In English, Nebensätze are known as “subordinate clauses.” A subordinate clause is a part of a sentence that cannot stand on its own as a complete sentence because it depends on another part, the main clause, to make sense. Nebensätze provide additional information to the main clause, such as time, reason, condition, or concession.
In German, Nebensätze often begin with a subordinating conjunction or a relative pronoun. Some common subordinating conjunctions include weil (because), wenn (if/when), obwohl (although), and dass (that). Relative pronouns include der, die, das (who, which, that) and their respective cases.
The word order in a Nebensatz is different from that in a Hauptsatz (main clause). In a Nebensatz, the conjugated verb is usually placed at the end of the clause, while the subject and other parts of speech come before it.
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For example:
- Ich gehe ins Kino, weil ich einen Film sehen möchte. (I am going to the cinema because I want to see a movie.)
- Here, “weil ich einen Film sehen möchte” is the Nebensatz, providing a reason for the action in the main clause.
- Der Hund, der nebenan wohnt, bellt oft. (The dog, who lives next door, barks often.)
- In this case, “der nebenan wohnt” is the Nebensatz, providing additional information about the dog in the main clause.
When learning German, it’s essential to understand and practice Nebensätze as they are a crucial aspect of the language and help you express more complex ideas and information.
Quiz – Nebensätze:
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