German conjugation explanation

Compound verb forms in dependent clauses

<p>German sentence structure changes significantly between main clauses and <strong>dependent (or subordinate) clauses</strong>. While the conjugated verb normally sits in the second position in

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/german_compound_verb_form_word_order/" target="_blank">main clauses</a>

<p>This rule is particularly important for <strong>compound verb forms</strong>, such as the

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/52/" target="_blank">Perfect</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/98/" target="_blank">Past Perfect</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/study/tenseGuideForTense/100/" target="_blank">Future</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext" href="/conjugationExplanation/german_auxiliary_verb/" target="_blank">auxiliary verb</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ger/haben/" title="Click to see conjugations for haben" target="_blank">haben</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ger/sein/" title="Click to see conjugations for sein" target="_blank">sein</a>

<a class="conjugation_explanation_link_intext verb_link" href="/study/conjugations/ger/werden/" title="Click to see conjugations for werden" target="_blank">werden</a>

<p>Dependent clauses generally cannot stand alone and are introduced by specific trigger words:</p>

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<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Subjunctions (Subordinating Conjunctions)</div>

<p>Common words include <strong style="font-style: italic;">dass, weil, obwohl, wenn, als, seit, bis</strong>, etc.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Er öffnete die Tür, <span class="brown_emphasis">obwohl</span> ich ihm <span style="font-style: italic;">gesagt</span> <span class="green_emphasis">habe</span>, es nicht zu tun. (<span style="font-style: italic;">He opened the door, though I told him not to.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence_note">Note: In a main clause, usage allows the auxiliary before the object ("Ich <strong>habe</strong> ihm gesagt..."). Here, it must go to the end.</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Das passiert öfter, <span class="brown_emphasis">als</span> man <span style="font-style: italic;">meinen</span> <span class="green_emphasis">würde</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">This happens more often than you might think.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Was würde passieren, <span class="brown_emphasis">wenn</span> wir das <span style="font-style: italic;">tun</span> <span class="green_emphasis">würden</span>? (<span style="font-style: italic;">What would happen if we did that?</span>)</div>

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<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Indirect Question Words</div>

<p>Including <strong style="font-style: italic;">ob</strong> (whether) and <span style="font-style: italic;">w-words</span> like <strong style="font-style: italic;">was, wann, warum, wer, wie</strong>, etc.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Wirst du mir zeigen, <span class="brown_emphasis">was</span> du <span style="font-style: italic;">gekauft</span> <span class="green_emphasis">hast</span>? (<span style="font-style: italic;">Will you show me what you bought?</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Ich frage mich, <span class="brown_emphasis">warum</span> du das <span style="font-style: italic;">sagen</span> <span class="green_emphasis">würdest</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">I wonder why you would say that.</span>)</div>

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<div class="conjugation_explanation_title">Relative Pronouns</div>

<p>Pronouns such as <strong style="font-style: italic;">der, die, das, den, denen, womit</strong>, etc., which refer back to a noun.</p>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Du bist es, <span class="brown_emphasis">den</span> ich immer <span style="font-style: italic;">lieben</span> <span class="green_emphasis">werde</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">It's you I'll always love.</span>)</div>

<div class="conjugation_explanation_example_sentence">Das ist nicht das Ergebnis, <span class="brown_emphasis">mit dem</span> sie <span style="font-style: italic;">gerechnet</span> <span class="green_emphasis">hatte</span>. (<span style="font-style: italic;">That's not the result she had expected.</span>)</div>

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