Chris Smith
7dc36bc505
Targets the top gaps from the last diagnostic session — weil/dass/ob/wenn verb-final order, multi-verb endings (modal + infinitive, Perfekt), a dedicated ob vs. obwohl distinction, and accusative endings woven into every drill sentence.
380 lines
16 KiB
HTML
380 lines
16 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html>
|
|
<html lang="en">
|
|
<head>
|
|
<meta charset="UTF-8">
|
|
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
|
|
<title>Lesson 4 — Subordinate Clauses: Verb-Final Word Order</title>
|
|
<link rel="stylesheet" href="../assets/style.css">
|
|
<style>
|
|
.clause-compare {
|
|
background: white;
|
|
border: 1px solid var(--border);
|
|
border-radius: var(--radius);
|
|
padding: 1rem 1.25rem;
|
|
margin: 1.25rem 0;
|
|
font-family: 'Courier New', monospace;
|
|
font-size: 0.95rem;
|
|
line-height: 2.1;
|
|
}
|
|
.clause-row-label {
|
|
display: inline-block;
|
|
min-width: 90px;
|
|
font-family: 'Georgia', serif;
|
|
font-size: 0.78rem;
|
|
text-transform: uppercase;
|
|
letter-spacing: 0.06em;
|
|
color: var(--ink-faint);
|
|
}
|
|
.verb-pos2 { color: var(--accent); font-weight: bold; }
|
|
.verb-final { color: var(--red); font-weight: bold; }
|
|
.akk-mark { color: var(--green); font-weight: bold; }
|
|
|
|
.conj-box {
|
|
display: inline-block;
|
|
background: var(--bg-warm);
|
|
border: 1px solid var(--border);
|
|
border-radius: 4px;
|
|
padding: 0.1em 0.5em;
|
|
font-family: 'Courier New', monospace;
|
|
font-weight: bold;
|
|
color: var(--accent-dark);
|
|
}
|
|
|
|
.ob-compare {
|
|
display: flex;
|
|
gap: 1rem;
|
|
margin: 1.25rem 0;
|
|
flex-wrap: wrap;
|
|
}
|
|
.ob-card {
|
|
flex: 1;
|
|
min-width: 240px;
|
|
border-radius: var(--radius);
|
|
padding: 1rem 1.25rem;
|
|
}
|
|
.ob-card.ob { background: var(--green-bg); border-left: 4px solid var(--green); }
|
|
.ob-card.obwohl { background: #fdecea; border-left: 4px solid var(--red); }
|
|
.ob-card h3 { margin-top: 0; font-family: 'Courier New', monospace; }
|
|
.ob-card .ex { font-family: 'Courier New', monospace; font-size: 0.9rem; margin-top: 0.5rem; }
|
|
|
|
.tip-box {
|
|
background: var(--bg-warm);
|
|
border: 1px solid var(--border);
|
|
border-radius: var(--radius);
|
|
padding: 0.9rem 1.25rem;
|
|
margin: 1.25rem 0;
|
|
font-size: 0.95rem;
|
|
}
|
|
</style>
|
|
</head>
|
|
<body>
|
|
<div class="page">
|
|
|
|
<p class="subtitle">Lesson 4 of your German course</p>
|
|
<h1>Subordinate Clauses: Send the Verb to the End</h1>
|
|
<p class="subtitle">B1.2 · Grammar · ~20 minutes</p>
|
|
|
|
<h2>Why this matters</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Lesson 1 fixed V2 — the conjugated verb sits in slot two in a main clause. Subordinate clauses break that rule on purpose: once a clause starts with a word like <em>weil, dass, ob,</em> or <em>wenn</em>, the conjugated verb doesn't stay in slot two — it jumps all the way to the <strong>end</strong> of the clause. The concept is one you already know from class; the gap is reflex. Under production pressure — writing quickly, speaking in the moment — the verb tends to stay where V2 habit puts it.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="rule-box">
|
|
<strong>The Rule</strong>
|
|
<div class="formula">[ Conjunction ] → Subject → ... everything else ... → VERB(s)</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<h2>See it happen</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>Same idea, two clause types. Watch where <em>ist</em> moves:</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="clause-compare">
|
|
<span class="clause-row-label">Main clause</span> Der Arzt <span class="verb-pos2">ist</span> heute krank.<br>
|
|
<span class="clause-row-label">Subordinate</span> ..., weil der Arzt heute krank <span class="verb-final">ist</span>.
