Subordinate Clauses with dass
Learn to connect statements, thoughts, knowledge, and feelings with dass-clauses. Practise verb-final order and the word order used when the dass-clause comes first.
Explanation
Subordinate clauses with **dass**
A **dass-clause** reports the content of a statement, thought, piece of knowledge, feeling, or evaluation.
- Ich weiß, **dass der Kurs heute beginnt**.
- Es freut mich, **dass du mitkommst**.
- Wir sind der Meinung, **dass die Lösung praktisch ist**.
Common triggers
Dass-clauses often follow verbs such as **glauben, denken, wissen, finden, hoffen, sagen**, emotional or evaluative phrases such as **Es freut mich**, **Es tut mir leid**, and impersonal phrases such as **Es ist wichtig** or **Es stimmt**. They also follow opinion frames such as **Ich bin der Meinung**.
A dass-clause can replace a complement:
> Wir erwarten eine Antwort. → Wir erwarten, **dass sie heute antwortet**.
Word order
**dass** introduces a subordinate clause, so the conjugated verb goes to the end.
| Main clause | Conjunction | Middle field | Verb |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lea sagt, | dass | der Zug später | kommt. |
| Ich hoffe, | dass | du morgen Zeit | hast. |
With a modal verb, the modal is last: **dass Amir länger arbeiten muss**. In the perfect tense, the conjugated auxiliary is last: **dass sie den Schlüssel gefunden hat**. Separable verbs stay together: **dass der Kurs morgen anfängt**.
A dass-clause can come first
> **Dass der Laden heute geschlossen ist**, weiß ich.
The entire subordinate clause occupies position 1. The conjugated main-clause verb follows the comma immediately. This order is possible, though a following dass-clause is usually more neutral in everyday German.
Comma and spelling
Use a comma before a following dass-clause. Write **dass** with double s. **das** with one s is usually an article or pronoun.
Memory aid
After **dass** comes the reported content; the conjugated verb waits until the end of the subordinate clause.
Exercises
- Combine the statement with the given main clause. Write one complete sentence with dass. (11)
- Arrange the words into a correct dass-clause. Put the conjugated verb at the end. (11)
- Express an opinion or evaluation with dass. Write the complete sentence. (11)
A2 · German · Grammar