A conjunction is an auxiliary part of speech that connects several simple sentences together to form a complex sentence, as well as homogeneous subjects, predicates and other members of the sentence. In German, conjunctions are called Bindewörter, that is, literally “connecting words.”
Classification
In German, conjunctions, as in Russian, are divided into two main groups: coordinating and subordinating. Conjunctions belonging to the first category form complex sentences, and those that make up the second category form, accordingly, complex sentences.
In turn, within these two groups, conjunctions in the German language are also distributed into subgroups based on what functions they perform in a sentence. For example, coordinating conjunctions can be connective, co- and contrasting, causal, concessive and consequential. Subordinating conjunctions include conditional conjunctions, target, temporary, comparative and others.
Coordinating Conjunctions in German
You should start studying with compositional ones, since they are much simpler in terms of grammar. In most cases, coordinating conjunctions in German do not affect the order of words in a sentence and serve as a kind of connecting element.
For example, such conjunctions are und (and) - connecting, aber (but) - opposing, sondern (a) - opposing, oder (or) - opposing and others.
Ich studiere Französisch. Mein Freund studiert Englisch. (I am studying French. My friend is studying English).
Die Sonne ging unter. Es ist noch sehr warm. (The sun has set. It is still very warm).
With conjunctions, these sentences would look like this.
Ich studiere Französisch, sondern mein Freund studiert Englisch. (I am studying French and my friend is studying English).
Die Sonne ging unter, aber es ist noch sehr warm. (The sun has set, but it is still very warm).
Coordinating conjunctions that change word order
However, among coordinating conjunctions there are also those that affect the order of words in a sentence. These include jedoch (nevertheless) - concessive and also (so that) - causative.
Sie isst nur Obst und Gemüse, jedoch nimmt sie schnell zu. (She only eats fruits and vegetables, but is gaining weight quickly.)
As you can see from the example, in a sentence with jedoch the predicate comes immediately after the conjunction, and then the subject and all remaining members. In the case of also, the word order will be similar.
Subordinating conjunctions of the German language
Sentences with subordinating conjunctions are called complex. In them it is possible to distinguish the main and subordinate parts and, unlike complex sentences in which both parts are equal, in a complex sentence the subordinate part directly depends on the main one and cannot exist separately.
The most common subordinating conjunctions- this is deshalb (therefore) - investigative, weil (since) - causal, damit (so that) - causal, wenn (when) - temporary and others. These conjunctions in German have a significant impact on word order.
Ich gehe nach England. Ich lerne Englisch. (I'm going to England. I'm learning English).
With the causal conjunction weil, the sentence will sound like this.
Ich gehe nach England, weil ich Englisch lerne. (I'm going to England because I'm learning English).
You may notice that the word order has changed. After the conjunction comes the subject, then all other members of the sentence. In turn, the predicate moved to the very end.
If we consider the same sentence, but using a different conjunction deshalb, then its meaning will remain the same, but the construction itself will look slightly different.
Ich lerne Englisch, deshalb gehe ich nach England. I'm learning English, so I'm going to England.
The main and subordinate clauses have changed places, since the conjunction deshalb is investigative. The order of words has also changed: now after the conjunction there is a predicate, then the subject, and after it everything else.
Another subordinating conjunction is damit.
Ich gehe nach Russland. Ich lerne Russisch. I'm going to Russia. I learn Russian.
Ich gehe nach Russland, damit ich Russisch lerne. I'm going to Russia to learn Russian. (Literally - “so that I learn Russian”)
The subject comes after the conjunction, and the predicate comes at the very end.
This conjunction can be replaced by an infinitive construction, and the sentence will be translated in exactly the same way.
Ich mache Sport, um Russisch zu lernen.
However, one thing should be taken into account. The causal conjunction can be replaced by this construction only when only one subject is mentioned in the sentence. In a specific example, “I’m going to Russia” and “I’m learning Russian.”
Unions are in official words, they connect the members of a clause or clause.
Distinguish coordinating and subordinating unions.
Coordinating conjunctions connect homogeneous members of a sentence, independent clauses, and homogeneous subordinate clauses. Coordinating conjunctions are divided according to their meaning into connective, adversative, causal and consequential.
Based on their structure, simple coordinating conjunctions are distinguished ( aber, denn, oder, und etc.) and paired ( entweder... oder, bald... bald, sowohl... als auch, weder... night ).
1. Connecting unions:
1) und "And": Hier gibt es Zeitungen und Zeitschriften. -HereThere isnewspapersAndmagazines.
2) auch “also, too, and; even": Ichkenneihnauch. - I know him too.So hat er auch gemacht.- SoHeAnddid. Auch der kleinste Fehler darf nicht übersehen werden. - Eventhe slightesterrorNotMaybebemissed.