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<p style="font-size: 0.9rem; color: var(--ink-light);">The doctor is sick today. — In the main clause, <em>ist</em> takes slot two. The moment <em>weil</em> opens the clause, <em>ist</em> gets evicted to the very last word.</p>
|
|
|
|
<h2>The conjunctions that trigger this</h2>
|
|
|
|
<table>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<th>Conjunction</th>
|
|
<th>Meaning</th>
|
|
<th>Example (verb at the end)</th>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><span class="conj-box">weil</span></td>
|
|
<td>because</td>
|
|
<td>..., weil ich krank <span class="verb-final">bin</span>.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><span class="conj-box">dass</span></td>
|
|
<td>that</td>
|
|
<td>Ich weiß, dass er recht <span class="verb-final">hat</span>.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><span class="conj-box">ob</span></td>
|
|
<td>whether</td>
|
|
<td>Ich weiß nicht, ob sie kommen <span class="verb-final">kann</span>.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><span class="conj-box">wenn</span></td>
|
|
<td>if / whenever</td>
|
|
<td>..., wenn du Zeit <span class="verb-final">hast</span>.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><span class="conj-box">obwohl</span></td>
|
|
<td>although</td>
|
|
<td>..., obwohl er müde <span class="verb-final">ist</span>.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><span class="conj-box">damit</span></td>
|
|
<td>so that</td>
|
|
<td>..., damit sie es <span class="verb-final">versteht</span>.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
<tr>
|
|
<td><span class="conj-box">als</span></td>
|
|
<td>when (single past event)</td>
|
|
<td>..., als ich jung <span class="verb-final">war</span>.</td>
|
|
</tr>
|
|
</table>
|
|
|
|
<h2>When there's more than one verb</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
This is where the reflex breaks down fastest — modal verbs, separable verbs, and Perfekt all put more than one verb in the clause, and all of them still have to move to the end. The <strong>conjugated</strong> verb (the modal, or <em>haben/sein</em>) goes <strong>last</strong> — after the infinitive or Partizip II.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="clause-compare">
|
|
<span class="clause-row-label">Main clause</span> Die Kinder <span class="verb-pos2">müssen</span> früh schlafen gehen.<br>
|
|
<span class="clause-row-label">Subordinate</span> ..., weil sie früh schlafen gehen <span class="verb-final">müssen</span>.
|
|
</div>
|
|
<p style="font-size: 0.9rem; color: var(--ink-light);">The children have to go to bed early. — <em>schlafen gehen müssen</em>: infinitive, infinitive, then the conjugated modal last.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="clause-compare">
|
|
<span class="clause-row-label">Main clause</span> Er <span class="verb-pos2">hat</span> den Termin abgesagt.<br>
|
|
<span class="clause-row-label">Subordinate</span> ..., weil er <span class="akk-mark">den Termin</span> abgesagt <span class="verb-final">hat</span>.
|
|
</div>
|
|
<p style="font-size: 0.9rem; color: var(--ink-light);">He cancelled the appointment. — Partizip II (<em>abgesagt</em>) comes before the conjugated <em>hat</em>, which takes the very last slot.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="tip-box">
|
|
<strong>Reflex check:</strong> if you catch yourself writing <em>weil ich habe...</em> or <em>weil ich muss...</em>, stop — the conjugated verb belongs at the end, not right after the subject.
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<h2>ob vs. obwohl — a meaning trap, not a word-order trap</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
Both send the verb to the end, so word order won't save you here — this is about which word means what. Mixing them up changes the sentence's logic, not just its grammar.
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="ob-compare">
|
|
<div class="ob-card ob">
|
|
<h3>ob = whether</h3>
|
|
<p>Used for indirect yes/no questions — when you don't know the answer.</p>
|
|
<div class="ex">Ich weiß nicht, <strong>ob</strong> er kommt.<br><span style="color: var(--ink-light);">I don't know whether he's coming.</span></div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="ob-card obwohl">
|
|
<h3>obwohl = although</h3>
|
|
<p>Used for contrast — a fact holds despite something else being true.</p>
|
|
<div class="ex">Er kommt, <strong>obwohl</strong> er krank ist.<br><span style="color: var(--ink-light);">He's coming even though he's sick.</span></div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<p>Quick test: can you replace it with <em>"whether (or not)"</em> in English? Then it's <span class="conj-box">ob</span>. Can you replace it with <em>"even though"</em>? Then it's <span class="conj-box">obwohl</span>.</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="tip-box">
|
|
<strong>While you're at it:</strong> every clause below also has an accusative object hiding in it (<em>den Termin, einen Termin, einen Kostenvoranschlag</em>). Check the ending is right even while you're wrestling with verb position — the two errors like to happen in the same sentence.
