This article builds on the connector foundations covered in the Conjunctions and Word Order article. The three-type framework — coordinating, subordinating, adverbial — still applies throughout. What this article adds is coverage of the full semantic range: every major category of logical relationship German expresses through connectors, with the complete vocabulary for each.
Word Order — A Quick Reminder
Every connector in this article belongs to one of three types, each with a fixed word order effect:
| Type | Effect | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Coordinating conjunction | No change — normal main clause word order | und, aber, oder, denn, sondern |
| Subordinating conjunction | Verb to the end of the clause | weil, obwohl, damit, falls, sodass, da |
| Adverbial conjunction | Verb-subject inversion in the main clause | deshalb, trotzdem, folglich, hingegen, zunächst |
Each connector below is labelled with its type. When in doubt, the type determines what you do with the verb.
Cause — Da vs. Weil
Both da and weil are subordinating conjunctions expressing cause. Both send the verb to the end. The difference is register and position.
| Da | Weil | |
|---|---|---|
| Register | formal, written | all registers |
| Position | typically clause-initial (before the main clause) | clause-initial or clause-final |
| Information status | given/shared information — something both speaker and listener already know | new information — the reason may be unknown to the listener |
Da er krank war, blieb er zu Hause.
Since he was ill, he stayed home. (da — reason presumed known)
Er blieb zu Hause, weil er krank war.
He stayed home because he was ill. (weil — reason possibly new to listener)
Da at the start, weil at the end
Da almost always introduces the clause-initial position — the reason comes first. Weil is flexible and commonly appears clause-finally. Using da in clause-final position (Er blieb zu Hause, da er krank war) is grammatically correct but sounds somewhat stilted compared to weil in the same position. In formal written German both positions work for da.
Result and Consequence
Several adverbial conjunctions express consequence. They all cause verb-subject inversion. The differences are register and nuance.
| Connector | Type | Register | Nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| deshalb | adverbial | all | neutral consequence |
| deswegen | adverbial | all | neutral, slightly more spoken |
| daher | adverbial | formal | logical deduction, inference |
| darum | adverbial | spoken | informal, colloquial |
| folglich | adverbial | formal/written | logical consequence, "it follows that" |
| infolgedessen | adverbial | formal/written | as a result of that, official tone |
| somit | adverbial | formal/written | thereby, thus — often in academic writing |
| also | adverbial | all (≠ "also") | so, thus — draws a conclusion or summary |
Die Daten waren unvollständig. Folglich konnten keine Schlussfolgerungen gezogen werden.
The data were incomplete. Consequently no conclusions could be drawn.
Der Antrag wurde abgelehnt. Infolgedessen musste das Projekt verschoben werden.
The application was rejected. As a result the project had to be postponed.
Es gibt keine weiteren Einwände. Somit ist die Entscheidung endgültig.
There are no further objections. The decision is therefore final.
Das war das letzte Stück Kuchen. Also habe ich es gegessen.
That was the last piece of cake. So I ate it.
Condition — Wenn, Falls, Sofern
All three are subordinating conjunctions — verb to the end. The differences are conditionality strength and register.
| Connector | Meaning | Register | Nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| wenn | if, when | all | general condition or repeated event; also temporal |
| falls | in case, if | all | contingency — if it should happen that |
| sofern | provided that, as long as | formal/written | precondition — subject to the condition that |
Wenn du Zeit hast, können wir uns treffen.
If you have time, we can meet.
Falls es regnet, nehmen wir ein Taxi.
In case it rains, we'll take a taxi.
Sofern keine Einwände bestehen, wird der Vertrag unterzeichnet.
Provided there are no objections, the contract will be signed.
Wenn vs. falls
Wenn is neutral — it can express a general if-then relationship or a recurring situation. Falls foregrounds the contingency — "just in case" — and implies the speaker considers the condition less certain or somewhat unlikely. In formal contracts and legal writing, sofern is the standard term for preconditions.
Purpose — Damit vs. Um...zu
Both express purpose — "in order to," "so that." The choice depends on whether the subjects of the two clauses are the same.
Um...zu — same subject in both clauses. Subordinating; the infinitive goes to the end after zu. No conjugated verb in the purpose clause.
Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Wien arbeiten zu können.
I'm learning German in order to be able to work in Vienna. (I learn, I work — same subject)
Er spart Geld, um ein Auto zu kaufen.
He's saving money to buy a car.
Damit — different subjects in the two clauses. Subordinating; conjugated verb goes to the end.
Ich erkläre es langsam, damit du es verstehst.
I'm explaining it slowly so that you understand it. (I explain, you understand — different subjects)
Die Regierung investiert in Bildung, damit die Wirtschaft wächst.
The government invests in education so that the economy grows.
The subject test
Before choosing between damit and um...zu, ask: is the person doing the action in the purpose clause the same as in the main clause? Same subject → um...zu. Different subject → damit. Using um...zu with different subjects is a consistent B1–B2 error: Ich erkläre es langsam, um du es zu verstehen is wrong. Damit du es verstehst is correct.
Result Clauses — So...dass and Sodass
Both express a result that follows from a degree or intensity stated in the main clause. Both are subordinating — verb to the end.
