Coordinating conjunctions (Nebenordnende Konjunktionen) are words that connect phrases of equal grammatical rank (such as one main clause with another main clause).
- Ich lerne Deutsch, und mein Bruder lernt Spanisch. (both main clauses have their verbs in the second positions respectively)
- Sie ist müde, aber sie arbeitet weiter.
Key Feature: After a coordinating conjunction, the verb stays in its normal position (second position) in the clause. This is what distinguishes them from subordinating conjunctions, which send the verb to the end.
German has five primary coordinating conjunctions:
Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
aber | but, however | Er ist reich, aber er ist nicht glücklich.
(He is rich, but he is not happy.) |
denn | because, for | Ich bleibe zu Hause, denn es regnet.
(I'm staying home because it's raining.) |
und | and | Sie singt und er tanzt.
(She sings and he dances.) |
sondern | but rather | Er ist nicht faul, sondern er ist krank.
(He is not lazy, but rather he is sick.) |
oder | or | Möchtest du Tee oder möchtest du Kaffee?
(Would you like tea or would you like coffee?) |
Word Order with Coordinating Conjunctions
Word Order Pattern:
Clause 1 + conjunction + Subject + Verb + Rest of clause
Note that the coordinating conjunction itself does not count as position 1 in the sentence! The conjunction sits at "position zero".
- Ich gehe ins Kino und er bleibt zu Hause. (I'm going to the cinema, and he is staying home.)
- Sie ist Ärztin aber sie arbeitet nicht im Krankenhaus. (She is a doctor, but she doesn't work in the hospital.)
Additional Coordinating Conjunctions
Beyond the five main conjunctions, German has several other coordinating conjunctions:
Conjunction | Meaning | Example |
beziehungsweise (bzw.) | or rather, respectively | Der Kurs kostet 100 bzw. 150 Euro.
(The course costs 100 or 150 euros respectively.) |
doch | but, yet, however | Er ist arm, doch er ist zufrieden.
(He is poor, yet he is content.) |
jedoch | however, yet | Das Wetter war schlecht, jedoch gingen wir spazieren.
(The weather was bad; however, we went for a walk.) |
allein | but, only (literary) | Er wollte helfen, allein er konnte nicht.
(He wanted to help, but he couldn't.) |
Note: Jedoch and doch can also function as adverbs and may appear in different positions within a clause. When used as true coordinating conjunctions at the beginning of a clause, the verb remains in position 2.
Two-Part Coordinating Conjunctions
German also has paired conjunctions (Doppelkonjunktionen) that work together:
Conjunction Pair | Meaning | Example |
entweder ... oder | either ... or | Entweder du kommst mit, oder du bleibst hier.
(Either you come along, or you stay here.) |
sowohl ... als auch | both ... and | Sie spricht sowohl Deutsch als auch Englisch.
(She speaks both German and English.) |
weder ... noch | neither ... nor | Er trinkt weder Kaffee noch Tee.
(He drinks neither coffee nor tea.) |
nicht nur ... sondern auch | not only ... but also | Sie ist nicht nur klug, sondern auch fleißig.
(She is not only smart but also hardworking.) |
zwar ... aber | indeed ... but | Er ist zwar reich, aber nicht glücklich.
(He is indeed rich, but not happy.) |
Punctuation with Coordinating Conjunctions
Comma Rules:
- Use a comma before coordinating conjunctions when they connect two complete clauses (each with its own subject and verb).
- No comma when connecting single words, phrases, or when the subject is shared.
Exception for und and oder: The comma before und and oder connecting main clauses is technically optional in modern German orthography, though it is often recommended for clarity. Before aber, sondern, and denn, the comma is required.
Example | Comma? |
Ich lese, und er schreibt. | Yes — two complete clauses |
Ich lese und schreibe. | No — shared subject |
Ich kaufe Brot und Milch. | No — connecting words |
Sie ist müde, aber sie arbeitet weiter. | Yes — two complete clauses |