Conjunctional Adverbs (Konjunktionaladverbien) 🔗
Learn German conjunctional adverbs that connect two independent clauses — addition (außerdem, ebenfalls), sequence (danach, zuvor, schließlich), contrast (trotzdem, dennoch), and result (deshalb, deswegen, darum) — and their Verb-Second word order in the second clause.
6. Conjunctional Adverbs (Konjunktionaladverbien) 🔗
Conjunctional adverbs connect two independent clauses and show the relationship between them.
Unlike conjunctions (e.g. und, aber, weil), conjunctional adverbs occupy the first position in the second clause, so the verb comes immediately after them.
💡 For the deeper dive on this family (deshalb, trotzdem, außerdem, sonst, and how they differ from coordinating and subordinating conjunctions), see Conjunctive Adverbs in the Conjunctions series. This note covers the same words organized by adverb function instead.
Structure
Sentence 1.
Connector + Verb + Subject + ...
Example:
Ich bin krank.
Deshalb bleibe ich zu Hause.
➕ Addition
Adds another idea.
| Emoji | Adverb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ➕ | außerdem | besides, moreover | Ich lerne Deutsch. Außerdem lerne ich Spanisch. (I study German. Moreover, I study Spanish.) |
| ➕ | ebenfalls | likewise | Anna kommt. Peter kommt ebenfalls. (Anna is coming. Peter is coming as well.) |
⏳ Sequence
Shows the order of events.
| Emoji | Adverb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⏭️ | danach | afterwards | Wir essen. Danach gehen wir spazieren. (We eat. Afterwards, we go for a walk.) |
| ⏮️ | zuvor | previously | Zuvor hatte er gearbeitet. (Previously, he had worked.) |
| 🏁 | schließlich | finally | Schließlich fanden wir das Hotel. (Finally, we found the hotel.) |
⚖️ Contrast
Shows an opposite or unexpected result.
| Emoji | Adverb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⚖️ | trotzdem | nevertheless, however | Es regnet. Trotzdem gehen wir spazieren. (It's raining. Nevertheless, we're going for a walk.) |
| 🔄 | dennoch | nevertheless | Er war müde. Dennoch arbeitete er weiter. (He was tired. Nevertheless, he continued working.) |
👉 Result
Shows the consequence of something.
| Emoji | Adverb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 👉 | deshalb | therefore | Ich bin krank. Deshalb bleibe ich zu Hause. |
| 👉 | deswegen | therefore | Es regnet. Deswegen nehme ich einen Regenschirm. |
| 👉 | darum | therefore | Ich habe keine Zeit. Darum komme ich später. |
Word Order
Conjunctional adverbs follow Verb-Second (V2) word order.
Ich bin müde.
Deshalb gehe ich früh schlafen.
↓
Deshalb | gehe | ich | früh schlafen.
Notice that the verb comes before the subject.
Compare
| Conjunction | Conjunctional Adverb |
|---|---|
| weil ich krank bin | Deshalb bleibe ich zu Hause. |
| obwohl es regnet | Trotzdem gehen wir spazieren. |
| und ich lerne Deutsch | Außerdem lerne ich Spanisch. |
💡 Tip
Conjunctional adverbs are very common in emails, essays, and conversations because they make your writing more fluent.
Er arbeitet viel.
Deshalb verdient er gut.
Außerdem spart er Geld.
Remember
| Relationship | Common Adverbs |
|---|---|
| ➕ Addition | außerdem, ebenfalls |
| ⏳ Sequence | danach, zuvor, schließlich |
| ⚖️ Contrast | trotzdem, dennoch |
| 👉 Result | deshalb, deswegen, darum |
Related: Adverbs Overview · Causal Adverbs · Relative Adverbs · Conjunctive Adverbs (full guide) · Grammar Roadmap
