Explanation
Coordinating Conjunctions (Position 0)
In German, the conjunctions und (and), aber (but), oder (or), and denn (because) are known as coordinating conjunctions. Their most important feature is that they occupy Position 0. This means they do not count as a grammatical position in the sentence. The clause that follows the conjunction maintains a standard main clause word order: the subject comes first (Position 1) and the conjugated verb follows immediately after (Position 2).
Meanings and Usage
Sentence Structure and Omission
When connecting two full main clauses with the same subject, you can often omit the subject in the second clause when using und or oder. However, with aber and denn, it is usually better to keep the subject for clarity. Remember: [Main Clause 1] + [,] + [Conjunction] + [Subject] + [Verb] + [Other].
Reference Tables
| Conjunction | English Meaning | Position | Comma Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| und | and | 0 | Optional/No (usually) |
| aber | but | 0 | Yes |
| oder | or | 0 | Optional/No (usually) |
| denn | because | 0 | Yes |
Examples
Ich möchte den Sitzplatz wechseln und ich muss noch meine Bücher kriegen.
I want to change seats and I still need to get my books.
Ich fühle mich heute gut, aber ich muss leider stark husten.
I feel good today, but unfortunately I have to cough heavily.
Wollen wir das Schloss besichtigen oder gehen wir am Wochenende shoppen?
Do we want to visit the castle or are we going shopping on the weekend?
Wir müssen am nächsten Bahnhof umsteigen, denn der Zug wird gleich abfahren.
We have to change at the next station because the train will depart soon.
Sie wollen nächstes Jahr heiraten, denn sie verbringen gerne Zeit zusammen.
They want to marry next year because they like spending time together.
Common Mistakes
Actually, 'denn es regnet heute' is correct. A common mistake is using 'denn' like 'weil' and putting the verb at the end: '...denn es heute regnet.' This is incorrect; the verb must stay in Position 2.
The conjunctions 'denn' and 'aber' always require a comma before them when connecting two clauses.
Since 'aber' is in Position 0, the subject must occupy Position 1. In the wrong example, the verb was placed in Position 1 relative to the second clause.