A union is a service part of speech that connects several simple sentences together, forming a complex one, as well as homogeneous subjects, predicates and other members of the sentence. In German, unions are called Bindewörter, that is, literally "connecting words."

Classification

In German, conjunctions, as in Russian, are divided into two main groups: coordinating and subordinating. Unions belonging to the first category form complex sentences, and those that make up the second, respectively, are complex.

In turn, within these two groups, conjunctions in German are also divided into subgroups based on what functions they perform in the sentence. For example, coordinating conjunctions can be connecting, co- and contrasting, causal, concessive and investigative. Subordinates include conditional unions, target, temporary, comparative and others.

German coordinating conjunctions

You should start studying with the coordinating ones, as they are much easier in terms of grammar. In most cases, coordinating conjunctions in German do not affect the order of words in a sentence and serve as a kind of connecting element.

For example, such unions are und (and) - connecting, aber (but) - opposing, sondern (a) - opposing, oder (or) - opposing and others.

Ich studiere Französisch. Mein Freund studiert English. (I am studying French. My friend is studying English).

Die Sonne ging unter. Es ist noch sehr warm. (The sun has set. It is still very warm).

With unions, these sentences will look like this.

Ich studiere Französisch, sondern mein Freund studiert Englisch. (I am studying French and my friend is studying English).

Die Sonne ging unter, aber es ist noch sehr warm. (The sun has set, but it is still very warm).

Word order-changing coordinating conjunctions

However, among the coordinating unions there are those that affect the word order in the sentence. These include jedoch (nevertheless) - concessive and also (so) - causal.

Sie isst nur Obst und Gemüse, jedoch nimmt sie schnell zu. (She eats only fruits and vegetables, but she gains weight quickly).

As you can see from the example, in a sentence with jedoch, the predicate comes immediately after the conjunction, and then the subject and all the remaining members. In the case of also, the word order will be the same.

German Subordinating Conjunctions

Sentences with subordinating conjunctions are called complex. In them, the main and subordinate parts can be distinguished and, unlike complex sentences, in which both parts are equal in rights, in a complex subordinate clause, the subordinate part directly depends on the main one and cannot exist separately.

The most common subordinating conjunctions are deshalb (therefore) - investigative, weil (because) - causal, damit (to) - causal, wenn (when) - temporary and others. These conjunctions in German have a significant impact on word order.

Ich gehe nach England. Ichlerne English. (I'm going to England. I'm learning English).

With the causal union weil, the sentence would sound like this.

Ich gehe nach England, weil ich Englisch lerne. (I'm going to England because I'm learning English).

You can see that the word order has changed. After the union is the subject, then all the other members of the sentence. In turn, the predicate moved to the very end.

If we consider the same sentence, but using a different union deshalb, then its meaning will be preserved, but the construction itself will look somewhat different.

Ich lerne Englisch, deshalb gehe ich nach England. I study English, so I'm going to England.

The main and subordinate parts have changed places, since the conjunction deshalb is investigative. The word order has also changed: now after the conjunction is the predicate, then the subject, and after it everything else.

Another subordinating conjunction is damit.

Ich gehe nach Russland. Ich lerne Russisch. I'm going to Russia. I learn Russian.

Ich gehe nach Russland, damit ich Russisch lerne. I am going to Russia to learn Russian. (Literally - "so that I learn Russian")

The subject comes after the conjunction, and the predicate comes at the very end.

This union can be replaced by an infinitive construction, and the sentence will be translated in the same way.

Ich mache Sport, um Russisch zu lernen.

However, one feature should be taken into account. A causal conjunction can be replaced by this construction only when only one subject is mentioned in the sentence. In a specific example, "I'm going to Russia" and "I'm learning Russian."

Unions are functional words, they connect members of a sentence or sentence.

Distinguish coordinating and subordinating unions.

Coordinating conjunctions connect homogeneous members of a sentence, independent sentences, as well as homogeneous subordinate clauses. Coordinating conjunctions are divided by meaning into connecting, adversative, causal and investigative.

By structure, simple coordinating unions are distinguished ( aber, denn, order, und etc.) and doubles ( entweder... order, bald... bald, sowohl... als auch, weder... night ).

1. Connecting unions:

1) und "and": Hiergibt es Zeitungen und Zeitschriften. -Herethere isnewspapersandmagazines.

