Verb Position After Conjunctions

In German, conjunctions fall into three distinct functional groups. Group one is the 'Zero Position' group. These are the coordinating conjunctions. They do not change the word order at all. Group two is the 'Subordinating' group. These are the most famous verb-kickers. They send the conjugated verb to the end. Group three is the 'Adverbial' group. These take up 'Position 1'. This means the verb must follow them immediately. Think of it like a puzzle. The conjunction you choose determines the shape of the sentence. If you pick weil, the verb travels far. If you pick denn, the verb stays in position two. It sounds complex, but it follows a strict logic. Even native speakers occasionally trip over these when tired. Don't worry, you'll get the hang of it.

1. 1Identify your conjunction type first. This is the most important step.
2. 2For Coordinating Conjunctions (und, aber, oder, denn, sondern): Treat the conjunction as 'Position 0'. The next word is 'Position 1'. The verb stays in 'Position 2'.
3. 3For Subordinating Conjunctions (weil, obwohl, dass, wenn): Move the conjugated verb to the final spot. If there are two verbs, the conjugated one goes last.
4. 4For Adverbial Conjunctions (deshalb, trotzdem, danach): Place the conjunction in 'Position 1'. Put the conjugated verb in 'Position 2'. Then put the subject in 'Position 3'.
5. 5Double-check your commas. Subordinating and Adverbial clauses almost always need a comma.

You use these patterns every single time you link ideas. Are you explaining a reason in a job interview? You will likely use weil or da. Are you arguing a point in a B2 essay? You will need trotzdem or obwohl. Imagine you are ordering food and want to change an ingredient. You might say: Ich möchte den Salat, aber ohne Zwiebeln. That is a simple Position 0 usage. If you are giving directions, you might say: Biegen Sie links ab, nachdem Sie die Kirche sehen. Here, the verb sehen waits at the end. These patterns make your speech flow. They help you express cause, contrast, and time.

Do not use these rules for simple, single-clause sentences. If you only have one subject and one verb, stay basic. Avoid overcomplicating your speech in high-stress situations like emergencies. You also don't need these for relative clauses. Relative clauses follow their own specific rules. Don't use subordinating word order with denn. Even though denn means 'because', it follows the ADUSO rule. Using 'End-Position' with denn is a classic mistake. Keep it simple when you are just starting a conversation. Save the complex conjunctions for when you need to explain 'why' or 'how'.

The biggest mistake is the 'Weil-Trap'. In spoken German, people sometimes put the verb in Position 2 after weil. However, in your B2 exam, this is a big error. Always put the verb at the end with weil. Another mistake is forgetting the inversion with deshalb. You cannot say Deshalb ich bin müde. You must say Deshalb bin ich müde. The verb must be the second element. Also, watch out for 'Double-Verbs'. In a dass clause, the conjugated verb (like kann or habe) goes after the infinitive. It feels weird, but it is correct. Just think of the verb as being shy. It wants to hide at the back of the room.

Let's compare denn and weil. Both mean 'because'. Denn is a 'Zero Position' word. The sentence order remains: Subject, Verb, Object. Weil is a 'Subordinating' word. The verb flies to the end. Now look at obwohl (although) versus trotzdem (nevertheless). Obwohl sends the verb to the end. Trotzdem acts like an adverb. It takes Position 1 and pulls the verb to Position 2. It is like a tug-of-war. Some words push the verb away. Others pull the verb closer. Recognizing these 'pushers' and 'pullers' is your secret weapon.