So...dass: the so appears in the main clause modifying an adjective or adverb; dass introduces the result clause.
Er spricht so schnell, dass ich ihn kaum verstehe.
He speaks so fast that I can barely understand him.
Das Konzert war so laut, dass meine Ohren wehtaten.
The concert was so loud that my ears hurt.
Sodass (written as one word): introduces the result clause directly without so in the main clause. It emphasises the result as a natural or logical consequence.
Er hat stundenlang gearbeitet, sodass er völlig erschöpft war.
He worked for hours, so that he was completely exhausted.
Die Nachfrage stieg stark an, sodass die Preise stiegen.
Demand increased sharply, causing prices to rise.
Contrast — The Full Range
German has a rich set of contrast connectors spanning all three grammatical types.
| Connector | Type | Register | Nuance |
|---|---|---|---|
| aber | coordinating | all | simple contrast |
| jedoch | adverbial | formal | however — more emphatic than aber |
| allerdings | adverbial | all | however, though — concedes a point |
| hingegen | adverbial | formal/written | by contrast, whereas — direct opposition |
| dagegen | adverbial | all | on the other hand, by contrast |
| demgegenüber | adverbial | formal/written | as opposed to that, in contrast |
| während | subordinating | all | while/whereas — simultaneous contrast |
| wohingegen | subordinating | formal/written | whereas — explicit contrast, written |
Die erste Gruppe war sehr aktiv. Die zweite Gruppe hingegen zeigte kaum Engagement.
The first group was very active. The second group, by contrast, showed hardly any engagement.
Der Norden des Landes ist industrialisiert, wohingegen der Süden stark agrarisch geprägt ist.
The north of the country is industrialised, whereas the south is strongly agricultural.
Die Lösung ist effizient. Allerdings ist sie sehr kostspielig.
The solution is efficient. However it is very costly.
In Deutschland ist der Markt gesättigt. Demgegenüber bieten osteuropäische Märkte noch großes Potenzial.
In Germany the market is saturated. In contrast, Eastern European markets still offer great potential.
Concession — Obwohl, Wenngleich, Wohingegen
Concession acknowledges a fact that might seem to contradict the main clause. The full range:
| Connector | Type | Register |
|---|---|---|
| obwohl | subordinating | all |
| obgleich | subordinating | formal/literary |
| wenngleich | subordinating | formal/written |
| auch wenn | subordinating | all |
| selbst wenn | subordinating | all — stronger, "even if" |
| trotzdem | adverbial | all |
| dennoch | adverbial | formal |
| gleichwohl | adverbial | formal/written |
| nichtsdestotrotz | adverbial | all — slightly emphatic, colloquially ironic |
Wenngleich die Ergebnisse vielversprechend sind, bedarf es weiterer Forschung.
Although the results are promising, further research is required.
Selbst wenn er sich entschuldigt, werde ich ihm nicht vertrauen.
Even if he apologises, I won't trust him.
Die Lage ist schwierig. Dennoch sehen wir Grund zur Hoffnung.
The situation is difficult. Nevertheless we see reason for hope.
Sequencing — Time and Order
Sequencing connectors organise events or arguments in a temporal or logical order. All are adverbial — verb-subject inversion.
| Connector | Meaning | Position in sequence |
|---|---|---|
| zunächst / zuerst | first, initially, to begin with | opening |
| dann / danach / anschließend | then, after that, subsequently | middle |
| daraufhin | thereupon, following that | middle — often cause-triggered |
| gleichzeitig / währenddessen | at the same time, meanwhile | parallel |
| schließlich / zuletzt / am Ende | finally, ultimately, in the end | closing |
| vorher / davor / zuvor | before that, previously | prior step |
| seitdem | since then | ongoing from a point |
Zunächst wurden die Daten gesammelt. Anschließend erfolgte die Auswertung. Schließlich wurden die Ergebnisse präsentiert.
First the data were collected. Subsequently the analysis took place. Finally the results were presented.
Das Unternehmen meldete Insolvenz an. Daraufhin verloren hunderte Mitarbeiter ihren Job.
The company filed for insolvency. Thereupon hundreds of employees lost their jobs.
Anschließend vs. danach
Danach is a neutral time adverb — "after that." Anschließend implies a direct continuation or follow-on step — "subsequently," "following on from that." In formal writing and structured argumentation, anschließend is preferred because it signals that the next step is part of the same process, not just a temporally subsequent event.
Addition — Beyond Außerdem
All addition connectors are adverbial — verb-subject inversion applies.
| Connector | Register | Nuance |
|---|---|---|
| außerdem | all | besides, in addition — most common |
| zudem | formal | moreover, in addition — written |
| darüber hinaus | formal | beyond that, furthermore — adds something exceeding what was said |
| weiterhin | formal | furthermore, additionally — continuing in the same vein |
| ebenfalls | all | also, likewise — used when the same applies to another entity |
| ferner | formal/written | furthermore, also — formal lists and documents |
| überdies | formal/literary | moreover, besides — elevated register |
| nicht zuletzt | formal | not least, last but not least — introduces an important final point |
Das Projekt war erfolgreich. Zudem wurde es innerhalb des Budgets abgeschlossen.
