Causal clauses are not only formed by conjunctions, but also by prepositions. In today's article, we will explore together the causal prepositions in German.
Causal clauses are not only formed by conjunctions, but also by prepositions. In today's article, we will explore causal prepositions in German together.
1. WEGEN
- The most commonly used preposition is „wegen".
- When a noun is accompanied by an article or an attributive adjective, it is generally declined in the Genitiv when used with wegen. Conversely, a plural noun without an article or accompanying adjective is generally declined in the Dativ when used with wegen.
wegen + Genitiv: Wegen der Regenfälle fährt niemand mit dem Fahrrad.
(Because of the rain, nobody rides a bicycle.)
wegen + Dativ: Wegen Regenfällen fährt niemand mit dem Fahrrad.
(Nobody rides a bicycle because of the rain.)
2. AUFGRUND
- The preposition „aufgrund" indicates a reason and has a similar meaning to „wegen", so they can be used interchangeably. Example:
Aufgrund seiner guten Computerkenntnisse fand er sofort einen Job.
= Wegen seiner guten Computerkenntnisse fand er sofort einen Job.
(Thanks to his good computer skills, he found a job immediately.)
!!! However, aufgrund is more commonly used in formal/administrative language.
3. AUS - VOR
- The prepositions „aus" und „vor" precede nouns that express emotions, qualities, or attitudes.
- Nouns used with „aus" and „vor" generally take no article.
Example:
Er schlug vor Wut mit der Faust auf den Tisch.
(Furious, he slammed his fist on the table.)
→ „vor" is used for involuntary or unconscious actions/reactions
Aus Verantwortungsgefühl verzichtete er auch in der Krise auf Kündigungen.
(Out of a sense of responsibility, he refrained from layoffs even during the crisis.)
→ „aus" is generally used for conscious actions4. DANK
- The preposition „dank" is only used with something positive. If „dank" is used with something negative, it expresses irony or mockery.
Example:
Dank seiner Aufmerksamkeit konnte der Fehler rechtzeitig entdeckt werden.
(Thanks to his attentiveness, the error was discovered in time.)
Dank seiner unendlich Vorbereitung endete die Produktpräsentation im Chaos.
(Thanks to his endless preparation, the product presentation ended in chaos.) → Irony
!!! Dank can be combined with singular nouns in the Dativ or Genitiv. With plural nouns, it is mostly Genitiv.
Knowledge test
Prepositions of cause: wegen, aufgrund, aus, vor, dank
- 1.
.......... Renovierungsarbeit bleibt das Geschäft bis zum 31. 07. geschlossen.
- 2.
.......... des Starkregens entschloss man sich zur Absage der Veranstaltung.
- 3.
.......... Angst schlottern ihm die Beine.