2) also “also, too, and; even": Ichkenneihnalso - I know him too.So hat er auch gemacht.- Soheanddid. Auch der kleinste Fehler darf nicht übersehen werden. - Evenslightesterrornotmaybeto beskipped.

3) sowie "(equal) as and, as well": Hier gibt es Zeitungen und Zeitschriften sowie Broschüren und Bücher. -Herethere isnewspapersandmagazines, aalsobrochuresandbooks.

4) sowohl ... als auch (sowohl ... wie auch) "and... and", "as... so and": sowohl mein Bruder als auch ich -andmybrother, andI; howmybrother, SoandI; Er kannte sowohl die Stadt selbst als auch (wie auch) ihre Umgebung genau. - HeGoodknew, howmyselfcity, Soandhisaroundnews.

5) nothing nur ... sondern auch "not only but": Er lebt hier nicht mir im Sommer, sondern auch im Winter. -Helivesherenotonlysummer, butandwinter.

6) ausserdem "Moreover": Er ist klug und ausserdem sehr fleißig. -Hesmartand, BesidesTogo, verydiligent.

7) und zwar "namely; and moreover": Kommen Sie morgen, und zwar um 2 Uhr.-Come tomorrow, namely at 2 o'clock.Ermachtdas,undzwarsofort. - He will do it and, moreover, immediately.

8) weder... noch "no no": Weder er noch ich können morgen kommen. -Neitherhe, norInotmogemtomorrowcome.

9) bald ... bald "that ... that"; bald so, bald anders - either way or otherwise: Bald regnete es, bald schneite es.Thatwalkedrain, thensnow.

10) Dann "then": Zuerst lese ich den Text, dann übersetze ich ihn. -FirstIchiI melttext, thenII translatehis.

2. Opposing unions:

I) aber "but, however": DiesesKapitelistkurz,aberWichtig. - This chapter is short but (however) important.

2) allein "but, however": Er mußte bald kommen, allein wir konnten nicht länger warten.-He was supposed to be here soon, but we couldn't wait any longer.. Note the ambiguity of allein. In addition to the meaning "but", allein has meaning"one, one, one, alone" and the meaning "only"; wirgesternalleinzuhouse. - He was alone at home yesterday,alleinercannunshelfen. - Only he can help us..

3) und "a": Allegehen,undichsollbleiben. - Everyone leaves, but I have to stay.

4) sondern "a": Er ist nicht Student, Sondern Aspirant. - Henotstudent, agraduate student.

5) sonst "otherwise": Beeilen Sie sich, sonst kommen Sie zu spät. -hurry up, athen(otherwise) yoube late.

6) doch “however, but; nevertheless, nevertheless": Er wollte kommen, doch sein Vater wurde krank. -Hewantedcome, butgot sickhisfather. Er hat es versprochen, aber hat es doch nicht gemacht. - Hepromised, butallsamenotdidthis.

7) jedoch, dennoch "however, nevertheless, nonetheless": Er ist sehr beschäftigt, jedoch hilft er mir.-He is very busy, nevertheless (however, after all) he helps me.

8) trotzdem "in spite of this, nevertheless": Esregnite,trotzdemcamerzuuns. - It was raining, despite this (yet) he came to us.

9) zwar "true though(s)": Ercamzwar,dochwareszuspat. He even came, but it was too late. He did come, but it was too late.

10) order "or": Wir fahren heute or morgen. -Welet's gotodayortomorrow. Wählen Sie das eine oder das andere. - Selectthenorother.

11) entweder... order "or ... or, either ... or": Entwederkommter,ordererruftan. - He will either come or call on the phone. He'll either come or call on the phone.

3. Causal unions.

1) denn "because, because, for": Ersprichtgutdeutsch,dennerlebtschonlangeinLeipzig. - He speaks good German, as he has been living in Leipzig for a long time..

2) na mlich "The fact is that; because, after all": Ichkonnteihnnothingsehen,eristnamlichverreist. - I could not see him, the fact is that he left.

Sometimes nämlich is generally omitted when translating a sentence into Russian: Wirsindzuspatgekommen,wirhattenunsnamlichinderZeitgeirrt. - We were late, we miscalculated the time.

3) also “so, so; therefore, therefore, means": HiersindseineSachen,alsoisterhiergewesen. - Here are his things, so he was here..

4) folglich"therefore, therefore, so": DieSachensindnothinggebrachtwordsen,folglichmussenwirsieholen. - Things have not been brought, therefore (therefore, so) we must deliver them ourselves.

