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ROADMAP · A2 · Fluent in everyday situations

Konnektoren: deshalb, trotzdem, dann

A2Reason connectors
Es regnet, trotzdem gehen wir spazieren.

It is raining, but we are going for a walk anyway.

EXPLANATION

Deshalb, trotzdem and dann are adverb connectors. They stand in position 1, so the conjugated verb comes right after them.

Adverb connectors such as deshalb, trotzdem, dann, darum, deswegen and sonst take position 1 in the main clause. The conjugated verb comes immediately after them, and the subject follows the verb: Deshalb gehe ich... not Deshalb ich gehe....

Use them for a result, contrast, sequence or consequence. Dann often means a next step in time or order; sonst means “otherwise”. These words do not make a Nebensatz, so the verb does not go to the end.

Contrast this with weil: in a Nebensatz, the verb goes to the end. With denn, word order stays normal, but denn itself is a Konjunktion, so it does not move the verb. With deshalb, the sentence feels like two separate main clauses linked by a result connector.

STRUCTURE

[Vorfeld] + , + Konnektor (Adverb) + konjugiertes Verb + Subjekt + …

These connectors occupy position 1 in the main clause.

  • Ich bin müde, deshalb gehe ich früh ins Bett.I am tired, so I go to bed early.
  • Der Zug hat Verspätung, darum kommen wir später an.The train is delayed, so we will arrive later.
  • Es ist kalt, trotzdem gehen wir spazieren.It is cold, but we go for a walk anyway.
[Vorfeld] + , + Konnektor + konjugiertes Verb + Subjekt + …

Dann and danach show order in time; sonst warns about a negative result.

  • Zuerst räumen wir auf, dann machen wir die Hausaufgaben.First we tidy up, then we do the homework.
  • Ich rufe meine Mutter an, danach gehe ich einkaufen.I call my mother; after that I go shopping.
  • Beeil dich, sonst verpassen wir den Bus.Hurry up, otherwise we will miss the bus.

OVERVIEW

Common connectors and their position

ConnectorMeaningPositionVerb order
deshalbso / thereforeposition 1verb + subject
darumso / for that reasonposition 1verb + subject
deswegenso / for that reasonposition 1verb + subject
trotzdemneverthelessposition 1verb + subject
dannthen / nextposition 1verb + subject
sonstotherwiseposition 1verb + subject
weilbecauseNebensatzverb at the end
dennbecauseposition 0normal order

COMMON MISTAKES

  • Ich komme zu spät, deshalb ich komme später.

    Ich komme zu spät, deshalb komme ich später.

    Deshalb is a position-1 connector, so the verb must come immediately after it.

  • Es ist kalt, trotzdem wir gehen raus.

    Es ist kalt, trotzdem gehen wir raus.

    After trotzdem, the conjugated verb follows right away. Do not send it to the end like in a Nebensatz.

  • Zuerst essen wir, dann wir arbeiten.

    Zuerst essen wir, dann arbeiten wir.

    Dann also takes position 1 in the new clause, so the verb comes after it.

  • Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich bin krank.

    Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.

    Weil is different: it starts a Nebensatz, and the verb goes to the end.

USAGE NOTES

  • Deshalb, darum, deswegen and sonst are common in speech and writing. They sound natural in everyday explanations.
  • After these connectors, the subject comes after the verb: Deshalb fährt mein Bruder... not Deshalb mein Bruder fährt...
  • Do not confuse dann with danach. Danach also takes position 1 and usually means “after that” in time, not simply “then next”.
  • Use weil when you want to explain the reason itself. Use deshalb when you want to give the result.

RELATED

Wortstellung im HauptsatzWord order in main clausesA2Nebensätze mit weil (und denn)because clausesA2Konjunktionen: und, oder, aber, denn, sondernConjunctions and word orderA1Nebensätze mit wennWenn-clausesA2
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