A2 · Subordinate clauses
Giving a reason: weil, da, denn
weil es regnet, denn es regnet
Three words for because, and each one puts the verb somewhere different.
German has three ordinary words for "because" and they differ in structure rather than in meaning. Weil is a subordinating conjunction and sends the verb to the end: Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil es regnet. It is by far the most common and it is the safe default.
Denn is one of the five coordinating conjunctions, so it changes nothing: Ich bleibe zu Hause, denn es regnet. The verb stays in second position and the subject stays in front of it. Denn can never start a sentence, because it joins two clauses and needs one on each side.
Da behaves like weil and is used when the reason is already known to the listener, which is why it usually comes first: Da du schon hier bist, können wir anfangen. A reason that is news goes in a weil clause after the main statement; a reason that is shared goes in a da clause before it.
Die Form
| weil + Verb am Ende | weil es regnet |
| denn + normale Wortstellung | denn es regnet |
| da + Verb am Ende, meist vorn | Da es regnet, … |
| deshalb + Verb sofort | Deshalb bleibe ich. |
| wegen + Genitiv | wegen des Regens |
Die Regeln im Einzelnen
weil sends the verb to the end of its clause.
Ich komme später, weil der Zug Verspätung hat.I am coming later because the train is delayed.
denn changes nothing and can never begin a sentence.
Wir gehen rein, denn es wird kalt.Let us go in, it is getting cold.
da introduces a reason both sides already know, usually first.
Da du fragst: ja.Since you ask: yes.
The answer to a warum question normally starts with weil.
Warum bist du müde? — Weil ich schlecht geschlafen habe.Why are you tired? — Because I slept badly.
Genauer hingesehen
The spoken weil, and why it exists
You will hear weil with ordinary word order constantly: Ich bleib zu Hause, weil es regnet gerade so stark. It is not a mistake speakers make by accident. It happens when the reason is added as an afterthought, as a new sentence rather than as a clause built into the first.
Grammarians have described it for decades and it is still not accepted in writing or in exams. For a learner the sensible position is to recognise it, not to imitate it — using it marks a speaker as casual, and using it in a written text marks the text as wrong.
Ausnahmen und Sonderfälle (2)
-
the reason answers a direct question
the weil clause can stand alone.
Warum nicht? — Weil ich keine Zeit habe.Why not? — Because I have no time.
The main clause is understood from the question.
-
wegen is used in speech
it is often followed by the dative.
wegen dem Wetter — geschrieben: wegen des Wettersbecause of the weather
The genitive is the written standard and the dative is widespread and tolerated.
Woran man es erkennt
- weil
- denn
- da
- deshalb
- darum
- wegen
- warum
Beispielsätze
Sie ruft an, weil sie sich Sorgen macht.She is calling because she is worried.
Nimm einen Schirm, denn es regnet.Take an umbrella, it is raining.
Da niemand kam, gingen wir wieder.Since nobody came, we left again.
Wegen des Streiks fällt der Unterricht aus.Lessons are cancelled because of the strike.
Es regnete, deshalb blieben wir drinnen.It was raining, so we stayed indoors.
Noch 6 Beispielsätze
Er kam nicht, weil er krank war.He did not come because he was ill.
Ich frage, denn ich weiß es nicht.I am asking because I do not know.
Da es spät ist, gehe ich.As it is late, I am going.
Warum lachst du? — Weil das lustig ist.Why are you laughing? — Because that is funny.
Aus diesem Grund haben wir abgesagt.For that reason we cancelled.
Sie blieb, weil sie helfen wollte.She stayed because she wanted to help.
Besonderheiten (2)
-
weil and deshalb point in opposite directions
<z>Weil</z> introduces the cause and <z>deshalb</z> introduces the consequence, so the same two facts can be joined either way round: <z>Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil es regnet</z> and <z>Es regnet, deshalb bleibe ich zu Hause.</z> Being able to flip a sentence like that is worth more than either word on its own.
-
denn is not dann
One letter apart and completely unrelated: <z>denn</z> is "because" and <z>dann</z> is "then". <z>Denn</z> also appears unstressed inside a question as a modal particle — <z>Was machst du denn?</z> — where it means neither.
Die typisch deutsche Falle
Aufgepasst
The verb has to be the last word in a weil clause, so anything else — an adverb, an object, a place — goes in front of it, not after. This is the commonest place for verb-final order to slip, because the sentence sounds finished as soon as the verb has been said. Spoken German does allow weil with main-clause order, and it is not accepted in writing.
weil sends the verb to the end, denn leaves it alone.
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