German · A2 · Everyday language
Reasons Behind Decisions in German
Use weil (because) to explain everyday decisions to your child. In a weil clause, the finite verb—the verb that changes with the subject—goes at the end.
What you'll learn
- Give simple reasons for everyday choices.
- Connect a decision and its reason with weil.
- Put the finite verb at the end of a weil clause.
German phrases for reasons behind decisions
Wir gehen jetzt los, weil deine AG bald anfängt.
We're leaving now because your club starts soon.
AG is a common word for a school activity club. Anfängt goes at the end of the reason.
Bitte nimm eine Jacke mit, weil es draußen kalt ist.
Please take a jacket because it's cold outside.
Nimm … mit means 'take … with you.' The reason ends with ist.
Du kannst Mia einladen, weil wir genug Platz haben.
You can invite Mia because we have enough space.
Genug Platz means 'enough space.' Haben goes after it in the weil clause.
Ich mache den Fernseher aus, weil es Schlafenszeit ist.
I'm turning off the television because it's bedtime.
Ausmachen means 'to turn off.' In the main clause, it splits into mache … aus.
Wir brauchen etwas Papier, weil dein Projekt noch nicht fertig ist.
We need some paper because your project isn't finished.
Noch nicht fertig means 'not finished yet.' Ist comes last.
Deine Freundin bleibt zu Hause, weil sie müde ist.
Your friend is staying home because she's tired.
Freundin means a female friend. Sie refers back to her.
Bitte räum deine Kleidung weg, weil dein Zimmer unordentlich ist.
Please put your clothes away because your room is messy.
Räum … weg is a familiar singular command meaning 'put … away.'
Wir gehen zu Fuß, weil die Sporthalle in der Nähe ist.
We're walking because the sports hall is nearby.
Zu Fuß gehen means 'to walk.' In der Nähe means 'nearby.'
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
weil
because
Introduces a reason. Put the finite verb at the end of its clause.
die AG
school club; activity group
Short for Arbeitsgemeinschaft. For a club outside school, the best word depends on the activity.
genug Platz
enough space
Use Platz without an article in this expression.
die Schlafenszeit
bedtime
Es ist Schlafenszeit means 'It's bedtime.'
fertig
finished; ready
Nicht fertig means 'not finished'; noch nicht fertig adds 'yet.'
unordentlich
messy; untidy
Useful for describing a room. Ordentlich means 'tidy.'
zu Fuß
on foot
Combine with gehen to say that someone is walking.
Give a reason with weil
Start with the decision or request, add a comma, then give the reason with weil. The finite verb goes at the end of the reason.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Basic pattern | Main clause, weil + subject + other information + finite verb. | Wir gehen zu Fuß, weil die Sporthalle in der Nähe ist. |
| Reason with haben | weil + wir + genug Platz + haben | Du kannst Mia einladen, weil wir genug Platz haben. |
| Request with a reason | Bitte + command, weil + reason. | Bitte nimm eine Jacke mit, weil es draußen kalt ist. |
Compare normal order and weil order
In a simple statement, the finite verb is in second position. After weil, it moves to the end. Describing words such as kalt and müde stay before it.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple statement | Subject + finite verb + description. | Sie ist müde. |
| Reason clause | weil + subject + description + finite verb | Deine Freundin bleibt zu Hause, weil sie müde ist. |
| Negative reason | weil + subject + noch nicht fertig + ist | Wir brauchen etwas Papier, weil dein Projekt noch nicht fertig ist. |
Separable verbs with weil
Some verbs, such as anfangen (to start), have a separable prefix. In a simple statement, the prefix separates. In a weil clause, the conjugated verb stays together at the end.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple statement | anfangen → fängt … an | Deine AG fängt bald an. |
| Reason clause | weil … anfängt | Wir gehen jetzt los, weil deine AG bald anfängt. |
More examples
Wir bleiben zu Hause, weil es regnet.
We're staying home because it's raining.
Regnet is the finite verb and comes last.
Bitte sei leise, weil das Baby schläft.
Please be quiet because the baby is sleeping.
Sei is the familiar singular command form of sein (to be).
Wir essen jetzt, weil wir Hunger haben.
We're eating now because we're hungry.
Hunger haben means 'to be hungry.' Haben comes last after weil.