German · A2 · Everyday language
Little Reasons Matter in German
Use simple German reasons to help your child understand everyday choices. With weil (because), the conjugated verb goes at the end of the reason clause.
What you'll learn
- Give everyday reasons using weil.
- Put a comma before a weil clause.
- Place the conjugated verb at the end of the weil clause.
- Use familiar words for school, food and family routines.
German phrases for little reasons matter
Wir gehen jetzt los, weil die Schule bald anfängt.
We are leaving now because school starts soon.
Anfangen means 'to start'. In the weil clause, its parts stay together: anfängt.
Ich packe einen Apfel ein, weil du Äpfel magst.
I am packing an apple because you like apples.
Einpacken means 'to pack'. In the main clause, it splits into packe ... ein. After weil, magst goes last.
Du brauchst deinen Mantel, weil es kalt ist.
You need your coat because it is cold.
Es ist kalt becomes weil es kalt ist: ist moves to the end.
Wir gehen zu Fuß, weil die Schule in der Nähe ist.
We are walking because the school is nearby.
Zu Fuß gehen means 'to walk' or 'to go on foot'. In der Nähe means 'nearby'.
Ich helfe dir, weil diese Hausaufgaben schwierig sind.
I am helping you because this homework is difficult.
Helfen takes dir, not dich. Hausaufgaben is plural, so use sind.
Wir lesen dieses Buch, weil du Tiere liebst.
We are reading this book because you love animals.
Liebst is the verb form for du and goes at the end of the reason.
Dein Freund kommt vorbei, weil ihr zusammen spielen wollt.
Your friend is coming over because you want to play together.
Ihr refers to your child and their friend together. With wollen, the infinitive spielen comes before the final conjugated verb wollt. For a female friend, use deine Freundin.
Wir kaufen weiches Brot, weil dein Zahn locker ist.
We are buying soft bread because your tooth is loose.
Ein lockerer Zahn is a loose tooth. In this reason clause, ist comes after locker.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
weil
because
Introduces a reason, with the conjugated verb at the end.
losgehen
to leave; to set off
A separable verb: Wir gehen los means 'We are leaving'.
der Apfel; die Äpfel
the apple; the apples
The plural adds an umlaut: a becomes ä.
die Hausaufgaben
homework
Normally plural in German: Die Hausaufgaben sind schwierig.
vorbeikommen
to come over; to drop by
A separable verb: Dein Freund kommt vorbei.
zusammen
together
Useful for shared activities: zusammen spielen, 'to play together'.
weich
soft
Before Brot in this phrase, it becomes weiches: weiches Brot.
der Zahn; locker
the tooth; loose
Dein Zahn ist locker means 'Your tooth is loose'.
Giving a reason with weil
Start with an ordinary statement, add a comma, then give the reason with weil. The finite verb—the verb form that agrees with the subject—goes at the end of the weil clause.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Basic pattern | Main clause, weil + subject + other information + conjugated verb. | Du brauchst deinen Mantel, weil es kalt ist. |
| An ordinary verb | du magst Äpfel → weil du Äpfel magst | Ich packe einen Apfel ein, weil du Äpfel magst. |
| A plural subject | diese Hausaufgaben sind schwierig → weil diese Hausaufgaben schwierig sind | Ich helfe dir, weil diese Hausaufgaben schwierig sind. |
| A separable verb | die Schule fängt bald an → weil die Schule bald anfängt | Wir gehen jetzt los, weil die Schule bald anfängt. |
| A modal verb | weil + subject + other information + infinitive + conjugated modal verb | Dein Freund kommt vorbei, weil ihr zusammen spielen wollt. |
Describing what is happening now
German usually uses the simple present for actions happening now. English 'We are reading' becomes Wir lesen; no extra form of 'to be' is needed.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| An action happening now | subject + present-tense verb | Wir lesen dieses Buch. |
More examples
Wir bleiben zu Hause, weil du müde bist.
We are staying at home because you are tired.
With du, use bist and put it at the end.
Ich kaufe Brot, weil wir Hunger haben.
I am buying bread because we are hungry.
German uses Hunger haben, literally 'to have hunger'. Haben goes last.
Wir gehen in den Park, weil du spielen möchtest.
We are going to the park because you want to play.
Spielen stays in the infinitive. The conjugated verb möchtest goes last.