Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
Can connect sentences using coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Ech kommen, wann ech Zäit hunn.
I'll come when I have time.
Ech léiere Lëtzebuergesch, well ech hei wunnen.
I learn Luxembourgish because I live here.
Hien ass midd, awer hien schafft weider.
He is tired, but he keeps working.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Koordinéierend (Wuertstellung ännert net):
| Konjunktioun | Bedeitung | Beispill |
|---|---|---|
| an | and | Ech iessen an ech drénken. |
| awer | but | Ech wëll, awer ech kann net. |
| oder | or | Kaffi oder Téi? |
Subordinéierend (Verb geet un d'Enn):
| well | because | Ech bleiwen, well et reent. |
| wann | when/if | Ech kommen, wann ech kann. |
| dass | that | Ech mengen, dass et richteg ass. |
Common Error Patterns
Verb not at end after subordinating conjunction
After well/wann/dass: verb goes to end of subclause
Ech kommen, wann ech Zäit hunn.
I'll come when I have time.
Wann (when/if) sends hunn to the end.
Ech léiere Lëtzebuergesch, well ech hei wunnen.
I learn Luxembourgish because I live here.
Well (because) sends the verb wunnen to the end of the subclause.
Hien ass midd, awer hien schafft weider.
He is tired, but he keeps working.
Awer (but) is coordinating — no word order change in second clause.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises