10.2 Coordination
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A subordinate clause cannot form a sentence in its own right. It substitutes for a single word or phrase – a noun, adjective or adverbial – in the clause it depends on. In a subordinate clause all parts of the verb are at the end: The subordinate clause plays the part of a noun phrase
Ich habe gehofft, dass Sie kommen würden. I hoped that you would come. [Ich habe es gehofft.]
The subordinate clause plays the part of an adjective
Am liebsten mag ich Autos, die schnell fahren. Best of all I like cars that go fast. [Am liebsten mag ich schnelle Autos.]
The subordinate clause plays the part of an adverbial
Ich kann nicht kommen, weil ich krank bin. I can’t come because I’m ill. [Ich kann deshalb nicht kommen.]
10.2 Coordination The following are the most important coordinating CONJUNCTIONS in German. Most of them can link single words or phrases as well as clauses: aber
but
Sie rief laut, aber der Junge kam nicht. She called loudly, but the boy didn’t come.
denn
for, since
Wir blieben zu Hause, denn das Wetter war schlecht. We stayed at home since the weather was bad.
oder
or
Morgen können wir hier bleiben, oder wir können ins Kino gehen. Tomorrow we can stay here or we can go to the cinema.
sondern but
Wir sind nicht ins Kino gegangen, sondern wir sind hier geblieben. We didn’t go to the cinema but stayed here.
und
Elke liest die Zeitung und Johanna arbeitet im Garten. Elke is reading the newspaper and Johanna is working in the garden.
and
NB The clauses are separated by a comma. This is optional before und (see 12.6).
denn gives a reason and is often translated as English ‘because’. Unlike ‘because’, though, it is a coordinating conjunction introducing a main clause, and a clause with denn cannot begin a sentence.
sondern and aber both translate English ‘but’ and need to be carefully distinguished. Sondern must be used if you are contradicting a preceding negative statement.