3) sowie “(equally) as well as”: Hier gibt es Zeitungen und Zeitschriften sowie Broschüren und Bücher. -HereThere isnewspapersAndmagazines, AAlsobrochuresAndbooks.
4) sowohl... als auch (sowohl... wie auch) “and... and”, “both... and”: sowohl mein Bruder als auch ich -AndmyBrother, AndI; HowmyBrother, SoAndI; Er kannte sowohl die Stadt selbst als auch (wie auch) ihre Umgebung genau. - HeFineknew, Howmyselfcity, SoAndhisaroundness.
5) nicht nur... sondern auch "not only but": Er lebt hier nicht mir im Sommer, sondern auch im Winter. -HelivesHereNotonlyin summer, ButAndin winter.
6) außerdem "Besides": Er ist klug und außerdem sehr fleißig. -HesmartAnd, exceptTogo, Verydiligent.
7) und zwar "namely; and besides": Kommen Sie morgen, und zwar um 2 Uhr.-Come tomorrow, namely at 2 o'clock.Ermastdasundzwarsofort. - He will do it and immediately.
8) weder...noch "no no": Weder er noch ich können morgen kommen. -NeitherHe, norINotmojamTomorrowcome.
9) bald... bald “that... that”; bald so, bald anders - either this way or that way: Bald regnete es, bald schneite es.Thatwalkedrain, Thatsnow.
10) Dann "then": Zuerst lese ich den Text, dann übersetze ich ihn. -At firstIchiI'm meltingtext, thenII translatehis.
2. Opposing unions:
I) aber "but, however": DiesesKapitelistkurz,aberwichtig. - This chapter is short, but (however) important.
2) allein "but, however": Er mußte bald kommen, allein wir konnten nicht länger warten.-He was supposed to come soon, but we couldn't wait any longer.. Pay attention to the ambiguity of allein. In addition to the meaning "but", allein has meaning“one, one, one, alone” and the meaning “only”; wirgesternalleinzuHouse. - He was alone at home yesterday,Alleinerkannunshelfen. - Only he can help us.
3) und "A": AlleGehen,undichsollbleiben. - Everyone is leaving, but I have to stay.
4) sondern "A": Er ist nicht student, sondern graduate student. - HeNotstudent, Agraduate student.
5) sonst “or else”: Beeilen Sie sich, sonst kommen Sie zu spät. -Hurry up, AThat(otherwise) Youyou'll be late.
6) doch “however, but; after all, after all": Er wollte kommen, doch sein Vater wurde krank. -Hewantedcome, Butgot sickhisfather. Er hat es versprochen, aber hat es doch nicht gemacht. - Hepromised, ButAllsameNotdidthis.
7) jedoch, dennoch “however, nevertheless, nevertheless”: Er ist sehr beschäftigt, jedoch hilft er mir.-He is very busy, nevertheless (however, still) he helps me.
8) trotzdem "despite this, nevertheless": Esregnete,trotzdemkamerzuuns. - It was raining, despite this (still) he came to us.
9) zwar "true, although (and)": Erkamzwar,dochwareszuspat. - Although he came, it was too late. He really came, but it was too late.
10) oder "or": Wir fahren heute oder morgen. -Welet's goTodayorTomorrow. Wählen Sie das eine oder das andere. - SelectThatorother.
11) entweder... oder "or... or, either... or": Entwederkommter,odererruftan. - He will either come or call on the phone. He'll either come or call on the phone.
3. Cause-and-effect unions.
1) denn “since, because, for”: ErsprichtgutdeutschdennerlebtschonlangeinLeipzig. - He speaks German well, as he has lived in Leipzig for a long time.
2) nä mlich "The fact is that; because, after all": Ichkonnteihnnothingsehen,eristnämlichverreist. - I couldn’t see him, the fact is that he left.
Sometimes nämlich is completely omitted when translating a sentence into Russian: Wirsindzuspatgekommen,wirhattenunsnämlichinderZeitGeirrt. - We were late, we timed it poorly.
3) also “so, so; therefore, therefore, it means": HiersindseineSachen,alsoisterhiergewesen. - These are his things, therefore he was here.
4) folglich"therefore, therefore, therefore": DieSachensindnothinggebrachtworden,folglichmussenwirsieholen. - The things were not brought, therefore (therefore, so) we must deliver them ourselves.
5) demzufolge "due to this, therefore": Erfuhrfrüherweg,demzufolgemußerbereitshiersein. - He left earlier, therefore, he should already be here.
6) darum, deshalb, deswegen "That's why": Ich habe viel zu tun, darum kann ich nicht mit Ihnen gehen. -Umea lot ofaffairs, That's whyINotCangoWithyou.
