Genau
Topic test · A2

Conjunctions test

13questions
8minutes
60%pass mark
Start the test Read the topic first

One question at a time, the clock runs. Answers stay closed like a real exam: you see every correct answer with its explanation at the end. Score 60% to finish the topic.

Topic test

13 questions, easy to hard

Pick an option and press «Next». You can go back and change it. Anything left blank counts as wrong.

Ich bin krank. Deshalb nicht.

I’m sick. That’s why I’m not coming.

komme ich. deshalb occupies the first slot; since the verb has to stay in second position, the subject drops behind it.

Ich komme nicht, denn krank.

I’m not coming, because I’m sick.

ich bin. denn does not occupy a slot (Position 0) — the clause carries on in normal order after it.

Ich trinke keinen Kaffee, Tee.

I’m not drinking coffee, I’m drinking tea.

sondern. There is a kein before it: the first part is negated and the second replaces it. Without the negation, aber would be used.

Which one is correct?

trotzdem gehe ich raus. trotzdem is in Position 1 — it flips the subject. The only group that sends the verb to the end is the subordinating conjunctions (like obwohl).

Ich stehe auf und ins Bad.

I get up and go to the bathroom.

gehe. If both clauses have the same subject, it is dropped after und — that is natural German. ich gehe isn’t wrong, but it sounds heavy.

Ich lerne Deutsch, ich in Berlin arbeiten will.

I’m learning German because I want to work in Berlin.

The verb (will) is at the end of the clause — this is a subordinate clause, so the conjunction is weil. With denn the verb would stay in second position.

Möchtest du Kaffee Tee?

Would you like coffee or tea?

One of two options: oder. It is one of the Position 0 conjunctions that keep the word order — und · oder · aber · denn.

Erst koche ich, esse ich.

First I cook, then I eat.

dann expresses time order and fills the first slot: the verb follows right after — dann esse ich. denn expresses a reason, so don’t mix them up.

Er ist müde, er arbeitet weiter.

He’s tired but keeps working.

There is a contrast, but the first clause is not negative: aber. sondern is only used to correct a negative clause (nicht X, sondern Y).

Which one is correct?

zuerst and danach fill the first slot; in both, the verb comes right behind. The same rule applies to every sentence that starts with an adverb.

After the conjunction und, the verb always comes right at the start of the clause (in second position).

False. und is in Position 0, so it does not disturb the word order of the clause. The subject has to come after it.

He isn’t coming; on the contrary, he’s staying at home. Er kommt nicht, er bleibt zu Hause.

When you deny something and state the opposite, you use sondern.

Build the sentence: That’s why I’m not working today.

Tap the pieces to build the sentence

Because deshalb fills the first slot, the verb comes right after it (second position).
Quick rules

The rules in three lines

The full topic lives on its own page. This is only the core you need for the test.

  1. Position 0: und · oder · aber · denn

    These four never disturb the word order: subject + verb follow them in the normal order.

    Ich komme nicht, denn ich bin krank.

  2. Position 1: deshalb · trotzdem · dann

    These fill the first slot of the clause; the verb comes right after them, and the subject drops behind the verb.

    Ich bin krank. Deshalb komme ich nicht.

  3. sondern only after a negative

    sondern means “but rather” and only corrects a negative clause: nicht X, sondern Y. For a plain contrast, use aber.

    Ich trinke keinen Kaffee, sondern Tee.

  4. weil sends the verb to the end, denn does not

    Both give a reason, but weil builds a subordinate clause (verb last) while denn leaves a main clause (verb second). The verb’s position gives away which one was used.

    …, weil ich krank bin. · …, denn ich bin krank.

Traps

Commonly mixed up

Where a direct translation breaks. The hard questions come from here.

  • Deshalb ich komme nicht.

    Deshalb komme ich nicht.

    deshalb fills the first slot; the verb moves to second position.

  • Ich trinke keinen Kaffee, aber Tee.

    Ich trinke keinen Kaffee, sondern Tee.

    The conjunction that corrects a negative and gives the right version is sondern.

  • Ich komme nicht, denn ich krank bin.

    Ich komme nicht, denn ich bin krank.

    denn does not build a subordinate clause; the verb stays where it is.

  • Es regnet, trotzdem ich gehe raus.

    Es regnet, trotzdem gehe ich raus.

    trotzdem also fills the first slot: the verb comes right after it.