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<hr style="border:none; border-top: 1px solid #ddd; margin: 2.5rem 0;">
|
|
|
|
<h2>Drill — pick the correctly ordered (or correctly chosen) ending</h2>
|
|
|
|
<div class="quiz-section" id="quiz"></div>
|
|
|
|
<div class="score-bar" id="score-bar">
|
|
<span class="score-number" id="score-number"></span> — <span id="score-comment"></span>
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<h2>Primary source</h2>
|
|
|
|
<p>
|
|
<ul style="margin: 0.5rem 0 0 1.25rem; line-height: 2;">
|
|
<li><a href="https://git.sometimescode.com/cgsmith/German-for-English-Speakers/src/branch/main/other/conjunctions.md" target="_blank">German for English Speakers: Conjunctions</a> — weil, dass, ob, wenn and the rest, with word-order notes.</li>
|
|
<li><a href="https://yourdailygerman.com/subordinating-conjunctions-explanation/" target="_blank">Your Daily German: Subordinating Conjunctions</a> — full explanation of why the verb moves (subscription).</li>
|
|
<li><a href="https://yourdailygerman.com/meaning-of-ob/" target="_blank">Your Daily German: The Meaning of ob</a> — the ob vs obwohl distinction in depth (subscription).</li>
|
|
<li><a href="https://yourdailygerman.com/difference-between-denn-weil/" target="_blank">Your Daily German: denn vs weil</a> — a related mix-up worth knowing once this one is solid (subscription).</li>
|
|
</ul>
|
|
</p>
|
|
|
|
<div class="ask-teacher">
|
|
<strong>Ask your teacher:</strong> Bring a sentence where you weren't sure whether to use <em>ob</em> or <em>obwohl</em>, or where you caught the verb sitting in the wrong place after <em>weil</em>. Correcting it live is what turns this from a rule you know into a reflex you use.
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<div class="lesson-nav">
|
|
<strong>Related:</strong>
|
|
<a href="0001-v2-word-order.html">Lesson 1: V2 Word Order</a> ·
|
|
<a href="0002-noun-gender-daily-life.html">Lesson 2: Noun Gender</a> ·
|
|
<a href="0003-the-four-cases.html">Lesson 3: The Four Cases</a> ·
|
|
<a href="../reference/word-order.html">Word Order Reference Sheet</a>
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
</div>
|
|
|
|
<script>
|
|
const questions = [
|
|
{
|
|
prefix: "Der Termin wurde verschoben,",
|
|
suffix: ".",
|
|
correct: "weil der Arzt krank ist",
|
|
distractor: "weil der Arzt ist krank",
|
|
feedback: "<em>weil</em> sends the conjugated verb to the very end: <strong>...krank ist</strong>, not <em>ist krank</em>."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
prefix: "Ich habe gehört,",
|
|
suffix: ".",
|
|
correct: "dass die Schule morgen zu ist",
|
|
distractor: "dass die Schule ist morgen zu",
|
|
feedback: "<em>dass</em> is verb-final too: <strong>...morgen zu ist</strong>. The verb doesn't jump back to slot two just because there's a word in between."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
prefix: "Ruf mich an,",
|
|
suffix: ".",
|
|
correct: "wenn du Zeit hast",
|
|
distractor: "wenn du hast Zeit",
|
|
feedback: "<em>wenn</em> (if/whenever) is verb-final: <strong>...Zeit hast</strong>."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
prefix: "Ich weiß nicht,",
|
|
suffix: ".",
|
|
correct: "ob der Mechaniker den Termin bestätigt hat",
|
|
distractor: "ob der Mechaniker hat den Termin bestätigt",
|
|
feedback: "Perfekt in a subordinate clause: Partizip II (<em>bestätigt</em>) then the conjugated <em>hat</em> last. Also note <strong>den Termin</strong> — masculine accusative, direct object of <em>bestätigt</em>."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
prefix: "Sie kommt zur Party,",
|
|
suffix: ".",
|
|
correct: "obwohl sie viel Arbeit hat",
|
|
distractor: "ob sie viel Arbeit hat",
|
|
feedback: "This is a contrast (she's coming <em>despite</em> the workload), not an unknown yes/no question — that's <strong>obwohl</strong>, not <em>ob</em>."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
prefix: "Ich frage mich,",
|
|
suffix: ".",
|
|
correct: "ob er den Termin verschoben hat",
|
|
distractor: "obwohl er den Termin verschoben hat",
|
|
feedback: "\"Ich frage mich\" (I wonder / ask myself) sets up an indirect question — that's <strong>ob</strong> (whether), not <em>obwohl</em>. And <strong>den Termin</strong> stays masculine accusative."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
prefix: "Die Kinder sind traurig,",
|
|
suffix: ".",
|
|
correct: "weil sie früh schlafen gehen müssen",
|
|
distractor: "weil sie müssen früh schlafen gehen",
|
|
feedback: "Three verbs, all pushed to the end, conjugated modal last: <strong>...schlafen gehen müssen</strong>."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
prefix: "Er ist genervt,",
|
|
suffix: ".",
|
|
correct: "weil er den Termin abgesagt hat",
|
|
distractor: "weil er hat den Termin abgesagt",
|
|
feedback: "Perfekt, verb-final: Partizip II (<em>abgesagt</em>) then <em>hat</em> last. <strong>den Termin</strong> is masculine accusative — direct object of <em>absagen</em>."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
prefix: "Der Kollege sagt,",
|
|
suffix: ".",
|
|
correct: "dass er einen neuen Kostenvoranschlag braucht",
|
|
distractor: "dass er braucht einen neuen Kostenvoranschlag",
|
|
feedback: "<em>dass</em> is verb-final: <strong>...braucht</strong> goes last. <strong>einen neuen Kostenvoranschlag</strong> — masculine accusative, adjective ending <em>-en</em> to match."
