Conjunctions: und, aber, oder, also, dann

How these conjunctions work in German main clauses

In this unit you learn five very frequent conjunctions:

• und = and
• oder = or
• aber = but
• also = so / therefore
• dann = then / after that

All of them are used here to connect main clauses.

Important rule:

• With these words the word order in German does not change.
• The verb stays in position 2 in the new clause.

Example:

• Wir bauen das Zelt auf, und wir kochen dann.
• Both verbs (bauen, kochen) are in second position in their clause.

Step 1 – What does each conjunction express?

Think first about the meaning you need. Then choose the conjunction.

Step 2 – Meaning contrasts: und, oder, aber

These three are often confused, so compare them directly.

• und: both actions happen, they do not exclude each other.
• oder: you choose, normally you do one thing.
• aber: something is different or surprising in the second part.

Compare:

• Wir wandern am Fluss, und wir machen Fotos.
  = We do both.
• Wir wandern am Fluss, oder wir bleiben im Dorf.
  = We must decide.
• Wir wandern am Fluss, aber wir sehen keine Tiere.
  = Expectation vs. reality.

Self-check:

• Do I want to say “both”? → und
• Do I want to say “A or B, not both”? → oder
• Do I want to say “yes, but …”? → aber

Step 3 – therefore or then? also vs. dann

English often uses “then” for both time and consequence. German separates this more clearly.

• also = therefore, so (logical result)
• dann = then, afterwards (time sequence)

Use also for results:

• Es ist sehr kalt, also bleiben wir im Auto.
  (Cold → result: we stay in the car.)
• Wir haben keinen Strom, also benutzen wir Kerzen.

Use dann for next steps in time:

• Wir frühstücken, dann gehen wir schwimmen.
  (First breakfast, after that swimming.)
• Ich arbeite bis fünf, dann fahre ich nach Hause.

Typical mistakes:

• Es regnet, dann wir bleiben im Zelt.
  Here you mean a consequence, not a time sequence → also:
  Es regnet, also bleiben wir im Zelt.
• Wir gehen einkaufen, also wir kochen.
  Here you want “after that”, not “therefore” → dann:
  Wir gehen einkaufen, dann kochen wir.

Self-check:

• Can I put “therefore / so” in the English sentence? → use also.
• Can I put “after that / then” in the English sentence? → use dann.

Step 4 – Word order after und, oder, aber, also, dann

In this unit we use all five words to connect two main clauses:

• Clause 1, conjunction clause 2.

Rule for all examples here:

• The conjunction is position 0 (it does not count).
• In the new clause the conjugated verb is in position 2.

Many books and native speakers also use:

• Es ist dunkel, also benutzen wir die Taschenlampe.
• Wir frühstücken. Dann gehen wir wandern.

Here also and dann stand at the beginning of a sentence and are followed by the verb in position 2. That is more advanced word order and will be practiced later; for this A2 unit, focus on the simple pattern with two clauses in one sentence as in the grammar table.

Step 5 – Comma or no comma?

In German, when you connect two full main clauses, a comma is normally used:

• Wir reservieren den Campingplatz online, oder wir rufen dort an.
• Es regnet, aber wir schlafen im Zelt.

In very short sentences some writers omit the comma with und or oder:

• Wir wandern oder wir bleiben hier.

For your A2 writing it is safer and clearer to:

• Use a comma when you clearly have two independent clauses.
• Not use a comma if you only connect single words or short phrases:

• Wir haben Zelt und Schlafsack. (no comma)
• Im Sommer oder im Herbst fahren wir nach Bayern. (no comma)

Step 6 – Quick patterns you can reuse

Memorise some simple, reusable patterns. Then replace the words.

• Wir …, und wir …
  → plan two activities.
  Example: Wir kaufen ein, und wir kochen zusammen.
• Wir …, oder wir …
  → offer a choice.
  Example: Wir mieten Fahrräder, oder wir gehen zu Fuß.
• Es …, aber wir …
  → show a problem and your reaction.
  Example: Es ist kalt, aber wir sitzen draußen.
• Es …, also … wir …
  → explain a decision.
  Example: Es ist spät, also suchen wir einen Campingplatz.
• Wir …, dann … wir …
  → describe your plan step by step.
  Example: Wir bauen das Zelt auf, dann machen wir ein Feuer.

Step 7 – Mini self-test

Cover the conjunctions and test yourself with these questions:

1. Do I talk about two things that both happen? → say the sentence aloud with and in English. If that sounds right, use und.
2. Do I talk about a decision or alternatives? → try or in English. If that fits, use oder.
3. Is the second part in contrast to the first part? → try “yes, but …” in English. If that works, use aber.
4. Is the second part a logical consequence (“therefore / so”)? → use also.
5. Is the second part simply later in time (“then / after that”)? → use dann.

If you can answer these questions for your own sentences, you are using the conjunctions in a clear and correct way.