German Compound

Sentences
By Broseidon
(aka Smitty Werbenjägermanjensen)
for German Learning and Discussion (GLaD)
1. What actually are compound sentences?
What is a compound sentence?
Compound sentence: a sentence with more than one subject or predicate.

Each subject/predicate is in an independent clause, connected by conjunctions.

I like coffee, and Mary likes tea.

Mary went to work, but John went to the party and I went home.

Independent clause: clauses that can stand on their own as a sentence.

I like coffee. | Mary likes tea.

Conjunction: parts of speech that connect words, phrases, or clauses. (and, but, to, because, therefore,
after, etc.).
Coordination vs. Subordination
Coordination: Combining independent clauses of “equal value;” the information in both clauses is
equally important, and one is not dependent on the other. Think of the clauses working together,
coordinating their information via coordinating conjunctions (coordinators).

Ex.) I live in Boston AND my sister lives in Maine.

Ex.) I don’t want to wake up early, NOR do I want to go to work.

Coordination vs. Subordination
Subordination: when two independent clauses are connected by a subordinating conjunction
(subordinator), the information in one independent clause is dependent on the information in the
other; the information in both clauses are related; one clause is less important than the other
(subordinate).

Ex.) ALTHOUGH I like German, it is sometimes frustrating.

Ex.) IF I can’t go to work, I won’t be able to make money.

Ex.) I love mac and cheese with ketchup BECAUSE it is really tasty.
2. Compound Sentences in German
Coordinating Clauses
Coordinating Clauses (cont.) Aber (but)

-Ich mag Brot aber ich hasse

Käse.

“I like bread but I hate cheese.”

Subordinating Clauses
Word order
1) Coordinating conjunctions do not alter word order.
2) Subordinating conjunctions cause conjugated verbs to move to the end of the clause.

To show word order in examples, conjugated verbs and subjects will be colored to show
position. Conjunctions will be highlighted.

****Word-final = appears at the end of the clause*****

****Word-initial = appears at the beginning of the clause****
Coordinating clauses word order

Coordinators don’t alter default German word order in either clause

(Subject-Verb-Object (SVO))
ex.) Ich muss essen und ich muss trinken.

---> I need to eat and I need to drink.

ex.) Ich muss meine Mutter anrufen aber ich habe kein Handy.

---> I need to call my mom but I don’t have a cell phone.

ex.) Ich habe keinen Apfel, sondern ich habe eine Birne.

---> I don’t have an apple, but rather I have a pear.

ex.) Ich lache oder ich weine.

---> I laugh or I cry.

Subjunctive Clauses Word Order, Pattern 1

PATTERN 1: When subordinating conjunctions occurs in word-initial position in clause

1. Clauses are separated by commas.

Clause 1: Word-initial subordinating conjunction, Word-final conjugated verb

Clause 2: Word-initial conjugated verb

ex.) Obwohl ich dich hasse, muss ich mit dir arbeiten.

---> “Even though I hate you, I need to work with you.”

ex.) Wenn ich spät bin, werde ich gefeuert.

---> “If I’m late, I’ll be fired.”

Word order, Pattern 2

PATTERN 2: When the subordinate conjunction occurs in word-initial position in

clause 2. Clauses are separated by commas.

Clause 1: Default syntax (SVO)

Clause 2: Word-initial subordinating conjunction, word-final conjugated verb

ex.) Ich mag Käse, weil er gut schmeckt.

---> “I like cheese because it tastes good.”

ex.) Ich werde gefeuert, wenn ich zu spät bin.

---> “I’ll be fired if I’m too late.”

ex.) Ich arbeite, damit ich Geld verdienen kann.

---> “I work so that I can make money.”

Word Order: Weil vs. Denn

Weil vs. Denn: These two conjunctions both mean “because” and can be used
interchangeably. However, they have different syntax.

1) “Weil” is a subordinator and causes the conjugated verb to go to the end of the
clause.

ex.) Ich bin froh, weil ich heute nicht zur Arbeit gehen muss. (Pattern 2)

---> “I’m happy because I don’t have to go to work.”

2) “Denn” is a coordinator allows the clause to retain default syntax (the conj. verb
occurs after the subject).

ex.) Ich bin froh, denn ich muss heute nicht zur Arbeit gehen. (Same as
coordinating clause)

---> “I’m happy because I don’t have to go to work.”

Word Order: Linking information within clauses using coordinators

Ex.) Ich bin wütend auf dich, weil du ohne mich, aber mit deiner Schwester über die
Brücke und in die Stadt gefahren bist.

-“Weil” is the subordinating conjunction

-“Aber” and “Und” are coordinating conjunctions that link information within the
subordinate clause.

-Notice how the conj. verb still moves to the end of the subordinate clause; since “weil”
appeared at the beginning of the clause, pattern 3 must be followed regardless of the
information sandwiched within.