5) demzufolge "because of this, consequently": Erfuhrfruherweg,demzufolgemußerbereitshiersein. - He left early, so he must be here by now..

6) darum, deshalb, deswegen "that's why": Ich habe viel zu tun, darum kann ich nicht mit Ihnen gehen. -Atmea lot ofcases, that's whyInotcangoWithyou.

7) daher "and (a) therefore, but because": Die Kritik ist gerecht, daher sollen wir anders arbeiten.-Criticism is justified and therefore we must work differently.

Some coordinating conjunctions may appear in the middle of a sentence, for example: DiesesKapitelistkurz,esistabersehrWichtig. This chapter is short, but it is very important.Siehilftmirinenglish,sieistnamlichEnglischlehrerin. - She helps me in English, she's an English teacher.DieKritikistgerecht,wirSollendaherandersarbeiten.- The criticism is justified and therefore we must work differently.

Subordinating conjunctions connect the subordinate clause with the main clause. Subordinating unions are divided by meaning into temporary, conditional, target, causal, investigative, modes of action, comparative, concessive, restrictive. Union dass "what to" and union ob "li" does not belong to any of the above groups.

1. Temporary alliances:

I) als "when": Als wir in Berlin waren, besuchten wir dieses Museum. -WhenwewereinBerlin, wewentinthismuseum.

2) Wenn "when": Wenn er kommt, spielen wir Schach. -Whenhecomes, weplayinchess.

3) wa hrend "bye; while": Wahrendwirsprachen,laserZeitung. - While we were talking, he was reading a newspaper..

4) bis "not yet": WartenSie,bisichkomme. - Wait until I come.

5) bevor, ehe "before": Ichmußdasmachen,beforeercommt. - I have to do it before he comes..

6) seat, seitdem "since": Seit(seatdem)erhierstudent,machtergrosseFortschritte. - Since he has been studying here, he has made great strides..

7) nachdem "after; when": Derbriefcam,nachdemerabuserwar. - The letter came after he left. (The letter came when he had already left.)

8) sobald "once": Sobalderkommt,beginnenwirmitderArbeit. - As soon as he arrives, we will start work..

9) solange "bye; until": Solangeergesundist,wilderarbeiten. - As long as he is healthy, he will work.

10) soft "whenever": Softichdichsehe,siehstdubesseraus. - Every time I see you, you look better..

11) yes, wo "when" (mostly after nouns or adverbs with a temporary meaning): Jetzt,da (wo)allesvoruberist,erinnereichMichgerndaran. - Now that everything is behind me, I remember it with pleasure.ZudemZeitpunkt,da (wo)... - At the time when...

2. Conditional unions

1) Wenn "if": WennerUrlaubbekommt,wildernightheuteabreisen. - If he gets a vacation, he will leave today.

2) falls, im Falle dass "if": Im Falle, daß es geschieht, rufen Sie mich an. -ATcaseifthis iswill happen, callto me.

3. Target alliances

1) damit "to": Beeilen Sie sich, damit wir nicht zu spät kommen. -hurry up, towenotlate.

2) dass "to": Beeilen Sie sich, daß wir nicht zu spät kommen. -hurry up, towenotlate.

4. Causal unions

1) Weil "because, since": Ercannheutenothingcomment,Weilerkrankist. - He can't come today because he is sick..

2) da "because; because": Daerkrankwar,konnteernothingcomment. - Since he was sick, he could not come.

5. Investigative alliances

1) so dass ( so daß) "so": Ercamsehrspat,sodassichihnnothingmehrsprechenkonnte. - He came very late, so I couldn't talk to him..

2) so... dass (so is the correlate) "so... that": Eswarsodunkel,dasswirnothingsehenconnten. - It was so dark that we couldn't see anything..

3) als dass "to" (with correlate zu in the main sentence): Eristzujung,alsdasserdasverstehenkonnte. - He's too young to understand..

6. Unions of action

1) indem - sentences with this union are translated into Russian by a participial turnover, or a subordinate clause with the conjunctions “so that, since”: Erhilftuns,indemerunsereFehlererklart. He helps us by explaining our mistakes to us.Manstorteihn,indemmananihnimmerwiederFragenstellte. - He was disturbed by the fact that (since) they asked questions all the time.

