Introduction to German Conjunctions
In German, conjunctions are used to connect words, phrases, and sentences. Some of the most commonly used conjunctions are:
- Und – And
- Oder – Or
- Aber – But
Explanation of Each Conjunction
Und (And)
The word und means "and". It is used to connect two or more elements of the same kind. It does not affect the word order.
Example: Ich esse Brot und Käse. (I eat bread and cheese.)
Subject Verb Element 1 Und Element 2
Oder (Or)
The word oder means "or". It presents alternatives. Like "und", it does not change the word order.
Example: Möchtest du Tee oder Kaffee? (Would you like tea or coffee?)
Question Word Verb Subject Option 1 Oder Option 2
Aber (But)
The word aber means "but". It introduces a contrast or exception. The word order remains the same in both clauses.
Example: Er ist müde, aber glücklich. (He is tired, but happy.)
Clause 1: Subject + Verb Aber Clause 2: Adjective
Examples with All Three Conjunctions
| German |
English |
| Ich habe Hunger und Durst. |
I am hungry and thirsty. |
| Willst du Apfel oder Banane? |
Do you want an apple or a banana? |
| Es ist kalt, aber sonnig. |
It is cold, but sunny. |