Subordinating conjunctions are the connective tissue of German sentences. They let you express reasons, conditions, contrasts, and purpose — and they're also one of the most reliable ways to signal B1-level language in the writing section. Get them right and your sentences sound fluent. Get the word order wrong and you drop marks you shouldn't lose.
What Makes a Conjunction "Subordinating"?
A subordinating conjunction introduces a subordinate clause (a Nebensatz). The critical rule: the conjugated verb moves to the very end of the subordinate clause.
- Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich in Deutschland arbeiten möchte.
- Er kommt nicht, obwohl er eingeladen wurde.
The subordinate clause can come before or after the main clause. If it comes first, the main clause then begins with the conjugated verb (verb-second rule still applies to the main clause):
- Weil ich krank bin, bleibe ich heute zu Hause.
This one rule — verb to the end — is what the exam tests. Every mistake in this area is the same mistake: forgetting to move the verb.
The Ten Conjunctions You Need for B1
| Conjunction | Meaning | Key use |
|---|---|---|
| weil | because | reason |
| obwohl | although | contrast/concession |
| damit | so that | purpose (different subject) |
| wenn | when / if | condition or repeated event |
| ob | whether | indirect yes/no question |
| dass | that | reported speech, facts |
| als | when | single completed past event |
| während | while | simultaneous actions |
| bevor | before | sequence |
| nachdem | after | sequence |
weil — because (reason)
Ich lerne viel, weil ich die Prüfung bestehen möchte.
Verb (möchte) goes to the end. Straightforward — but see the weil vs. denn section below.
obwohl — although (contrast)
Sie geht zur Arbeit, obwohl sie krank ist.
obwohl sets up a contrast between what you'd expect and what actually happens. And the verb still goes to the end. This is where many learners make errors — they know the rule for weil but forget it applies equally to obwohl.
Wrong: obwohl sie ist krank Right: obwohl sie krank ist
damit — so that (purpose)
damit expresses purpose and is used when the subject of the main clause and the subordinate clause are different:
- Ich schreibe es auf, damit sie es nicht vergisst. (I write it down so that she doesn't forget it.)
When the subjects are the same, use um...zu + infinitive instead:
- Ich lerne, um die Prüfung zu bestehen.
wenn — when / if
wenn does double duty:
- Condition: Wenn du willst, kannst du mitkommen.
- Repeated past/present events: Wenn wir Urlaub hatten, fuhren wir immer ans Meer.
als — when (single past event)
Use als only for a single, completed event in the past:
- Als ich Kind war, lebte ich in München.
- Als der Zug ankam, war der Bahnsteig voll.
The rule: wenn = repeated or future/present; als = one specific moment in the past.
ob — whether (indirect question)
ob turns a yes/no question into an indirect one:
- Direct question: Kommt er morgen?
- Indirect: Ich weiß nicht, ob er morgen kommt.
The question mark disappears, and the verb moves to the end.
The weil vs. denn Distinction
Both weil and denn mean "because." This is a classic exam trap.
The difference: denn is a coordinating conjunction. It joins two main clauses and does not change word order. The verb stays in second position.
| Conjunction | Word order change? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| weil | Yes — verb to end | Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin. |
| denn | No — verb stays in position 2 | Ich bleibe zu Hause, denn ich bin krank. |
Wrong: Ich bleibe zu Hause, denn ich krank bin. Right: Ich bleibe zu Hause, denn ich bin krank.
In the TELC B1 Sprachbausteine, you may be asked to choose between weil and denn. The sentence structure around the gap tells you which is correct: if the verb is already at the end, it's weil; if the verb is in second position, it's denn.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting verb-final after obwohl: The rule is the same for every subordinating conjunction.
- Using denn with verb-final: denn never triggers verb-final.
- Confusing wenn and als: Use als for one specific past event. Use wenn for everything else.
- Forgetting the comma: In German, a comma always separates a subordinate clause from the main clause.
How These Conjunctions Appear in TELC B1
Schreiben (Writing): The exam rubric explicitly rewards Kohärenz (coherence). Using 2–3 subordinating conjunctions correctly (weil, obwohl, damit) shows the examiner you can build complex sentences. Aim for variety.
Sprachbausteine (Language Structures): Gap-fill tasks frequently require you to choose the correct conjunction. The discriminators are usually meaning (weil vs. obwohl) or word order behaviour (weil vs. denn).
Lesen (Reading): Understanding a complex sentence in a reading text means parsing a subordinate clause correctly — finding the main verb at the end and working out who does what.
Practice: Choose the Correct Conjunction
Fill each gap with the right conjunction from this list: weil, obwohl, damit, als, ob, wenn
- Ich frage mich, _____ er wirklich kommt.
- Sie lernt jeden Tag, _____ sie die Prüfung schafft.
- _____ ich jung war, spielte ich oft Fußball.
- Er ist müde, _____ er viel geschlafen hat.
- Ruf mich an, _____ du ankommst.
Answers: 1. ob — 2. damit — 3. Als — 4. obwohl — 5. wenn
Quick Reference
- Subordinating conjunction → verb to the end. Every time, no exceptions.
- weil changes word order. denn does not.
- wenn = condition or repeated; als = one past moment.
- damit = purpose with a different subject; um...zu = purpose with the same subject.
- Always place a comma before the subordinate clause.
See how well you can handle these conjunctions under timed exam conditions. Try our free TELC B1 mock exam — the Sprachbausteine and Schreiben sections will put every one of these to the test.