The project was successful. Moreover it was completed within budget.
Die neue Regelung betrifft Großunternehmen. Darüber hinaus sind auch mittelständische Betriebe davon erfasst.
The new regulation affects large companies. Beyond that, medium-sized businesses are also covered by it.
Ferner ist zu beachten, dass die Fristen verbindlich sind.
Furthermore it should be noted that the deadlines are binding.
Nicht zuletzt trägt die gute Kommunikation zum Erfolg des Teams bei.
Not least, good communication contributes to the team's success.
Reformulation and Clarification
These connectors rephrase, clarify, or specify what was just said. They are adverbial unless noted.
| Connector | Meaning | Position / Note |
|---|---|---|
| das heißt (d.h.) | that is, i.e. | adverbial; also used as a parenthetical |
| das bedeutet | that means, which means | adverbial |
| mit anderen Worten | in other words | adverbial |
| nämlich | namely, that is to say | adverbial — never first position; sits after the verb |
| und zwar | namely, specifically, and that is | coordinating — no inversion; adds specificity |
| genauer gesagt | more precisely | adverbial |
| beziehungsweise (bzw.) | or rather, respectively | coordinating — connects alternatives or paired items |
Die Maßnahme gilt ab dem ersten Januar, das heißt, sie tritt in weniger als einem Monat in Kraft.
The measure applies from the first of January, that is, it comes into force in less than a month.
Er kommt nicht — er ist nämlich krank.
He's not coming — he's ill, you see. (nämlich after the verb, never first)
Ich brauche drei Dinge, und zwar Mehl, Eier und Butter.
I need three things, namely flour, eggs, and butter.
Bitte senden Sie Ihre Unterlagen per E-Mail beziehungsweise per Post.
Please send your documents by email or alternatively by post.
Example and Illustration
| Connector | Meaning | Type / Note |
|---|---|---|
| zum Beispiel (z.B.) | for example | adverbial |
| beispielsweise | for example, such as | adverbial — more formal than z.B. |
| etwa | for example, approximately | parenthetical — can appear mid-clause |
| wie etwa | such as | parenthetical — introduces examples within a clause |
| so auch | as is also the case with | adverbial — draws a parallel |
| unter anderem (u.a.) | among other things, including | adverbial — partial list marker |
Viele europäische Städte, beispielsweise Wien und Amsterdam, haben stark in den Radverkehr investiert.
Many European cities, for example Vienna and Amsterdam, have invested heavily in cycling infrastructure.
Das Programm unterstützt unter anderem Alleinerziehende und Geringverdiener.
The programme supports, among others, single parents and low-income earners.
Register Overview
A practical guide to which connectors belong where:
| Context | Preferred connectors | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Casual speech | weil, deshalb, trotzdem, aber, und, dann, auch | folglich, wenngleich, infolgedessen, überdies |
| Informal writing | weil, deshalb, außerdem, allerdings, obwohl | wohingegen, demgegenüber, gleichwohl |
| Journalism | da, jedoch, hingegen, daraufhin, zudem, allerdings | darum, nichtsdestotrotz (ironic exception) |
| Academic / formal | da, folglich, infolgedessen, wenngleich, darüber hinaus, ferner, somit, wohingegen | darum, dann (sequencing) |
| Legal / official | sofern, ferner, beziehungsweise, unter der Voraussetzung dass, gemäß | most spoken-register connectors |
Quick Recap
- Every connector belongs to one of three types with fixed word order effects: coordinating (no change), subordinating (verb last), adverbial (verb-subject inversion).
- Da vs. weil: both subordinating. Da = formal, clause-initial, shared/given information. Weil = all registers, flexible position, new information.
- Result: deshalb/deswegen (neutral) → daher/folglich (formal inference) → infolgedessen/somit (written/official).
- Condition: wenn (general) → falls (contingency) → sofern (formal precondition). All subordinating.
- Purpose: um...zu (same subject, infinitive) vs. damit (different subjects, conjugated verb). Subject test: same → um...zu, different → damit.
- Result clauses: so...dass (degree + result) and sodass (direct consequence). Both subordinating.
- Contrast: aber (neutral) → jedoch/allerdings (formal however) → hingegen/demgegenüber (written direct opposition) → wohingegen/während (subordinating whereas).
- Concession: obwohl → obgleich/wenngleich (formal) → auch wenn/selbst wenn (even if). Adverbial: trotzdem → dennoch → gleichwohl (escalating formality).
- Sequencing: zunächst → dann/anschließend/daraufhin → schließlich/zuletzt. All adverbial. Anschließend implies a direct follow-on step; danach is purely temporal.
- Addition: außerdem → zudem/weiterhin (formal) → darüber hinaus (exceeds prior point) → ferner/überdies (written lists).
- Reformulation: das heißt, nämlich (never first position), und zwar, beziehungsweise (pairs/alternatives).
- Register matters: folglich, infolgedessen, wenngleich, wohingegen belong in formal writing, not casual speech.