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Conjunctions & Connectors

Coordinating vs subordinating

Coordinating: word order unchanged

und, aber, oder, denn, sondern keep V2.

📊 Conjunction types
Type Examples Effect
coordinating und, aber, oder, denn no change (V2)
subordinating weil, dass, wenn, obwohl verb to the end
adverbial deshalb, trotzdem V2 with inversion
💬 Examples
Ich komme, denn ich habe Zeit.
I'm coming, because I have time.
📝 denn = coordinating, V2 kept
Er arbeitet und sie liest.
He works and she reads.
📝 und joins two main clauses
Subordinating: verb to the end

weil, dass, wenn, obwohl send the verb to the end.

💬 Examples
Ich komme, weil ich Zeit habe.
I'm coming because I have time.
📝 weil → habe at the end
Obwohl es regnet, gehe ich.
Although it's raining, I'm going.
📝 obwohl → regnet at the end
denn vs weil

Both mean 'because' but trigger different word order.

💬 Examples
..., denn ich habe Zeit.
...because I have time.
📝 denn: habe stays 2nd
..., weil ich Zeit habe.
...because I have time.
📝 weil: habe goes to the end