Konjunktionaladverbien link two independent main clauses and express a logical relationship between them — each clause keeps verb-second word order.
Konjunktionaladverbien link two independent main clauses and express a logical relationship between them — each clause keeps verb-second word order.
At A2 level, two conjunctional adverbs are central: deshalb and trotzdem. They express opposite logical relationships between two events.
Therefore · Hence · As a result
Use deshalb when the second event is the expected, logical consequence of the first.
Nevertheless · Despite that · Even so
Use trotzdem when the second event happens against expectations — the first clause sets up an obstacle, but the action happens anyway.
Both placement options are grammatically correct — adverb at position 1 (triggering inversion) or after the verb in the middle field.
| Bedeutung | Hauptsatz 1 | Hauptsatz 2 |
|---|---|---|
|
erwartete Folge Expected consequence (Konsekutivangabe) |
Lars lernt gern Sprachen, |
deshalb macht er einen Deutschkurs. er macht deshalb einen Deutschkurs. |
|
nicht erwartete Folge Unexpected consequence (Konzessivangabe) |
Das Ticket war sehr teuer, |
trotzdem hat sie es gekauft. sie hat trotzdem es gekauft. |
The conjugated verb stays at position 2 in both clauses; when the adverb occupies position 1, subject and verb invert.
Conjunctional adverbs can appear at position 1 or in the middle field; the meaning stays the same.
The conjunctional adverb opens the clause. The subject and verb then invert: verb comes before subject.
→ Adverb [Position 1] → Verb [Position 2] → Subject → Rest
The subject opens the clause normally (Position 1). The verb stays at Position 2. The adverb sits in the middle field, after the verb.
→ Subject [Position 1] → Verb [Position 2] → Adverb → Rest
The second event follows naturally from the first.
The second event happens against what you would normally expect.
A quick reference to help you choose between the two adverbs:
| Konjunktionaladverb | Logische Beziehung | Frage, die es beantwortet | Beispiel |
|---|---|---|---|
| deshalb | Ursache → erwartete Folge Cause → expected result |
Warum? / Mit welchem Ergebnis? | Sie ist müde, deshalb geht sie schlafen. |
| trotzdem | Hindernis → unerwartete Folge Obstacle → unexpected result |
Obwohl das so ist — was passiert dann? | Sie ist müde, trotzdem lernt sie weiter. |
Deshalb (therefore) expresses expected consequence—the second clause is the natural result of the first (Es regnet, deshalb bleibe ich zu Hause). Trotzdem (nevertheless) expresses unexpected outcome—the action happens despite the obstacle (Es regnet, trotzdem gehe ich spazieren).
Both can occupy position 1 (triggering subject-verb inversion: deshalb geht er) or appear in the middle field after the verb (er geht deshalb). Both positions are grammatically correct with identical meaning. The verb always stays at position 2.
Unlike subordinating conjunctions, deshalb and trotzdem connect two main clauses—both clauses maintain verb-second word order. When the adverb is at position 1, subject and verb invert (deshalb hat sie), but the verb stays at position 2.
Deshalb (therefore) expresses expected consequence—the second clause is the natural result of the first (Es regnet, deshalb bleibe ich zu Hause). Trotzdem (nevertheless) expresses unexpected outcome—the action happens despite the obstacle (Es regnet, trotzdem gehe ich spazieren).
Both can occupy position 1 (triggering subject-verb inversion: deshalb geht er) or appear in the middle field after the verb (er geht deshalb). Both positions are grammatically correct with identical meaning. The verb always stays at position 2.
Unlike subordinating conjunctions, deshalb and trotzdem connect two main clauses—both clauses maintain verb-second word order. When the adverb is at position 1, subject and verb invert (deshalb hat sie), but the verb stays at position 2.