morgenlese
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A2 Elementary

Nebensatz (subordinate clause)

Words like weil (because), dass (that), and wenn (if/when) start a subordinate clause. In this clause, the conjugated verb goes to the very end. A comma always separates it from the main clause. If the subordinate clause comes first, the main clause starts with the verb: Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause.

Pattern

main clause, weil / dass / wenn + subject … verb (end)

Common mistake

Keeping the verb in position 2 after weil.

Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich bin krank.

Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.

Quick check

  1. Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich in Wien ______.

    arbeiten möchte · möchte arbeiten · arbeite möchte

    Show answer

    arbeiten möchte — In a weil clause, the conjugated verb (möchte) goes to the very end.

  2. Ich bin froh, dass du ______.

    bist hier · hier bist · hier sein

    Show answer

    hier bist — In a dass clause, the verb (bist) goes to the end.

  3. Wenn es regnet, ______ zu Hause.

    bleibe ich · ich bleibe · bleiben ich

    Show answer

    bleibe ich — The wenn clause takes position 1, so the main clause starts with the verb.

Stories that practice it

MorgenleseNr. 2

Auf dem Weihnachtsmarkt

A2Culture · 3 min

Sofia visits a German Christmas market for the first time. It is freezing cold – and she has forgotten her gloves.

Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · Dativ (dative case) · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 6

Das erste Date

A2Relationships · 3 min

After six weeks of messages, Luka and Amira finally meet in a café. Both are nervous, and both have a small secret about their photos.

Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · Perfekt (present perfect) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 14

Das Geräusch im Keller

A2Mystery · 3 min

Every night something scratches and rattles in the basement. Jana and her neighbours have their theories – and one night they go down to find out.

Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · Perfekt (present perfect) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 22

Das Picknick

A2Food · 3 min

Lisa has planned the perfect picnic down to the last detail. But at the lake, the friends discover that a few things are missing.

Perfekt (present perfect) · Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 34

Das Vorstellungsgespräch

A2Work · 3 min

Selin has her very first job interview, at a small bakery, and she has no experience at all. Then the owner asks a difficult question: can she get up at four?

Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · Modalverben (modal verbs) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 42

Der erste Arbeitstag

A2Work · 4 min

It's Jonas's first day at a new job, and he is very nervous. In the office kitchen he meets a woman who has a problem with the coffee machine.

Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 46

Der fremde Hund

A2Comedy · 4 min

After the Saturday market, a brown dog follows Lukas all through town. Lukas is sure he has found a new best friend.

Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 54

Der Hund, der Briefe bringt

A2Mystery · 4 min

Every morning there is a letter in Eva's garden – and it is always for someone else. The postman swears he has never lost one. So who is delivering them?

Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · Perfekt (present perfect) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 62

Der neue Chef

A2Work · 4 min

The new boss is only twenty-eight and changes things from day one. The whole office is nervous – until his first Friday.

Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · Dativ (dative case) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 70

Der Staubsaugerroboter

A2Technology · 4 min

Dragana and Yusuf love their new robot vacuum – until their socks start to disappear. Yusuf has a suspect, and a plan to catch it.

Trennbare Verben (separable verbs) · Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 90

Die falsche Party

A2Comedy · 4 min

Nina is invited to her colleague's birthday party on the fourth floor. She has a wonderful evening – there's just one small problem.

Perfekt (present perfect) · Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 118

Ein Tag ohne Strom

A2Daily life · 4 min

One Sunday the power goes out in Mrs Weber's building: no coffee, no TV, almost no phone battery. By evening, the stairwell is the only place with light.

Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 130

Eine Nacht in der Jugendherberge

A2Travel · 3 min

Jakub spends a night in a youth hostel room with five strangers. The light goes out at ten – and then the snoring begins.

Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 138

Im Sprachkurs

A2Relationships · 4 min

Rafael from Brazil and Olena from Ukraine sit next to each other in a German course – and always make exactly the same mistakes.

Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 154

Verspätung am Flughafen

A2Travel · 4 min

Milica's flight from Munich to Belgrade is four hours late, and her mother is already cooking. Then she hears a familiar voice at the next table.

Perfekt (present perfect) · Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 158

Yoga für Anfänger

A2Sports · 4 min

Max's back hurts, so his doctor sends him to yoga. The exercises are harder than he thought – but one of them suits him perfectly.

Dativ (dative case) · Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · 6 new words

MorgenleseNr. 107

Die Präsentation

B1Work · 4 min

Mira has spent three weeks preparing the presentation that could win her team more money. Five minutes before it starts, her laptop screen goes black.

Konjunktiv II (would, could) · Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 111

Die Probe

B1Culture · 4 min

The evening before the premiere, the lead actor of a small amateur theatre is in bed with a fever, and there is no understudy. Then a quiet voice speaks up from under the stage.

Präteritum (simple past) · Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · 7 new words

MorgenleseNr. 135

Eine Woche ohne Handy

B1Technology · 4 min

When her phone falls into a cup of coffee, Mira has to live without it for a whole week. What she misses, and what she finds instead, surprises her.

Konjunktiv II (would, could) · Nebensatz (subordinate clause) · 7 new words