CEFR A1 • Zusammengesetzte Sätze

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Satzverbindung: Konjunktionen

Q: Do coordinating conjunctions like und, aber, and denn change the word order in German?

No. Coordinating conjunctions sit at position zero — they are placed between two main clauses but are not counted as part of either clause. This means the conjugated verb in the second clause stays at its normal second position , exactly as it would in a standalone sentence. For example: Ich esse gern Pasta, und sie kocht gern Suppe. Both verbs stay at position 2. This is different from subordinating conjunctions like weil , which push the verb to the end.

Q: When should I use sondern instead of aber in German?

Use sondern only when the first clause contains a negation ( nicht or kein ) and the second clause provides the correct replacement . Example: Er kommt nicht aus München, sondern er kommt aus Nürnberg. Use aber when both clauses are positive and you are expressing a simple contrast or something unexpected: Das Hotel ist teuer, aber es ist sehr schön. Quick rule: if “but rather” fits in English, use sondern ; if plain “but” fits, use aber .

Q: What is the difference between denn and weil in German?

Both denn and weil mean because , but they affect word order differently. Denn is a coordinating conjunction at position zero — the verb in the reason clause stays at position 2: Wir nehmen den Bus, denn das Auto ist kaputt. Weil is a subordinating conjunction that sends the verb to the very end of its clause: Wir nehmen den Bus, weil das Auto kaputt ist . At A1 level, denn is easier to use because it requires no change to normal word order.

At CEFR level A1, mastering coordinating conjunctions lets you link ideas into longer, more natural sentences — an essential step from single-clause statements to real German communication.

Kernregel: Coordinating conjunctions sit at position zero between two main clauses, leaving the verb in each clause at its normal second position — for example, Ich esse gern Kaffee, und meine Schwester trinkt lieber Tee.

Was sind koordinierende Konjunktionen? – What Are Coordinating Conjunctions?

A coordinating conjunction is a small connecting word that joins two independent main clauses into a single sentence. Unlike subordinating conjunctions (such as weil or dass), which send the verb to the end of a clause, coordinating conjunctions leave the word order of both clauses completely unchanged.

The five most important coordinating conjunctions at A1 level are:

und oder aber denn sondern

Die goldene Regel

Coordinating conjunctions sit at position zero — they are placed between the two clauses but are not counted as part of either one. Because of this, the conjugated verb in each clause remains in its usual second position, exactly as it would be in a standalone sentence.

Die Grundstruktur – Basic Sentence Structure

Every sentence with a coordinating conjunction follows the same basic pattern. Each half is a fully formed main clause; the conjunction simply bridges them:

[Hauptsatz 1] + Konjunktion + [Hauptsatz 2]

Both clauses keep their normal subject–verb–rest order.

Compare two sentences standing alone with the same two sentences joined by und:

Ich trinke gern Kaffee. Meine Schwester trinkt lieber Tee.

Two separate sentences, each complete on its own.

Ich trinke gern Kaffee, und meine Schwester trinkt lieber Tee.

Joined with und — both verbs stay in position 2, nothing moves.

Die fünf Konjunktionen im Detail – The Five Conjunctions in Detail

und – Addition

Und adds one idea onto another. It is the most neutral of the five and corresponds to English and. The subjects of the two clauses can be the same person or two different people.

Tobias kocht das Abendessen, und Klara macht den Nachtisch.

Tobias cooks dinner, and Klara makes dessert.

Wir lernen Deutsch, und unsere Freunde lernen Französisch.

We are learning German, and our friends are learning French.

oder – Alternative

Oder presents two possibilities, only one of which applies. It corresponds to English or and is especially common in questions and when weighing up choices.

Fahren wir mit dem Bus, oder nehmen wir das Fahrrad?

Shall we take the bus, or shall we cycle?

Du kannst jetzt essen, oder du wartest bis nach dem Training.

You can eat now, or you can wait until after training.

aber – Gegensatz

Aber points out a contrast or something unexpected between two ideas. It corresponds to English but or however. Both clauses can be positive — no negation is required.

Das Wetter ist grau, aber wir gehen trotzdem spazieren.

The weather is grey, but we’re going for a walk anyway.

Das Buch ist lang, aber es ist sehr spannend.

The book is long, but it is very gripping.

denn – Grund

Denn introduces a reason or explanation and corresponds to English because or for. The first clause states a fact or decision; the second explains why. Crucially, unlike weil, the verb in the denn clause stays in position 2.

Wir bestellen Pizza, denn der Kühlschrank ist leer.

