coffee, and you are reading a book.)

  • After "und" (and), a new, normal main clause begins: du (you) is in position 1, and liest (are reading) is in position 2.

Coordinating Conjunctions (ADUSO): aber (but); denn (because/for); und (and); sondern (but rather); oder (or)

Type 2: Subordinating Conjunctions (Verb at the End)

These connectors introduce a subordinate clause (or dependent clause). When you use one of them, the conjugated verb in that clause gets kicked to the very end of the sentence. This is one of the most important rules for forming complex sentences in German.

• Example: Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich in Deutschland arbeiten möchte. (I am learning German because I want to work in Germany.)

  • The connector "weil" (because) sends the conjugated verb "möchte" (want) to the end of the clause.

Common Subordinating Conjunctionsals: wenn(when); bevor(before); bis(until); da(because); damit(so that); dass(that); nachdem(after); ob(if, whether); obwohl(although); seit(since- time); während(while, during); weil(because); wenn(if, when)

Type 3: Conjunctive Adverbs (Inversion)

These connectors are a bit tricky. They are adverbs that take up the first position in the second clause. Since the verb must always stay in the second position, it comes immediately after the connector. The subject is then pushed to the third position. This switch of the verb and subject is called inversion.

• Example: Ich habe heute viel Arbeit, deshalb kann ich nicht ins Kino gehen. (I have a lot of work today, therefore I can't go to the cinema.)

  • Word order: deshalb (therefore) is Position 1, kann (can) is Position 2, and ich (I) is Position 3.

Common Conjunctive Adverbs: also(so, therefore); außerdem (besides, furthermore); danach (after that); dann (then); darum / deshalb / deswegen (that's why, therefore); davor (before that); sonst (otherwise); trotzdem (nevertheless, despite that); zuerst (firstly)

Hints & Tips for Using Them

1. Use them often: To sound natural and fluent, you should use connectors frequently to logically link your thoughts.

2. Pause to think: When speaking, take a tiny 1-3 second pause after using a subordinating conjunction (like weil) or a conjunctive adverb (deshalb). This gives your brain a moment to get the word order right.

3. Master one at a time: Don't try to learn all the connectors at once. Focus on mastering one from each category first (e.g., und, weil, and deshalb). Once you are comfortable with them, add new ones.

4. Focus on the most important ones: You don't need to know every single connector. Concentrate on the main 5-10 from each category, as they will cover most of your conversational needs.