German weil changes the finite verb's position: German for French speakers

The idea

For neutral written German, put the subject and other clause material after weil and move the finite verb to the end. In Perfekt, place the participle before the final auxiliary.

One contrast, not a prediction about every learner

French parce que does not impose German-style final placement of a finite verb. In standard written German a clause introduced by weil normally places its finite verb at the end; conversational weil with main-clause order also exists.

Individual experience, dialect and other languages you know can change which comparisons help. Use the contrast to notice a German choice; do not treat it as a label for a whole group of people.

Repair the transfer

• Wir warten, weil der Raum ist noch besetzt. → Wir warten, weil der Raum noch besetzt ist.

  For neutral written German, put the subject and other clause material after weil and move the finite verb to the end. In Perfekt, place the participle before the final auxiliary.

Examples

• Wir warten im Hof, weil der Saal noch besetzt ist.We wait in the courtyard because the hall is still occupied.
• Ich nehme die Jacke mit, weil es später kalt wird.I take the jacket because it will get cold later.
• Sie kommt früher, weil sie den Aufbau betreut.She comes earlier because she supervises the setup.
• Der Weg ist gesperrt, weil ein Ast heruntergefallen ist.The path is closed because a branch has fallen down.
• Wir lesen leise, weil nebenan eine Prüfung stattfindet.We read quietly because an exam is taking place next door.
• Ich frage noch einmal, weil ich die Zahl nicht verstanden habe.I ask again because I did not understand the number.

Watch out

Do not generalize a source-language pattern to every German sentence. For neutral written German, put the subject and other clause material after weil and move the finite verb to the end. In Perfekt, place the participle before the final auxiliary.

Try it yourself

1. Korrigiere: Wir warten, weil der Raum ist noch besetzt.

   Show answer or example answer

   Wir warten, weil der Raum noch besetzt ist.

   Wir warten, weil der Raum noch besetzt ist. For neutral written German, put the subject and other clause material after weil and move the finite verb to the end. In Perfekt, place the participle before the final auxiliary.

2. Ins Deutsche übertragen: We wait in the courtyard because the hall is still occupied.

   Show answer or example answer

   Wir warten im Hof, weil der Saal noch besetzt ist.

   Wir warten im Hof, weil der Saal noch besetzt ist. For neutral written German, put the subject and other clause material after weil and move the finite verb to the end. In Perfekt, place the participle before the final auxiliary.

3. Ins Deutsche übertragen: We read quietly because an exam is taking place next door.

   Show answer or example answer

   Wir lesen leise, weil nebenan eine Prüfung stattfindet.

   Wir lesen leise, weil nebenan eine Prüfung stattfindet. Keep the meaning of the whole sentence while using the German pattern.

Use it today

Write three German sentences of your own that follow the pattern of “Wir warten, weil der Raum noch besetzt ist.”. Check each one for the French habit this lesson corrects, then read them aloud.