Grammar: Coordinating Conjunctions

Grammar: Coordinating Conjunctions

Understanding Coordinating Conjunctions

Coordinating conjunctions link equal parts of a sentence, be they words, phrases or independent clauses.
They are different from subordinating conjunctions which connect a dependent clause to an independent clause.
Coordinating conjunctions in German include und (and), aber (but), oder (or), denn (for), sondern (but rather), and nicht…sondern (not… but rather).

Using Coordinating Conjunctions in Sentences

In the sentence “Ich spiele Fußball und Tennis”, the coordinating conjunction und is used to connect two hobbies or activities.
The conjunction aber expresses a contrast or contradiction for example “Ich bin jung, aber ich bin weise”.
The conjunction oder presents alternative options, like in the sentence “Möchtest du Tee oder Kaffee?”

Complex Sentences with Coordinating Conjunctions

You can use coordinating conjunctions to construct complex sentences. For instance, “Ich habe Hunger, denn ich habe den ganzen Tag nichts gegessen” (I’m hungry, for I haven’t eaten all day).
Sondern is used to correct a previous negative statement. For example, “Er spielt nicht Basketball, sondern Fußball” (He does not play basketball, but rather football).

Conjunctions and Sentence Structure

Unlike subordinating conjunctions, when using coordinating conjunctions, the word order remains the same. The verb does not move to the end of the clause.
For instance, in the sentence “Ich mag Äpfel, aber ich mag keine Birnen”, the verb ‘mag’ stays in second position in both clauses.

Common Errors to Avoid

Be careful not to confuse coordinating conjunctions with subordinating ones, as they follow different rules and affect sentence structure differently.
Also ensure that the conjunction used matches the context of the sentence. Using “aber” instead of “oder” can drastically change the meaning of a sentence.
Keep practising translations between German and English to better understand the usage of conjunctions.