We’re ordering pizza, because the fridge is empty.

Leon geht früh schlafen, denn er hat morgen einen wichtigen Termin.

Leon is going to bed early, because he has an important appointment tomorrow.

sondern – Korrektur nach Negation

Sondern also expresses contrast, but it has one strict condition: the first clause must contain a negation (nicht, kein, etc.). The second clause then replaces or corrects what was negated. It corresponds to English but rather or but instead.

Das ist nicht der Eingang, sondern das ist der Ausgang.

That is not the entrance, but (rather) the exit.

Sie wohnt nicht mehr in Wien, sondern sie lebt jetzt in Graz.

She no longer lives in Vienna, but now lives in Graz.

Wortstellung: das Verb bleibt auf Position 2 – Word Order: Verb Stays at Position 2

The table below shows how the conjunction sits outside both clauses and leaves the verb in its normal second position. Read across each row to see how the sentence is assembled:

Hauptsatz 1	Konj.	Pos. 1	Verb (Pos. 2)	Rest
Ich arbeite heute,	aber	morgen	habe	ich frei.
Wir fahren mit dem Zug,	denn	das Auto	ist	in der Werkstatt.
Sie isst kein Fleisch,	sondern	sie	isst	nur Gemüse.
Du kannst lesen,	oder	wir	spielen	ein Spiel.

aber vs. sondern – Choosing the Right Contrast Conjunction

Both conjunctions express contrast and both translate as but in English — which is why learners often confuse them. The deciding factor is simple: does the first clause contain a negation?

aber — kein Nein nötig

Use aber when both clauses are positive statements and you are simply noting something unexpected or contradictory.

Die Wohnung ist klein, aber sie hat einen schönen Balkon.

The flat is small, but it has a lovely balcony.

sondern — Negation erforderlich

Use sondern when the first clause negates something and the second clause provides the correct version.

Die Wohnung ist nicht groß, sondern sie ist sehr klein.

The flat is not large, but (rather) it is very small.

Schnelltest: Try translating the second clause as “but rather …” or “but instead …”. If that sounds natural in English, use sondern. If plain “but” fits better, use aber.

Übersicht – All Five Conjunctions at a Glance

A quick-reference summary of all five conjunctions:

Konjunktion	Funktion	Englisch	Beispiel
und	Addition	and	Er liest, und sie schreibt.
oder	Alternative	or	Kommst du mit, oder bleibst du hier?
aber	Gegensatz	but / however	Der Zug ist voll, aber wir finden Plätze.
denn	Grund	because / for	Sie nimmt einen Mantel, denn es ist kalt.
sondern	Korrektur (nach Negation)	but rather	Er kommt nicht aus Berlin, sondern er kommt aus Dresden.

Zusammenfassung – Quick Reference

Coordinating conjunctions connect two main clauses without changing the word order of either one.
They sit at position zero — the conjugated verb in both clauses stays at position 2.
und adds information; oder presents an alternative; denn explains a reason.
aber signals a contrast between two positive ideas — no negation required.
sondern corrects a negation — the first clause must contain nicht or kein, and the second provides the true information.
Quick check: but rather → use sondern; but → use aber.

Häufig gestellte Fragen – FAQ

Do coordinating conjunctions like und, aber, and denn change the word order in German?

No. Coordinating conjunctions sit at position zero — they are placed between two main clauses but are not counted as part of either clause. This means the conjugated verb in the second clause stays at its normal second position, exactly as it would in a standalone sentence. For example: Ich esse gern Pasta, und sie kocht gern Suppe. Both verbs stay at position 2. This is different from subordinating conjunctions like weil, which push the verb to the end.

When should I use sondern instead of aber in German?

Use sondern only when the first clause contains a negation (nicht or kein) and the second clause provides the correct replacement. Example: Er kommt nicht aus München, sondern er kommt aus Nürnberg. Use aber when both clauses are positive and you are expressing a simple contrast or something unexpected: Das Hotel ist teuer, aber es ist sehr schön. Quick rule: if “but rather” fits in English, use sondern; if plain “but” fits, use aber.

What is the difference between denn and weil in German?

Both denn and weil mean because, but they affect word order differently. Denn is a coordinating conjunction at position zero — the verb in the reason clause stays at position 2: Wir nehmen den Bus, denn das Auto ist kaputt. Weil is a subordinating conjunction that sends the verb to the very end of its clause: Wir nehmen den Bus, weil das Auto kaputt ist. At A1 level, denn is easier to use because it requires no change to normal word order.