Dependent Clauses in German Grammar

Introduction

Dependent clauses, also known as subordinate clauses or Nebensätze in German cannot stand alone as sentences – they always depend on an independent or main clause. Dependent and independent clauses are separated by a comma. Pay attention to the word order of dependent clauses – the finite or conjugated verb comes at the end of the clause.

Example:
Ich weiß nicht, ob er dir hilft.I don’t know if he’ll help you.

When a dependent clause comes before a main clause, the main clause begins with the finite verb.

Example:
Ob er dir hilft, weiß ich nicht.Whether he’ll help you, I don’t know.

In the following pages you will find in-depth explanations of the different kinds of dependent clauses in German grammar. Simply click on one of the links below to find out more. There are exercises at the end of each lesson so you can practice what you have learnt.

Conjunctions

We can join clauses together using conjunctions such as und, subjunctions like wenn, and conjunctive adverbs such as darum. In German grammar, different types of conjunctions require a different sentence structure.

Example:
Sie ist Schweizerin und er ist Österreicher.
Wir lernen viel Deutsch, wenn wir nach Deutschland fahren.
Ich will Deutsch lernen, darum mache ich Urlaub in Deutschland.

Indirect Questions

Indirect questions are questions that are included within the structure of another sentence. They usually come after certain introductory phrases.

Example:
Er will wissen, wie spät es ist.
Ich weiß nicht, wo mein Handy ist.
Es würde mich interessieren, ob er uns morgen besuchen kommt.

Infinitive Clauses

Infinitive constructions are used after certain certain phrases in German. They usually include the words zu or um … zu.

Example:
Ich bin froh, das zu hören.
Er hat das getan, um uns zu helfen..

Participle Clauses

Participle clauses are dependent clauses that use the present or past participle. They are not very common in German.

Example:
Die Nachricht hörend, begann sie zu jubeln.
Den Zug erreicht, atmete er erleichtert auf.

Relative Clauses

Relative clause allow us to give additional information without starting a new sentence. In German, relative clauses are always set off by commas.

Example:
Das ist der Junge, der hier wohnt.
Das ist der Junge, den ich sehr mag.
Das ist der Junge, dem ich in Mathe helfe.
Das ist der Junge, dessen Eltern Schauspieler sind.

Conditional Clauses

Conditional clauses show that an action will or would take place under certain confitions in the present, past or future.

Example:
Wenn das Wetter morgen schön ist, gehen wir baden.

Indirect Speech

We use indirect speech to report what other people have said.

Example:
Er erzählte, er habe Urlaub in der Schweiz gemacht.