Because in German: How to Use weil, denn, and deshalb

You need reasons in German every day. You may want to explain why you are buying something, why you are late, or why you cannot come.

German has two common words for "because", weil (because) and denn (because, for), plus deshalb (that's why, so, therefore). Their meanings are close, but the verb goes in a different place after each word. This page puts the three patterns next to each other.

Try it first

Look at where the verb sits to choose the answer. Read the short reason after each answer.

The sentences below explain why each answer has that word order.

One reason, three ways to say it

You can give the same reason with all three words. Here, the meaning is: "We're going to the market because the vegetables are fresher there."

With weil and denn, you say the result first and the reason second. With deshalb, you say the reason first and the result second.

All three words have a comma before them when they join two parts of one sentence. What changes is the position of the verb after that comma.

What denn does: nothing changes

Denn joins two main clauses (Hauptsatz). A main clause normally has the subject first and the verb in position 2. That stays the same after denn.

You can think of denn as sitting in position 0. It connects the clauses, but it does not take a sentence position. After it, write a normal main clause: subject, then verb.

Ich kaufe heute keinen Kaffee, denn ich habe noch eine Packung zu Hause. (I'm not buying coffee today, because I still have a pack at home.)

After denn, ich comes before habe. Nothing has moved.

Sie nimmt den Salat, denn sie isst kein Fleisch. (She's having the salad, because she doesn't eat meat.)

After denn, sie comes before isst. This is the easiest pattern if you already know normal German sentence order.

Denn is a little more formal and more common in writing. In everyday speech, weil is more common.

What deshalb does: the verb comes right after it

Deshalb means "that's why", "so", or "therefore". It also joins two main clauses, but it takes position 1 in the second clause itself.

Because deshalb is in position 1, the conjugated verb must come directly after it. The subject comes after the verb.

Ich habe keine Eier mehr, deshalb mache ich heute keine Pfannkuchen. (I have no eggs left, so I'm not making pancakes today.)

After deshalb, the verb is mache. The subject ich follows it.

Der Käse ist im Angebot, deshalb kaufe ich zwei Stück. (The cheese is on sale, that's why I'm buying two pieces.)

Again, kaufe comes immediately after deshalb, then ich.

You can also start a new sentence with deshalb:

Ich habe keine Eier mehr. Deshalb mache ich heute keine Pfannkuchen. (I have no eggs left. That's why I'm not making pancakes today.)

The word order is the same. Whether you use one sentence or two sentences, the verb comes right after deshalb.

What weil does: the verb goes to the end

Weil starts a subordinate clause (Nebensatz). In a weil clause, the conjugated verb moves to the very end of that clause.

Ich trinke Tee, weil ich keinen Kaffee mag. (I drink tea because I don't like coffee.)

The verb is mag, and it comes last in the weil clause.

Wir essen heute zu Hause, weil das Restaurant voll ist. (We're eating at home today because the restaurant is full.)

Here, ist is the conjugated verb, so it moves to the end.

This pattern can feel unfamiliar if you are used to English word order. Do not try to translate word by word. Find the conjugated verb and save it for the end of the weil clause. If you want to review position 2 and subordinate clauses, read our German word order post.

Weil with modal verbs, the Perfekt, and separable verbs

Some weil clauses are longer, but the main rule does not change. The conjugated verb still goes at the end. You only need to know what comes before it.

Weil with modal verbs

With a modal verb, put the infinitive first and the conjugated modal verb at the very end.

Ich gehe noch schnell in den Supermarkt, weil ich Milch kaufen muss. (I'm quickly going to the supermarket because I have to buy milk.)

The infinitive is kaufen (to buy). The conjugated modal verb is muss, so muss goes last.

Sie bestellt eine Pizza, weil sie heute nicht kochen will. (She's ordering a pizza because she doesn't want to cook today.)

Compare this with a normal main clause:

Ich muss Milch kaufen. (I have to buy milk.)

In the main clause, muss is in position 2. In the weil clause, it waits at the end: Milch kaufen muss.

Weil with the Perfekt

In the Perfekt, put the participle first and the conjugated haben (to have) or sein (to be) at the very end.

Er hat keinen Hunger, weil er schon gegessen hat. (He isn't hungry because he has already eaten.)

The participle is gegessen. The conjugated verb is hat, so hat comes last.

Ich bin froh, weil ich frische Erdbeeren gefunden habe. (I'm happy because I found fresh strawberries.)

Here, gefunden is the participle and habe is the final conjugated verb.

Compare the main clause:

Er hat schon gegessen. (He has already eaten.)

If you need help building the Perfekt itself, see our German past tense post. Once you have built it, remember this order inside a weil clause: participle, then haben or sein last.

Weil with separable verbs

A separable verb splits in a normal main clause.

Lena bringt eine Flasche Wein mit. (Lena is bringing a bottle of wine.)

Ich kaufe noch ein. (I'm still doing the shopping.)

The verbs are mitbringen (to bring along) and einkaufen (to do the shopping). In these main clauses, bringt and kaufe are in position 2, and mit and ein wait at the end.

In a weil clause, the separable verb stays together as one word at the end.

Ich brauche keinen Wein, weil Lena eine Flasche mitbringt. (I don't need wine because Lena is bringing a bottle.)

Ich habe gerade keine Zeit, weil ich noch einkaufe. (I don't have time right now because I'm still doing the shopping.)

So inside a weil clause, never split mitbringt or einkaufe.

Can you start with weil?

Yes. A weil clause can come first.

The whole weil clause counts as position 1. That means the main clause must start with its verb, then the subject.

Weil das Gemüse dort frischer ist, gehen wir auf den Markt. (Because the vegetables are fresher there, we're going to the market.)

Notice the pattern in the middle: verb, comma, verb. You get ist, gehen.

Weil ich Milch kaufen muss, gehe ich noch schnell in den Supermarkt. (Because I have to buy milk, I'm quickly going to the supermarket.)

This time, the middle pattern is muss, gehe. The first verb ends the weil clause. The second verb starts the main clause because the first clause already uses position 1.

How do you answer Warum??

Warum? means "Why?" In speech, it is normal to answer with only a weil clause. The verb still goes at the end.

Warum gehst du schon? (Why are you leaving already?)

Weil ich noch einkaufen muss. (Because I still have to do the shopping.)

Warum kaufst du so viel Obst? (Why are you buying so much fruit?)

Weil meine Eltern morgen kommen. (Because my parents are coming tomorrow.)

A short answer cannot start with denn. Denn connects two main clauses, so it needs a clause before it. For a short spoken reason, use weil.

Which mistakes should you avoid?

When you check a sentence, look at the verb position first. Then check that the reason and the result are in the right order.

Practise giving reasons

Write three reasons about your own shopping or meals. Use the same reason once with weil, once with denn, and once with deshalb. Check where the verb sits in each sentence before you finish.

Then use the Sentence Order game to practise putting the verb in the right place.