German Causal Clauses: Easily explained
What are the German Causal clauses?
You can use causal clauses to give a reason or an explanation. The most common German causal clauses are German weil, German denn and German da. Causal clauses give answers to a why question.
- Warum gehst du nicht in den Park? Ich gehe nicht in den Park, weil ich lernen muss.
- Why don't you go to the park? I don't go to the park because I have to study.
What are the different forms of causal clauses?
You can build a causal clause with German weil (because),German denn (because),German da (since, because),wegen/aufgrund (due to),deswegen/deshalb/daher (because of).
Causal clauses with German weil
We use the most common causal clause with German weil (because).
- Der Junge geht in den Park, weil das Wetter schön ist.
- The boy goes in the park because the weather is nice.
- The conjunction “weil” stands always with a subordinate clause.
Causal clauses with German denn
You can also say the sentence with theconjunction German denn which we always form with a main sentence.
- Der Junge geht in den Park, denn das Wetter ist schön.
- The boy goes in the park because the weather is nice.
- The difference is that you connect two main sentences with each other.
- We do not count the conjunction denn as a position in the sentence. That is why you can see that the verb comes at the 2ndposition how it is usual for main sentences.
Causal clauses with "da"
You can also start the causal sentence with a German da sentence.
- Da das Wetter schön ist, geht der Junge in den Park.
- Since (because) the weather is nice, the boy goes in the park.
- The 1stsentence is the subordinate sentence with the verb placed at the last position. The 2ndsentence shows a main sentence with the verb at the 1stposition. The verb is placed at the 1stposition because you have a main and then a subordinate sentence.
We need dain the formal German language as the 1st sentence. We need da for known facts.In this case we know that the weather is nice. In the spoken language people often say da instead of weil.
- Der Junge geht in den Park, da das Wetter schön ist.
- The boy goes in the park because the weather is nice.
Causal clauses with deswegen/deshalb/daher
Deswegen/daher/deshalb are synonyms and the meaning is because of. Depending on which region of Germany you live has an impact which word is more common.
- Das Wetter ist schön, deswegen/daher/deshalb geht der Junge in den Park.
- The weather is nice, because of that the boy goes in the park.
- In this example you change the position of the both sentences. Deswegen/daher/deshalb are synonyms and the meaning is the same.
Causal clauses with wegen/aufgrund
It is also possible to have only one sentence and not two by using “wegen” or “aufgrund” (due to) at the beginnig of the sentence.
- Wegen (aufgrund) des schönen Wetters geht der Junge in den Park. Due to the nice weather the boy goes in the park.
- Wegen and “aufgrund” are formally used with the genetive.
- In the spoken language you can hear people sometimes using the dative instead. Wegen dem schönen Wetter geht der Junge in den Park. To use the dative after wegen/aufgrund is offically not correct but very common in the daily language.
German Causal Clauses Quiz
Master the difference between 'denn' and 'weil' with our free causal clauses quiz. Start practicing now: here
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about German Causal Clauses
What are causal clauses in German?
Causal clauses in German are used to provide reasons or explanations for actions or situations. They typically answer the question "why?" The most common conjunctions used in causal clauses are "weil," "denn," and "da."
How do I form a causal clause with "weil"?
"Weil" introduces a subordinate clause and explains the reason for something. The verb in the "weil" clause is placed at the end.
What’s the difference between using "weil" and "denn"?
"Weil" is used in subordinate clauses, whereas "denn" is used in main clauses. With "denn," the verb stays in the usual second position, just like in a regular main clause.
When should I use "da" instead of "weil"?
"Da" is often used at the beginning of a sentence and is more formal. It’s typically used when the reason is already known or obvious. The structure is similar to "weil," with the verb at the end of the subordinate clause.
How do I use "deswegen," "daher," or "deshalb" in causal clauses?
These words are synonyms meaning "because of" or "therefore," and they introduce the result of the previous statement. The sentence structure changes, placing the verb after these conjunctions.
Can I use "wegen" or "aufgrund" to form a causal clause?
"Wegen" and "aufgrund" can be used to form a causal clause that usually involves only one sentence. These prepositions are followed by a noun in the genitive case, though in spoken German, the dative is sometimes used.
How can I practice the Causal Clauses for free?
You can find a free quiz: here.