Some conjunctions introduce a subordinate clause — extra information that can't stand alone. The rule that trips up almost every learner: in a subordinate clause, the conjugated verb goes to the very end.
- Common subordinating conjunctions: weil (because), dass (that), wenn (if/when), obwohl (although), damit (so that), als (when, past), ob (whether).
- Don't confuse them with und, aber, oder, denn — those coordinating words keep normal word order.
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.
I'm staying home because I'm ill.
weil → bin at the end
Ich weiß, dass du recht hast.
I know that you're right.
dass → hast at the end
Wenn es regnet, bleiben wir hier.
If it rains, we'll stay here.
clause first → main verb follows straight after the comma
When the subordinate clause comes first
If you start the sentence with the subordinate clause, the whole clause counts as the first element — so the main clause's verb comes immediately after the comma. This produces the characteristic “…, verb verb …” collision in the middle.
Weil ich müde bin, gehe ich früh ins Bett.
Because I'm tired, I'm going to bed early.
… bin, gehe … — two verbs meet at the comma
✗Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich will in Berlin arbeiten.
✓Ich lerne Deutsch, weil ich in Berlin arbeiten will.
After weil the conjugated verb (will) goes last.
✗Weil es ist spät, gehe ich.
✓Weil es spät ist, gehe ich.
Verb ist to the end of the weil-clause.