German · A2 · Everyday language
Reasons Meet Results in German
Use deshalb (that is why / therefore) to connect an everyday reason with its result. State the reason first, then begin the result with deshalb.
What you'll learn
- Explain everyday consequences using deshalb.
- Place the conjugated verb directly after deshalb.
- Talk about changes to family plans.
German phrases for reasons meet results
Dein Fahrrad ist kaputt; deshalb gehen wir zu Fuß.
Your bike is broken; that is why we are walking.
Zu Fuß gehen means to walk rather than use transport. After deshalb, gehen comes before wir.
Dein Freund ist krank; deshalb fällt die Übernachtung aus.
Your friend is ill; that is why the sleepover is cancelled.
For a female friend, use deine Freundin. Ausfallen means to be cancelled: fällt comes after deshalb, and aus goes at the end.
Das Projekt ist morgen fällig; deshalb fangen wir jetzt an.
The project is due tomorrow; that is why we are starting now.
Morgen fällig means due tomorrow. Anfangen means to start; its prefix an moves to the end here.
Du hast heute Training; deshalb gibt es später Abendessen.
You have practice today; that is why dinner is later.
Training refers to sports practice here. Es gibt später Abendessen naturally means dinner will be later.
Dein Handyakku ist leer; deshalb brauchst du das Ladegerät.
Your phone battery is empty; that is why you need the charger.
German uses leer (empty) for a battery with no charge. Brauchst comes before du after deshalb.
Du bist müde; deshalb gehst du früh ins Bett.
You are tired; that is why you are going to bed early.
Ins Bett gehen means to go to bed. German uses the present tense for this planned action.
Die Bibliothek ist geschlossen; deshalb gehen wir nach Hause.
The library is closed; that is why we are going home.
Nach Hause means home when describing movement. Zu Hause means at home.
Wir brauchen Brot; deshalb gehe ich einkaufen.
We need bread; that is why I am going shopping.
Einkaufen gehen means to go shopping. Gehe is conjugated; einkaufen stays in the infinitive at the end.
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
deshalb
that is why; therefore
Introduces a consequence of the reason stated before it.
kaputt
broken
A common everyday word: Dein Fahrrad ist kaputt.
die Übernachtung
overnight stay; sleepover
For a child's overnight visit with a friend, this means a sleepover.
ausfallen
to be cancelled; not to take place
A separable verb: Die Übernachtung fällt aus.
fällig
due
Used for deadlines: Das Projekt ist morgen fällig.
der Handyakku
phone battery
Handy is the everyday German word for a mobile phone.
das Ladegerät
charger
Use brauchen to say you need it: Du brauchst das Ladegerät.
Give the reason before the consequence
First state the reason in a complete clause. Then use deshalb to introduce the result. You can separate the clauses with a semicolon or a full stop.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Reason | Subject + conjugated verb + remaining information | Dein Fahrrad ist kaputt. |
| Consequence | Deshalb + conjugated verb + subject + remaining information | Deshalb gehen wir zu Fuß. |
Keep the conjugated verb in second position
When deshalb starts the result clause, it occupies the first position. The finite verb—the verb form that agrees with the subject—comes second, before the subject. Do not use English word order such as deshalb wir gehen.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| With du | deshalb + gehst + du | Du bist müde; deshalb gehst du früh ins Bett. |
| With wir | deshalb + gehen + wir | Die Bibliothek ist geschlossen; deshalb gehen wir nach Hause. |
| With es gibt | deshalb + gibt + es | Du hast heute Training; deshalb gibt es später Abendessen. |
Keep prefixes and infinitives at the end
With a separable verb, only the conjugated part follows deshalb; the prefix goes at the end. In einkaufen gehen, the conjugated form of gehen follows deshalb, while einkaufen stays at the end.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ausfallen | deshalb + fällt + subject + aus | Deshalb fällt die Übernachtung aus. |
| anfangen | deshalb + fangen + wir + jetzt + an | Deshalb fangen wir jetzt an. |
| einkaufen gehen | deshalb + gehe + ich + einkaufen | Deshalb gehe ich einkaufen. |
More examples
Es regnet; deshalb bleiben wir zu Hause.
It is raining; that is why we are staying at home.
Bleiben comes directly after deshalb. Use zu Hause for being or staying at home.
Du hast Hunger. Deshalb machen wir jetzt Abendessen.
You are hungry. That is why we are making dinner now.
Deshalb can begin a new sentence. The verb still comes before the subject: machen wir.