Give a reason or report a thought with the verb at the end of the subordinate clause.
Local saving is unavailable. You can keep practising, but progress may not remain after closing the page.
What you will learn
Give a reason or report a thought with the verb at the end of the subordinate clause.
Subordinate clauses with weil and dass
Weil introduces a reason: Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin. Dass introduces the content of knowledge, statements or thoughts: Ich weiß, dass du heute kommst. Separate the main and subordinate clauses with a comma.
In these subordinate clauses the finite verb goes last. In the perfect, the auxiliary follows the participle: weil ich gelernt habe. A separable verb joins up at the end: dass er früh aufsteht.
If the subordinate clause comes first, it occupies the first position. The main verb then precedes its subject: Weil ich krank bin, bleibe ich zu Hause.
Examples
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.
Meaning
I am staying at home because I am ill.
Ich weiß, dass du heute kommst.
Meaning
I know that you are coming today.
Weil es regnet, nehmen wir den Bus.
Meaning
Because it is raining, we are taking the bus.
Lesson exercises
A2 · 10
Choose one answer for immediate feedback and a brief explanation.
Answered / 10
Correct / 10
You have answered all ten exercises. Retry them to improve your score.
Exercise 1 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
Warum bleibst du zu Hause? — ___ ich krank bin.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: Weil
Why? Warum asks why; Weil introduces the reason.
Exercise 2 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
Ich weiß, ___ du heute kommst.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: dass
Why? Dass introduces what is known.
Exercise 3 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank ___.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: bin
Why? Ich takes bin at the end of the subordinate clause.
Exercise 4 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
Ich denke, dass er morgen ___. (kommen)
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: kommt
Why? Er takes kommt in final position.
Exercise 5 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
weil / ich / gelernt / habe
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: weil ich gelernt habe
Why? This perfect clause ends with auxiliary habe.
Exercise 6 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
Weil es regnet, ___ wir den Bus.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: nehmen
Why? After the subordinate clause come nehmen and wir.
Exercise 7 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
Ich weiß, dass er früh ___. (aufstehen)
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: aufsteht
Why? The separable verb joins up at the end of the clause.
Exercise 8 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
Wähle den korrekt gesetzten Satz.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: Ich weiß, dass sie kommt.
Why? Use a comma before dass and put the verb last.
Exercise 9 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
Warum lernst du? — Ich lerne, ___ ich die Prüfung bestehen möchte.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: weil
Why? Wanting to pass is the reason, so use weil.
Exercise 10 / 10
Choose the answer that fits the context.
Sie sagt, ___.
Correct answer ✓Incorrect answer
Correct answer: dass sie heute arbeitet
Why? Arbeitet goes last in the dass clause.
Only this lesson’s progress was cleared.
Exercise progress stays in this browser only. No account and no answers sent to the server. Clearing browser data may remove it.
Grammar references for further reading
Original A2 lessons, examples and exercises by WikiGerman. Study them in order or choose a topic to review.