Konjunktionen I

The coordinating conjunctions

Conjunctions are also called connecting words or connectors and have the task of connecting words, word groups, parts of sentences, or even whole sentences with one another. In this lesson, we will initially only deal with the so-called coordinating conjunctions.

Coordinating conjunctions connect clauses of equal rank, i.e. either main clause + main clause or subordinate clause + subordinate clause. You can also connect parts of sentences, groups of words, or individual words. They cannot be changed in their form and do not form a separate part of a sentence.

These are the coordinating conjunctions: denn (because), und (and), oder (or), aber (but), sondern (but) and außer (except)

• „Tim spielt Fussball und Sabrina ist im Tanzunterricht.“ ("Tim plays soccer and Sabrina is in dance class.")


• „Fahren wir mit dem Auto oder gehen wir zu Fuss?“ ("Do we go by car or do we go on foot?")

As described above, main clauses are connected through coordinating conjunctions. The rule here is that the conjunction is in position 0 and is therefore not part of either of the two sentences. In a sense, it stands between the sentences.

If the connective word is between the sentences, it does not influence the word order. The order remains as if the sentences were standing independently of each other.

Example:

Hauptsatz	Konjunktion	Hauptsatz
Ich esse Birnen	und	du isst Äpfel.
Ich esse Birnen.	-	Du isst Äpfel.

Functions

The coordinating conjunctions have different functions:

• Enumeration:
  Ich Kaufe Wurst und Käse. (I buy sausage and cheese.)


• Alternative:
  Möchtest du Wasser oder Saft? (Do you want water or juice?)


• Contrast:
  Ich mag keine Hunde, aber ich mag Katzen. (I don't like dogs, but I like cats.)


• Cause and effect:
  Ich gehe schlafen, denn ich bin müde. (I'm going to sleep because I'm tired)


• Restrictive:
  Ich lerne jeden Tag Deutsch, außer sonntags. (I learn German every day, except on Sundays.)


• Contradiction / Correction:
  Ich habe den Joghurt nicht gegessen, sondern dein Bruder. (I didn't eat the yogurt, but your brother did.)