A2 · Subordinate clauses
weil … Verb / denn + Hauptsatz
denn keeps normal order, weil sends the verb to the end
FormHauptsatz, denn + Hauptsatz / Hauptsatz, weil … Verb (Ende)
Meaning and usage
Both denn and weil mean because and join a reason to a main clause. The difference is word order. denn is a coordinating conjunction, so nothing changes: Ich bleibe zu Hause, denn ich bin krank. The conjugated verb stays in second position, exactly as in a sentence on its own.
weil is a subordinating conjunction, so it sends the conjugated verb to the end of its clause: Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin. Most learners know weil well but then write denn with verb-final order, producing sentences like denn ich krank bin, which is not possible. With denn the verb must come right after the subject, as in a main clause. Note that denn here is only the conjunction meaning because; it has nothing to do with the question particle in Was denn?.
Examples 5
Ich bleibe zu Hause, denn ich bin krank.
I'm staying home, because I'm ill.
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.
I'm staying home because I'm ill.
Ich kann nicht kommen, weil ich krank bin.
I can't come because I'm sick.
Ich bin nicht gefahren, weil ich krank war.
I didn't go because I was sick.
Ich habe es gegessen, weil ich Hunger hatte.
I ate it because I was hungry.
Test yourself
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1 Sprachbausteine
Ich bleibe heute im Bett, ich krank bin.
Show answer
Correct answer: weil
The verb bin stands at the end of the clause, so a subordinating conjunction is needed, and weil gives the because meaning.
- denn This would need main-clause order: denn ich bin krank. With bin at the end it does not work.
- aber This is a coordinating conjunction and would leave the word order alone, but it gives a contrast meaning, which does not fit the reason here.
- und This is also coordinating and only links two statements; it cannot express the reason for staying in bed.
In this topic: Subordinate clauses
- weil … Verb because, with the verb at the end
- weil … Verb / denn + Hauptsatz denn keeps normal order, weil sends the verb to the end
- dass … Verb say, think or know something with dass, verb at the end
- wenn … Verb if or whenever, with the verb at the end
- obwohl … Verb although: a contrast clause with the verb at the end
- nicht …, sondern not X, but rather Y
- …, dass er kommen kann. two verb parts in a subordinate clause: finite verb last
- …, weil ich früh aufstehe. separable verb joins as one word at the end
- Weil ich krank bin, bleibe ich zu Hause. Subordinate clause first, then verb, comma, verb
Example sentences from Tatoeba, used under CC BY 2.0 FR. See sources.