Verb-Final Position in Subordinate Clauses (Strict)

Think of certain words as magnets. Words like weil (because) or dass (that) have a special power. When they appear, they pull the conjugated verb to the end. The conjugated verb is the one that matches the person. For example, bin, hast, or geht. In a normal sentence, this verb sits in position two. But a subordinate clause changes everything.

• First, you have a main clause.
• Then, you always need a comma.
• Next comes the conjunction (the magnet word).
• Finally, the verb moves to the very end.

It feels a bit like a grammar traffic light. The comma is the yellow light. The conjunction is the signal to change lanes. By the time you reach the end of the clause, you hit the green light with your verb. Even native speakers sometimes pause to remember the verb! If you forget it, the listener is just waiting. They are hanging on your every word. They need that verb to understand the action. It is the "aha!" moment of the sentence.

1. 1Creating these sentences is like building a LEGO set. You just need to follow the steps in order. Let's look at how to build a weil sentence.
2. 2Start with your main idea: Ich trinke Wasser (I drink water).
3. 3Add a comma: Ich trinke Wasser, (Never forget this! German loves commas).
4. 4Pick your conjunction: weil (because).
5. 5Put the subject of the second part: ich (I).
6. 6Add the rest of your info: Durst (thirst).
7. 7Kick the verb to the end: habe (have).
8. 8Result: Ich trinke Wasser, weil ich Durst habe.
9. 9See how habe moved from position two to the very end? If you were just saying "I have thirst," you would say Ich habe Durst. But because of weil, habe has to travel. It is a bit like a suitcase at the airport. It goes on the conveyor belt and pops out at the very end of the trip.

Use this pattern whenever you connect two ideas where one depends on the other. You will use it constantly in daily life.

• Giving reasons: Use weil when someone asks "Why?" (Warum?). "I'm late because the bus is late."
• Expressing opinions: Use dass (that). "I think that German is cool."
• Setting conditions: Use wenn (if/when). "If it rains, I stay home."
• Asking indirect questions: Use ob (whether/if). "I don't know if he is coming."

Imagine you are in a job interview. You want to say "I believe that I am the best candidate." You would say: Ich glaube, dass ich der beste Kandidat bin. That bin at the end shows you know your stuff! Or when ordering food: Ich nehme den Salat, weil ich keinen Hunger habe. (I'll take the salad because I'm not hungry). It makes your speech flow beautifully.

Not every connector kicks the verb! Some words are "neutral." They don't have the magnet power. We call these the ADUSO words:

• aber (but)
• denn (because - yes, another one!)
• und (and)
• sondern (rather)
• oder (or)

With these words, the verb stays in position two. It is very confusing that weil and denn both mean "because" but have different rules. Think of denn as the relaxed cousin. It doesn't care where the verb sits. weil is the strict teacher who wants everyone in their assigned seats. Also, never use verb-final position in a simple, single sentence like Ich esse Brot. There is no sidekick clause there, so no reason to kick the verb!

The biggest mistake? Putting the verb in position two out of habit. You might say: ✗ Ich bin müde, weil ich habe nicht geschlafen. Your brain wants to follow English logic. But in German, that sounds like a glitch in the Matrix.

• The Missing Comma: In English, commas are optional before "because." In German, they are mandatory. No comma, no peace.
• The "Denn" Confusion: People use weil but keep the verb in the middle. Remember: weil = end, denn = middle.
• Multiple Verbs: If you have two verbs (like kann and spielen), they both go to the end. The conjugated one (the one that changes) goes last. ...weil ich Fußball spielen kann.

Don't stress if you mess this up. Even after years, some learners still slip up when they are tired. Just smile and correct yourself. Native speakers will still understand you, but they will be very impressed when you get it right!

Let's compare a main clause and a subordinate clause side-by-side.

Main: Er kommt heute. (He comes today.)

Subordinate: ...dass er heute kommt. (...that he comes today.)

Notice the difference? The word kommt just hops over heute.

Now look at weil vs denn:

Ich lerne, weil es Spaß macht. (Verb at end)

Ich lerne, denn es macht Spaß. (Verb in position 2)

Why does German have two ways to say the same thing? It's like having a manual car and an automatic. Both get you there, but one requires more footwork (the verb kick!). Most people use weil in spoken German, so it is the one you should practice the most.