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Complex sentences
The subject of the clause after sondern or und can be omitted (‘understood’) if it is the same as that of the first clause: Angela kam um vier Uhr an und ging dann zu ihrer Tante. Angela arrived at four and then went to her aunt’s. Wir gingen nicht ins Kino, sondern blieben zu Hause. We didn’t go to the cinema but stayed at home. However, if there is a word or phrase in front of the verb in the second clause, the SUBJECT must be repeated: Angela schrieb ein paar Briefe und dann ging sie zu ihrer Tante. Angela wrote a few letters and then she went to her aunt’s. Coordinating conjunctions most often link MAIN CLAUSES, with the verb in second position in both, as the examples given so far show. But they can also link two parallel SUBORDINATE CLAUSES (introduced by a subordinating conjunction). In this case the verb is in final position in both clauses: Ich weiß, dass sie gestern krank war und dass ihr Mann deswegen zu Hause geblieben ist. I know that she was ill yesterday and that her husband stayed at home for that reason.
10.3 Subordination: noun clauses Clauses introduced by the subordinating CONJUNCTION dass (that) substitute for a noun or noun phrase in the clause they depend on. A dass-clause can substitute for a NOUN PHRASE in a number of ways: verb subject
Dass sie morgen kommt, erstaunt mich. I find it surprising that she’s coming tomorrow. Dass er sie betrogen hat, steht jetzt fest. It is now certain that he betrayed her.
accusative object
Sie versicherte mir, dass alles in Ordnung war. She assured me that everything was all right. Ich weiß, dass sie das Examen bestanden hat. I know that she has passed the exam.
prepositional object
Sie ärgerte sich darüber, dass er so wenig getan hatte. She was annoyed that he had done so little. Er wartete darauf, dass Peter ihn grüßte. He waited for Peter to greet him.
dependent on a noun or adjective
Sie hatte das Gefühl, dass er bald kommen könnte. She had the feeling that he might come soon. Sie war böse, dass er es ihr nicht gesagt hatte. She was angry that he had not told her about it.