7) daher “and (a) therefore, and therefore”: Die Kritik ist gerecht, daher sollen wir anders arbeiten.-The criticism is fair and that's why we must work differently.
Some coordinating conjunctions can appear in the middle of a sentence, for example: DiesesKapitelistkurz,esistabersehrwichtig. - This chapter is short, but it is very important.SiehilftmirinEnglisch,sieistnämlichEnglischlehrerin. - She helps me with English, she is an English teacher.DieKritikistgerechtwirsollendaherandersarbeiten.- The criticism is fair and therefore we must work differently.
Subordinating conjunctions connect the subordinate clause to the main clause. Subordinating conjunctions according to their meaning are divided into temporary, conditional, purposeful, causal, consequential, mode of action, comparative, concessive, restrictive. Union yeah "what to" and conjunction ob “whether” does not belong to any of the above groups.
1. Temporary alliances:
I) als "When": Als wir in Berlin waren, be suchten wir dieses Museum. -WhenWewereVBerlin, WewentVthismuseum.
2) wenn "When": Wenn er kommt, spielen wir Schach. -WhenHecomes, Welet's playVchess.
3) wä hrend "Bye; while": Währendwirsprachen,laserZeitung. - While we were talking, he was reading a newspaper..
4) bis "not yet": WartenSie,bisichcomme. - Wait until I come.
5) bevor, ehe "before": Ichmußdasmachen,bevorerkommt. - I have to do this before he comes..
6) seit, seitdem "since": Seit (seitdem)erhierstudiert,mastergroßeFortschritte. - Since he studies here, he has been doing great success .
7) nachdem "after; When": DerBriefkam,nachdemerabgereistwar. - The letter arrived after he left. (The letter arrived when he had already left.)
8) sobald "as soon as": Sobalderkommt,beginnenwirmitderArbeit. - As soon as he arrives, we will start work.
9) solange "Bye; until": Solangeergesundist,wilderarbeiten. - As long as he is healthy, he will work.
10) sooft "whenever": Sooftichdichsehe,siehstdubesseraus. - Every time I see you, you look better.
11) yes, wo “when” (mostly after nouns or adverbs with a temporary meaning): Jetzt,da (wo)allesvorüberist,erinnereichmichgerndaran. - Now that everything is behind me, I remember it with pleasure.ZudemZeitpunkt,da (wo)... - At the time when...
2. Conditional conjunctions
1) wenn "If": WennerUrlaubbekommt,wildernightheuteabreisen. - If he gets leave, he will leave today.
2) falls, im Falle daß "if": Im Falle, yes es geschieht, rufen Sie mich an. -INcaseIfThiswill happen, callto me.
3. Target alliances
1) damit "to": Beeilen Sie sich, damit wir nicht zu spät kommen. -Hurry up, toWeNotwe were late.
2) yeah "to": Beeilen Sie sich, daß wir nicht zu spät kommen. -Hurry up, toWeNotwe were late.
4. Causal conjunctions
1) weil "because, since": Erkannheutenothingcommen,weilerkrankist. - He can’t come today because he’s sick..
2) da "because; because": Daerkrankwarkonnteernothingcommen. - Since he was sick, he could not come.
5. Investigative alliances
1) so daß ( so yeah) "So": Erkamsehrspat,soyeahichihnnothingmehrsprechenkonnte. - He came very late, so I couldn’t talk to him..
2) so... yeah (so is a correlate) “so... that”: EswarsoDunkel,yeahwirnichtssehenkonnten. - It was so dark that we couldn’t see anything.
3) als yeah “so that” (with correlate zu in the main clause): Eristzujung,alsyeaherdasverstehenkönnte. - He's too young to understand it.
6. Conjunctions of manner of action
1) indem - sentences with this conjunction are translated into Russian participial phrase, or a subordinate clause with conjunctions “that, since”: Erhilftuns,indemerunsereFehlererklärt. - He helps us by explaining to us our mistakes.Manstörteihn,indemmananihnimmerwiederFragenstellte. - He was disturbed by the fact that (since) they asked questions all the time.
2) dadurch, yeah “because; due to the fact that; thanks to": ManstörteihnbeiderArbeitdadurch,yeahdieganzeZeithin-undhergegangenwurde. - They interfered with his work by walking back and forth all the time.
3) ohneyeah“though not; but, and, and” and other options: Erhatmirgeholfen,ohneyeahichihndarumgebetenhatte. - He helped me, although I didn’t ask him to do so..Ergingweg,ohneyeahesjemandbemerkte. - He left, but (and) no one noticed it.
