German sentence structure can vary widely, offering flexibility and nuance in communication. Understanding the different patterns of sentence construction—simple, compound, and complex—can significantly enhance your grasp of the language. In this article, we'll look into each of these sentence types with examples to illustrate their usage.
Simple Sentences
Simple sentences in German, like in many other languages, consist of a single independent clause. They convey clear and straightforward information. Here are some examples:
- “Ich gehe spazieren.” (I go for a walk.)
- “Der Hund bellt.” (The dog barks.)
- “Sie liest ein Buch.” (She reads a book.)
Compound Sentences
Compound sentences combine two or more independent clauses using coordinating conjunctions such as “und” (and), “aber” (but), or “oder” (or). These conjunctions link related ideas or actions. Here are examples of compound sentences:
- “Ich trinke Kaffee, und sie trinkt Tee.” (I drink coffee, and she drinks tea.)
- “Er spielt Fußball, aber er mag auch Basketball.” (He plays soccer, but he also likes basketball.)
- “Du kannst laufen, oder du kannst Fahrrad fahren.” (You can walk, or you can ride a bike.)
Complex Sentences
Complex sentences in German contain one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. Dependent clauses often begin with subordinating conjunctions such as “weil” (because), “obwohl” (although), or “wenn” (if/when). These clauses provide additional information or context to the main clause. Here are examples of complex sentences:
- “Ich gehe ins Kino, weil ich einen Film sehen möchte.” (I am going to the cinema because I want to watch a movie.)
- “Obwohl es regnete, gingen sie spazieren.” (Although it was raining, they went for a walk.)
- “Wenn du Zeit hast, können wir uns treffen.” (If you have time, we can meet.)