A2-11 · Give a reason with weil

At the pharmacy

Ask simple questions at a pharmacy and explain reasons with a verb-final weil clause.

About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions

A pharmacist and an adult customer speak across a pharmacy counter with plain medicine boxes and a leaflet.

Explain why you are there

Weil means because. It introduces a reason, and the conjugated verb moves to the end of its clause. These fictional exchanges practise language for asking questions.

Ich gehe in die Apotheke, weil ich eine Frage habe.

I am going to the pharmacy because I have a question.

Ben bleibt zu Hause, weil er krank ist.

Ben is staying at home because he is ill.

Mara fragt nach, weil sie den Hinweis nicht versteht.

Mara asks for clarification because she does not understand the instruction.

Ich lese die Packungsbeilage, weil ich mehr wissen möchte.

I read the package leaflet because I would like to know more.

Compare Ich habe eine Frage with weil ich eine Frage habe. Apotheke means pharmacy, Hinweis means instruction or notice, and Packungsbeilage means package leaflet. The examples do not recommend a medicine or dose.

Questions before decisions

Ask the pharmacist when information is unclear. In a weil clause with a modal verb, the infinitive comes before the conjugated modal at the end.

Wie nehme ich das Medikament ein?

How do I take the medicine?

Ich frage nach, weil ich nichts falsch machen möchte.

I ask for clarification because I do not want to do anything wrong.

Ben braucht eine Erklärung, weil er den Text nicht lesen kann.

Ben needs an explanation because he cannot read the text.

Ist das Medikament rezeptpflichtig?

Does the medicine require a prescription?

Medikament means medicine and rezeptpflichtig means requiring a prescription. Notice the endings machen möchte and lesen kann. The question asks for information; the lesson gives no instructions for taking a medicine.

Put the reason first

You can begin with weil. The whole reason clause then occupies the first position, so the main clause starts with its verb. A comma separates the clauses.

Weil ich eine Frage habe, gehe ich in die Apotheke.

Because I have a question, I am going to the pharmacy.

Weil Ben krank ist, bleibt er zu Hause.

Because Ben is ill, he is staying at home.

Weil die Erklärung wichtig ist, höre ich genau zu.

Because the explanation is important, I listen carefully.

Ich frage noch einmal, weil ich unsicher bin.

I ask again because I am unsure.

Use Weil Ben krank ist, bleibt er …, not Weil Ben krank ist, er bleibt … . In the last sentence, unsicher means unsure. A reason can come before or after the action without changing the verb-final rule.

Ready to try it?

Check what you remember with 12 short questions.