2) dadurch, dass “the fact that; due to the fact that; thanks to": ManstorteihnbeiderArbeitdadurch,dassdieganzeZeithin-undhergegangenwurde. - He was prevented from working by walking back and forth all the time.

3) Ohnedass“although not; but, but, moreover, and other options: Erhatmirgeholfen,OhnedassichihnDarumgebetenhate. He helped me even though I didn't ask him to..Ergingweg,Ohnedassesjemandbemerkte. - He left, but (moreover) no one noticed it.

7. Comparative conjunctions

1) wie "how" (with so correlate): Dieses Buch ist nicht so interessant, wie ich erwartet habe. -Thisbooknotsuchinteresting, howIexpected.

2) als "how": Dieses Buch ist interessanter, als ich erwartet habe. -Thisbookmore interesting, howIexpected.

3) je... desto, je... tun so, je... je "what ... that": Je seltener eine Briefmarke ist, desto teurer (um so teurer) ist sie. -Howmorerarehappenspostalbrand, topicsshe isexpensive. Jemehrerhat,jemehrwiller. - The more he has, the more he wants.

4) je nachdem "depending on, depending on": JenachdemichZeithatte,lasichmehrorderWeniger. - Depending on how much time I had, I read more or less. Depending on the time, I read more or less.

5) als, als ob, als Wenn "as if" - Ertat,alswareallesinOrdnung.Er tat,als ob (als wenn) alles in Ordnung wäre. - Hedidview, howas ifallinokay.

8. Concession alliances.

1) obwohl, obgleich, obzwar, obschon "although; although": Obwohlesregnite,camerzuuns. - Although it was raining, he came to us. Even though it was raining, he came to us.

2) trotzdem "although; although": Trotzdemesregnite,camerzuuns. - Despite the fact that it was raining, he came to us. Althoughwalkedrain, hecametous.

3) wenn...auch "even though, no matter how": Wenn er auch kräftig ist, das ist zu schwer für ihn. -Althoughheandstrong, this istoo muchhardforhim.

9. Restrictive unions

I) (in) sofern, (in) soweit "because the": Er studiert Mathematik, insofern es fur seine Arbeit nötig ist.-He studies mathematics (insofar as it is necessary for his work).

2) soviel "as far": Sovielichweiss,haterzugestimmt. - As far as I know, he agreed.

Some subordinating conjunctions also connect sentence members, for example, wie "how": Eristebensoaltwieich. He is the same age as me; als "how": Erist alteralsich. - He's older than me..

There are a lot of conjunctions in German, and all of them are used in different types of sentences.

According to their composition, the German unions are divided into:
1. monosyllabic or simple: "und", "dass", "weil" and etc.;
2. composite or complex: "nachdem", "solange" and etc;
3. consisting of two elements: "so dass", "und zwar" and etc.;
4. paired: “weder…noch”, “entweder…oder”, “bald…bald”, “nicht nur … sondern auch” and others.

Conjunctions in German

Unions are coordinating and subordinating.

writing- connect homogeneous parts of the sentence, subordinating- form a connection between parts of a sentence that are dependent on each other. This lesson will focus on composing conjunctions.

Frequent unions include such simple unions as und(and), sondern(a), aber(but), order(or).

Have you met them before?
Ich habe einen Bruder und zwei Schwestern.
Magst du Tee oder Kaffee?
Gehen wir ins Kino heute oder morgen?
Er ist aber nicht so klug.

These unions can connect not only homogeneous members of a sentence, but also simple sentences as part of a complex one. They serve as a connecting element and do not affect word order: Ich studiere Deutsch, und mein Bruder studiert English.

The same thing happens with paired unions: they can connect both simple sentences as part of a complex one and homogeneous members of a sentence. For example: Ich studiere nicht nur Deutsch, sondern auch English.

The most common pair unions include:

Consider a few more examples of the use of paired unions. Pay attention to word order:

Sowohl ich als auch meine Schwester studieren an der Universität. Both my sister and I study at the university.
Sie gehen heute abend etweder ins Kino oder zum Konzert.- Tonight they are going either to the cinema or to a concert.

with union "weder... noch" no negation is used - this union is negative in itself: Ich esse weder Fisch noch Fleisch. I don't eat fish or meat.

allied words

In addition to unions, allied words are also used in German. They differ from unions in that they affect the order of words in a sentence - after allied words, the subject follows, that is, inversion is used.