7. Comparative unions
1) wie “how” (with correlate so): Dieses Buch ist nicht so interessant, wie ich erwartet habe. -ThisbookNotlike thisinteresting, HowIexpected.
2) als "how": Dieses Buch ist interessanter, als ich erwartet habe. -Thisbookmore interesting, howIexpected.
3) je...desto, je...tun so, je...je “then... the”: Je seltener eine Briefmarke ist, desto teurer (um so teurer) ist sie. -HowmorerareIt happenspostalbrand, thosesheexpensive. Jemehrerhatjemehrwiller. - The more he has, the more he wants.
4) je nachdem "depending on, depending on": JenachdemichZeithatte,lasichmehroderweniger. - Depending on how much time I had, I read more or less. Depending on the time, I read more or less.
5) als, als ob, als wenn "as if" - ErtatalswäreallesinOrdnung.Er tat,als ob (als wenn) alles in Ordnung wäre. - Hedidview, Howas ifAllVok.
8. Concessive alliances.
1) obwohl, obgleich, obzwar, obschon "Although; although": Obwohlesregnete,kamerzuuns. - Although it was raining, he came to us. Even though it was raining, he came to us.
2) trotzdem "although; Although": Trotzdemesregnete,kamerzuuns. - Even though it was raining, he came to us. Althoughwalkedrain, HecameTous.
3) wenn... auch “although and, no matter how”: Wenn er auch kräftig ist, das ist zu schwer für ihn. -AlthoughHeAndstrong, Thistoo muchhardForhim.
9. Restrictive covenants
I) (in) sofern, (in) soweit "because the": Er studiert Mathematik, insofern es für seine Arbeit nötig ist.-He studies mathematics (to the extent that it is necessary for his work).
2) soviel "how much": Sovielichweiß,haterzugestimmt. - As far as I know, he agreed.
Some subordinating conjunctions also connect parts of a sentence, for example, wie "How": Eristebensoaltwieich. - He is the same age as me; als "how": Erist älteralsich. - He's older than me.
In this lesson you will learn what types of double conjunctions in German and into what semantic groups they are divided. You can also practice distinguishing them.
Double alliances can connect both members of a sentence and two main clauses.
Double alliances distinguished by meaning:
1. Denial with clarification:
Nicht (kein)…, sondern (not…, but…)
Das ist kein Tablet, sondern ein Reader – This is not a tablet, but a “reader”
Das ist kein Junge, sondern ein Mädchen - This is not a boy, but a girl
2. Alternative:
Entweder…, oder (or…, or…)
Ich möchte entweder nach Deutschland, oder nach Österreich fahren – I would like to go either to Germany or Austria
Thomas will entweder ein rotes, oder ein weißes Auto kaufen – Thomas wants to buy either a red or a white car
3. Double transfer:
Sowohl..., als/wie auch (both... and...)
Meine Schwester spricht nicht nur Deutsch, sondern auch Englisch - My sister speaks not only German, but also English language
Diese Arzneimittel sind sowohl im Ausland, als auch in unserem Land zu kaufen – These medicines can be bought both abroad and in our country
Nicht nur..., sondern auch (not only..., but also...)
Er kann dir nicht nur raten, sondern auch helfen - He can not only advise you, but also help you
Wir fahren nicht nur in die Schweiz, sondern auch in die Türkei – We will go not only to Switzerland, but also to Turkey
4. Double negative:
Weder..., noch (neither..., nor...)
Mein Bruder isst weder Fisch, noch Fleisch – My brother eats neither fish nor meat
Ihm gefällt weder Tee, noch Kaffee – He doesn’t like either tea or coffee
5. Controversy:
Zwar..., aber (although..., but also...)
Sie ist zwar klug, aber sie hat kein Buch gelesen - Although she is smart, she has not read a single book
Wir wohnen zwar in Deutschland, aber wir können kein Deutsch sprechen - Although we live in Germany, we do not speak German.
Exercises(insert the necessary conjunctions into the sentences):
1. Dortin kann man entweder mit dem Flugzeug fliegen, oder mit dem Zug fahren
2. In der Hand hielt er kein Handy, sondern einen Rechner
3. – Was kannst du über diesen Menschen sagen? -Er war weder hoch, night niedrig und weder jung, night alt
4. Diese Frau war weder klug, night schön
5. Er liebt zwar Sophie, aber flirtet auch mit Natali
6. Sie mag die Haustiere: sowohl Katzen, als auch Hunde
7. Viele Businessleute haben zwar viel Geld, aber wenig Zeit
8. Es gibt nur weinige Jugendliche, die weder Alkohol trinken, night Zigaretten rauchen
9. Wir können nur entweder ans Meer, oder ins Gebirge fahren
10. Das ist kein Notizblock, sondern ein Buch