|
|
},
|
|
{
|
|
prefix: "Ich bringe die Kinder zum Zahnarzt,",
|
|
suffix: ".",
|
|
correct: "wenn ich einen Termin bekomme",
|
|
distractor: "wenn ich bekomme einen Termin",
|
|
feedback: "<em>wenn</em> is verb-final: <strong>...bekomme</strong> last. <strong>einen Termin</strong> — masculine accusative, direct object of <em>bekommen</em>."
|
|
}
|
|
];
|
|
|
|
const quiz = document.getElementById('quiz');
|
|
let answered = 0;
|
|
let correct = 0;
|
|
const total = questions.length;
|
|
|
|
const correctFirst = [true, false, false, true, false, true, false, true, true, false];
|
|
|
|
questions.forEach((q, i) => {
|
|
const opts = correctFirst[i]
|
|
? [q.correct, q.distractor]
|
|
: [q.distractor, q.correct];
|
|
|
|
const block = document.createElement('div');
|
|
block.className = 'question-block';
|
|
block.id = 'q' + i;
|
|
|
|
block.innerHTML = `
|
|
<div class="question-text">
|
|
<strong>${i + 1}.</strong> “${q.prefix} <span class="blank">___________</span>${q.suffix}”
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="options">
|
|
${opts.map(opt => `<button class="option-btn" onclick="answer(${i}, '${opt.replace(/'/g, "\\'")}', this)">${opt}</button>`).join('')}
|
|
</div>
|
|
<div class="feedback" id="fb${i}"></div>
|
|
`;
|
|
|
|
quiz.appendChild(block);
|
|
});
|
|
|
|
function answer(i, chosen, btn) {
|
|
const q = questions[i];
|
|
const block = document.getElementById('q' + i);
|
|
const fb = document.getElementById('fb' + i);
|
|
const buttons = block.querySelectorAll('.option-btn');
|
|
buttons.forEach(b => b.disabled = true);
|
|
|
|
const isCorrect = chosen === q.correct;
|
|
answered++;
|
|
|
|
if (isCorrect) {
|
|
correct++;
|
|
block.classList.add('correct');
|
|
btn.classList.add('selected-correct');
|
|
fb.className = 'feedback show correct-fb';
|
|
fb.innerHTML = '✓ Correct. ' + q.feedback;
|
|
} else {
|
|
block.classList.add('incorrect');
|
|
btn.classList.add('selected-incorrect');
|
|
fb.className = 'feedback show incorrect-fb';
|
|
fb.innerHTML = '✗ Not quite. ' + q.feedback;
|
|
buttons.forEach(b => {
|
|
if (b.textContent.trim() === q.correct) b.classList.add('reveal-correct');
|
|
});
|
|
}
|
|
|
|
if (answered === total) showScore();
|
|
}
|
|
|
|
function showScore() {
|
|
const bar = document.getElementById('score-bar');
|
|
const num = document.getElementById('score-number');
|
|
const comment = document.getElementById('score-comment');
|
|
|
|
bar.classList.add('show');
|
|
num.textContent = correct + ' / ' + total;
|
|
|
|
if (correct === total) {
|
|
comment.textContent = 'All ten — verb-final is clicking, including the multi-verb cases. Try producing a few of these from scratch in writing.';
|
|
} else if (correct >= 8) {
|
|
comment.textContent = 'Strong. Re-read the feedback on any misses — check whether it was word order or the ob/obwohl distinction.';
|
|
} else if (correct >= 6) {
|
|
comment.textContent = 'The reflex is forming. Watch especially for the conjugated verb creeping back into slot two after weil/dass/wenn.';
|
|
} else {
|
|
comment.textContent = 'Reread "When there is more than one verb" slowly, then try again — that is usually where this breaks down.';
|
|
}
|
|
}
|
|
</script>
|
|
|
|
</body>
|
|
</html>
|