The verb goes to the very end.
A Nebensatz (subordinate clause) sends the conjugated verb to the end of its clause. A comma separates it from the main clause.
Main clause vs. Nebensatz
In a main clause, the conjugated verb sits in position 2 (the V2 rule). A subordinating conjunction in front of a clause sends the verb to the very end: one trigger word in front, one verb at the back, everything else in between.
Main clause — verb in position 2
→ "He learns German."
Nebensatz — verb at the end
→ "…because he learns German."
The trigger words
These 14 conjunctions come up constantly at A2–B1, grouped by what they express.
Always a comma
Unlike English, German requires a comma before every Nebensatz.
Nebensatz first? Two verbs collide.
If the Nebensatz comes first, it takes position 1 of the whole sentence. The main clause must then start with its verb, never the subject. The result is the verb, verb pattern: the Nebensatz ends with one verb, and the main clause begins with another.
Nebensatz · main clause
Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause.
"If it rains, I stay home." regnet closes the Nebensatz, bleibe opens the main clause.
Separable & modal verbs
Separable verbs reunite
aufstehen, anrufen, einkaufen, mitnehmen, …
In a main clause they split:
Ich stehe früh auf.
In a Nebensatz they snap back together at the end:
…weil ich früh aufstehe.
Modal verbs go very last
müssen, können, wollen, sollen, dürfen, mögen
Order at the end: infinitive → modal.
…weil ich Deutsch lernen muss.
"…because I have to learn German." Not "muss lernen" — the modal sits in the very last slot.
The same pattern extends to perfect tenses inside a Nebensatz: the auxiliary (haben/sein) goes to the very end, with the participle just before it. "…weil er Deutsch gelernt hat."
5 mistakes to watch for
Ich denke, dass er ist müde. becomes Ich denke, dass er müde ist.
The verb belongs at the end of the Nebensatz, not in position 2 like a main clause.
Ich weiß dass du recht hast. becomes Ich weiß, dass du recht hast.
Every Nebensatz is fenced off with a comma. No exceptions, even after dass or weil.
…weil ich früh auf stehe. becomes …weil ich früh aufstehe.
In a main clause "aufstehen" splits ("Ich stehe auf"). In a Nebensatz it stays whole.
…weil ich Deutsch muss lernen. becomes …weil ich Deutsch lernen muss.
The modal verb goes LAST, infinitive second-to-last — opposite of the English "must learn" intuition.
Wenn es regnet, ich bleibe zu Hause. becomes Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause.
When the Nebensatz comes first it occupies position 1, so the main clause must start with its verb (V2).
The whole rule, one page
Nebensatz cheat poster
Everything above, distilled into a single visual reference. Save it, print it, pin it above the desk.
