German · A2 · Everyday language
Reasons and Results in German
Use deshalb (that is why / therefore) to connect a reason with its result in your child's day. State the reason first, then begin the next sentence with deshalb.
What you'll learn
- Give simple reasons and results in everyday family conversations.
- Put the finite verb directly after deshalb when deshalb starts the sentence.
- Use deshalb with ordinary verbs, separable verbs and modal verbs.
German phrases for reasons and results
Es regnet. Deshalb nehmen wir den Bus zur Schule.
It is raining. That is why we are taking the bus to school.
After deshalb, use verb + subject: nehmen wir.
Dein Schulranzen ist schwer. Deshalb trage ich ihn.
Your school bag is heavy. That is why I am carrying it.
Ihn means 'it' here and refers to the masculine noun der Schulranzen.
Deine Brotdose ist leer. Deshalb mache ich ein Sandwich.
Your lunchbox is empty. That is why I am making a sandwich.
Die Brotdose is a common word for a child's lunchbox.
Dein Freund ist krank. Deshalb trefft ihr euch morgen zum Spielen.
Your friend is ill. That is why the playdate is tomorrow.
German naturally expresses the second sentence as 'That is why you are meeting tomorrow to play.' For a female friend, use deine Freundin.
Dein Zahn ist locker. Deshalb schneide ich deinen Apfel in kleine Stücke.
Your tooth is loose. That is why I am cutting your apple into small pieces.
In kleine Stücke schneiden means 'to cut into small pieces.' Deinen Apfel is the object of schneide.
Fußball fängt bald an. Deshalb gehen wir jetzt los.
Football starts soon. That is why we are leaving now.
Anfangen (to start) and losgehen (to leave / set off) are separable verbs: fängt … an and gehen … los.
Du hast dein Taschengeld gespart. Deshalb kannst du dieses Buch kaufen.
You saved your pocket money. That is why you can buy this book.
The modal verb kannst follows deshalb. The infinitive kaufen goes at the end.
Du bist müde. Deshalb lesen wir heute Abend nur eine Seite.
You are tired. That is why we are reading only one page tonight.
Heute Abend means 'this evening' or 'tonight.' Nur eine Seite means 'only one page.'
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
deshalb
that is why; therefore
Introduces a result of the reason just mentioned.
der Schulranzen
school bag
Commonly used for the structured school bag carried by primary-school children.
die Brotdose
lunchbox
A box for a packed lunch or snack.
sich zum Spielen treffen
to meet up to play
A natural way to talk about a playdate: Ihr trefft euch zum Spielen.
locker
loose
For a loose tooth, you can say Dein Zahn ist locker.
das Taschengeld
pocket money; allowance
Use Taschengeld sparen for saving pocket money.
losgehen
to leave; to set off
Wir gehen los means 'We are setting off.'
Reason first, result with deshalb
Give the reason in one sentence. Then use deshalb to introduce what happens as a result. Deshalb means 'that is why,' not 'because.'
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Reason | Subject + verb + other information. | Deine Brotdose ist leer. |
| Result | Deshalb + finite verb + subject + other information. | Deshalb mache ich ein Sandwich. |
The verb stays in second position
The finite verb is the verb form that agrees with the subject, such as ich trage or du kannst. When deshalb comes first, this verb comes second and the subject follows it. Do not put the subject between deshalb and the verb.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary verb | Deshalb + verb + subject + … | Deshalb trage ich ihn. |
| Separable verb | Deshalb + finite verb + subject + … + separated prefix. | Deshalb gehen wir jetzt los. |
| Modal verb | Deshalb + modal verb + subject + … + infinitive. | Deshalb kannst du dieses Buch kaufen. |
More examples
Es ist kalt. Deshalb nehmen wir eine Jacke mit.
It is cold. That is why we are taking a jacket with us.
Mitnehmen is separable: nehmen comes after deshalb, and mit goes at the end.
Du hast Hunger. Deshalb machen wir eine Pause.
You are hungry. That is why we are taking a break.
German uses Hunger haben, literally 'to have hunger.'
Deine Schuhe sind nass. Deshalb musst du sie ausziehen.
Your shoes are wet. That is why you have to take them off.
Musst is second. After a modal verb, the infinitive ausziehen stays together at the end.