Allied words include:

Consider a few examples of the use of allied words:
Das Wasser war kalt, trozdem schwammen wir. The water was cold, despite this, we took a swim.
Zuerst gehen wir zur Post, dann müssen wir nach Hause fahren.- First we will go to the post office, then we must go home.

After allied words doch, jedoch word order can be either direct or reverse.

Practice using different conjunctions by doing the following exercise.

Tasks for the lesson

Exercise 1. Translate into German.

1. My parents go to the theatre, but I stay at home.
2. I am sick, so I am not going to work tomorrow.
3. The weather was good, despite this, we stayed at home.
4. You must do it today, otherwise you won't have time tomorrow.
5. Despite my request, she did not call.
6. I was at school and you had already left.
7. Now it's snowing, then the sun is shining.
8. I wanted (möchte) to buy this book, but it was too expensive.
9. Tonight I will either read a book or watch TV.
10. I translated the text, but it was too difficult for me.

Answer 1.

1. Meine Eltern gehen ins Theatre, aber ich bleibe zu Hause.
2. Ich bin krank, deshalb gehe ich morgen nicht zur Arbeit.
3. Das Wetter war sehr schön, trotzdem blieben wir zu Hause.
4. Du musst das heute machen, sonst hast du morgen keine Zeit.
5. Trotz meiner Bitte hat sie nicht anrufen.
6. Ich war in derSchule, sondern du bist schon weggegangen.
7. Bald regnet es, bald scheint es.
8. Ich möchte dieses Buch kaufen, doch es war sehr teuer.
9. Heute abend ich entweder lese ein Buch oder sehe fern.
10. Ich überzetzte den Text, aber es war zu schwierig für mich.

In this lesson, you will learn what are double conjunctions in german and what semantic groups they are divided into. You can also practice to distinguish between them.

Double conjunctions can link both members of a sentence and two main sentences.

Double alliances distinguished by meaning:

1. Negative with clarification:

Nicht (kein)…, sondern (not… but…)

Das ist kein Tablet, sondern ein Reader - This is not a tablet, but a “reader”

Das ist kein Junge, sondern ein Mädchen - This is not a boy, but a girl

2. Alternative:

Entweder ..., oder (or ..., or ...)

Ich möchte entweder nach Deutschland, oder nach Österreich fahren - I would like to go either to Germany or to Austria

Thomas will entweder ein rotes, oder ein weißes Auto kaufen - Thomas wants to buy either a red or a white car

3. Double listing:

Sowohl…, als/wie auch (both… and…)

Meine Schwester spricht nicht nur Deutsch, sondern auch Englisch - My sister speaks not only German, but also English

Diese Arzneimittel sind sowohl im Ausland, als auch in unserem Land zu kaufen - These medicines can be bought both abroad and in our country

Nicht nur…, sondern auch (not only… but also…)

Er kann dir nicht nur raten, sondern auch helfen - He can not only advise you, but also help you

Wir fahren nicht nur in die Schweiz, sondern auch in die Türkei - We will go not only to Switzerland, but also to Turkey

4. Double negation:

Weder..., noch (neither... nor...)

Mein Bruder isst weder Fisch, noch Fleisch - My brother does not eat fish or meat

Ihm gefällt weder Tee, noch Kaffee - He doesn't like tea or coffee

5. Contradiction:

Zwar ..., aber (although ..., but also ...)

Sie ist zwar klug, aber sie hat kein Buch gelesen - Although she is smart, she has not read a single book

Wir wohnen zwar in Deutschland, aber wir können kein Deutsch sprechen - Although we live in Germany, we do not speak German.

Exercises(insert the appropriate conjunctions into the sentences):

1. Dorthin kann man entweder mit dem Flugzeug fliegen, order mit dem Zug fahren

2. In der Hand hielter kein handy, sondern einen Rechner

3. Was kannst du über diesen Menschen sagen? – Erwar weder hoch, night Niedrig und weder jung, night alt

4. Diese Frau war weder klug, night schon

5. Er Liebt zwar sophie, aber flirtet auch mit Natali

6. Sie mag die Haustiere: sowohl katzen, als auch hunde

7. Viele Businessleute haben zwar viel Geld, aber Wenig Zeit

8. Es gibt nur weinige Jugendliche, die weder Alcohol trinken, night Zigaretten rauchen

9. Wir konnen nur entweder ans Meer, order ins Gebirge fahren

10. Das ist kein notizblock, sondern ein Buch