A2-39 · Give a reason for your view

Opinions

Compare word order after weil, denn and deshalb when explaining an opinion.

About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions

Two neighbors discuss why they like a quiet park while sitting on a bench.

Give a reason with weil

Weil introduces a reason in a subordinate clause. Put its conjugated verb last: Ich mag den Park, weil er ruhig ist. Use a comma before weil.

Ich mag den Park, weil er ruhig ist.

I like the park because it is quiet.

Ich bleibe hier, weil es schön ist.

I am staying here because it is beautiful.

Mara ist dafür, weil sie den Plan gut findet.

Mara is in favor because she thinks the plan is good.

Ich bin dagegen, weil wir keine Zeit haben.

I am against it because we have no time.

An opinion can start with Ich finde ... or Ich glaube ... . The reason explains the opinion rather than simply adding another fact.

Friends discuss a community plan at a table, one agreeing while another explains a concern.

Give a reason with denn

Denn also means because, but the following clause keeps normal statement word order: Ich mag den Park, denn er ist ruhig. Do not send the verb to the end after denn.

Ich mag den Park, denn er ist ruhig.

I like the park because it is quiet.

Mara bleibt, denn sie hat Zeit.

Mara is staying because she has time.

Ich stimme zu, denn der Plan ist gut.

I agree because the plan is good.

Ben ist dagegen, denn der Plan ist teuer.

Ben is against it because the plan is expensive.

Dafür sein means be in favor and dagegen sein be against. Ich stimme zu means I agree.

An adult chooses a quiet park for reading after comparing it with a noisy street.

State the result with deshalb

Deshalb means therefore or for that reason. First give a reason, then the result: Der Park ist ruhig. Deshalb gehe ich dorthin. When deshalb starts the clause, the verb comes next.

Der Park ist ruhig. Deshalb gehe ich dorthin.

The park is quiet. Therefore I go there.

Es regnet. Deshalb bleiben wir zu Hause.

It is raining. Therefore we are staying home.

Der Plan ist gut. Deshalb stimme ich zu.

The plan is good. Therefore I agree.

Wir haben keine Zeit. Deshalb sind wir dagegen.

We have no time. Therefore we are against it.

Weil and denn introduce the reason. Deshalb introduces what follows from that reason. The sentence order changes with the connector.

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