B2 Word Order 7 min read Medium

Connecting Thoughts: Therefore, Then, Besides (Conjunctive Adverbs)

Conjunctive adverbs take Position 1, pushing the subject after the verb to maintain the mandatory Verb-Second rule.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

When you start a sentence with a conjunctive adverb like 'deshalb', the verb must immediately follow it.

  • Conjunctive adverbs occupy position 1: 'Deshalb gehe ich nach Hause.'
  • The verb must always be in position 2: 'Dann trinken wir einen {der|m} Kaffee.'
  • The subject shifts to position 3 if the adverb is in position 1: 'Außerdem habe ich keine Zeit.'
Connector (Pos 1) + Verb (Pos 2) + Subject (Pos 3)

Overview

Ever felt like your German sentences are just floating around like lost socks in die Waschmaschine? You say one sentence. Then you say another.

But they don't stick together. You want to explain why you're late to the Zoom call or what you're doing after Netflix. This is where conjunctive adverbs save your life.

They are the glue of the German language. Without them, you sound like a basic chatbot. With them, you sound like a human with actual thoughts.

These words help you link ideas smoothly. They tell your friend: "I'm tired, therefore I'm staying home." Or: "First I eat, then I sleep." It's about flow, logic, and not sounding like a textbook from 1985.

Conjunctive adverbs are special words that act like bridges. In English, we use words like "therefore," "however," or "then." In German, common ones are deshalb, dann, and außerdem. They have a very specific job: they connect two separate thoughts.

But here's the catch—German is obsessed with word order. Unlike simple connectors like und (and) or aber (but), these adverbs are "real" parts of the sentence. They want a seat at the table.

Specifically, they want to sit in Position 1. Because German verbs are incredibly clingy and must stay in Position 2, these adverbs push the subject (you, me, der Hund) to Position 3. It's a little dance.

If you don't do the dance, the sentence breaks. It's the difference between sounding like a local and sounding like you're reading a manual for a microwave. Think of these as the secret sauce for your Instagram captions or WhatsApp rants.

They make you look like you actually know what's going on.

How This Grammar Works

To understand this, you have to remember one golden rule: The Verb is the Boss. In a standard German sentence, the verb lives in Position 2. Always.
Usually, the subject (the person doing the action) is in Position 1. For example: "Ich (ich) trinke (trinke) Kaffee." Subject, Verb, Object. Simple.
But conjunctive adverbs are slightly arrogant. They take over Position 1. When deshalb (therefore) or dann (then) steps into Position 1, the verb stays exactly where it is in Position 2.
This means the subject has nowhere to go but Position 3. We call this "inversion." It's like a game of musical chairs where the verb never loses its seat. If you're texting a friend about your weekend plans, you might say: "Zuerst (zuerst) lerne (lerne) ich (ich) Deutsch." Notice how ich moved after the verb?
That's the magic. If you say "Zuerst ich lerne," a German speaker will still understand you, but they'll know you skipped your grammar workout today. It’s like wearing socks with sandals—not illegal, but people will notice.

Formation Pattern

1
Creating these sentences is like building a Lego set. Follow these steps to get it right every time:
2
Write your first complete sentence. End it with a period or a semicolon. Example: "Ich bin müde."
3
Pick your conjunctive adverb. This starts your second sentence. Example: deshalb (therefore).
4
Put the Verb immediately after the adverb. Position 2 is reserved! Example: gehe (go).
5
Put the Subject in Position 3. Example: ich (I).
6
Add the rest of the sentence. Example: "ins Bett."
7
Full result: "Ich bin müde. Deshalb gehe ich ins Bett."
8
Structure: [First Sentence] + [Adverb] + [Verb] + [Subject] + [Rest].
9
Think of the adverb as a heavy weight. It drops into the first slot and tips the scale, forcing the subject to slide down to the third slot. The verb stays balanced in the middle. This works for almost all common conjunctive adverbs like außerdem (besides), sonst (otherwise), and trotzdem (anyway/despite that). If you're using a comma instead of a period, the rule stays exactly the same. The adverb is still the "First Element" of that new clause.

When To Use It

You use these whenever you want to show a relationship between two ideas. It's not just for formal essays; it's for everyday life.
  • Cause and Effect: Use deshalb or darum. "Ich habe kein Geld. Deshalb bestelle ich kein das Sushi." (I have no money. Therefore, I'm not ordering sushi.)
  • Sequence: Use dann or zuerst. "Ich dusche. Dann spiele ich Fortnite." (I shower. Then I play Fortnite.)
  • Adding Information: Use außerdem. "Das Handy ist teuer. Außerdem ist es hässlich." (The phone is expensive. Besides, it's ugly.)
  • Alternatives: Use sonst. "Lerne fleißig, sonst wird der Chef böse." (Study hard, otherwise the boss will be angry.)
  • Contradiction: Use trotzdem. "Es regnet. Trotzdem jogge ich." (It's raining. I'm jogging anyway.)
Use these when you're writing an email to your professor, explaining a mistake to your Uber driver, or just trying to sound more sophisticated in a Tinder bio. It shows you can think in complex patterns, not just simple bullet points. Plus, it makes your German feel less like a translation and more like a real language.

Common Mistakes

The biggest mistake? Forgetting the "Inversion." Many people try to use these like the "ADUSO" conjunctions (und, aber, oder, denn, sondern). Those words live in "Position 0" and don't change the order. But conjunctive adverbs are Position 1.
Incorrect
✗Mistake: "Ich bin krank. Deshalb ich bleibe zu Hause."
✓Correct: "Ich bin krank. Deshalb bleibe ich zu Hause."
Another mistake is using too many in one row. It can make you sound a bit robotic. "I did this. Then I did that. Therefore I went there. Besides I saw him." Mix it up! Sometimes start with the subject, sometimes with the adverb. Also, watch out for denn vs. deshalb. denn (because) is a Position 0 conjunction and doesn't flip the verb. deshalb (therefore) is a Position 1 adverb and does flip the verb. They have similar meanings but different grammar rules. It's like the difference between a manual and an automatic car—both get you there, but the controls are different. Finally, don't forget article(gender). Even if your word order is perfect, saying der|f instead of die|f will make your German teacher cry a little bit inside.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

How do these differ from regular conjunctions? Think of it as two different clubs.
Club A: The ADUSO Conjunctions (und, aber, oder, denn, sondern). These are "Zero Position" words. They don't count as a slot in the sentence. You just drop them in, and the rest of the sentence stays normal (Subject + Verb).
Club B: Conjunctive Adverbs (deshalb, dann, außerdem, etc.). These are "Position 1" words. They take up the first slot. Because they take the slot, the verb must come next, and the subject gets kicked to Position 3.
Imagine you're ordering die Pizza.

ADUSO: "Ich habe Hunger, und ich bestelle Pizza." (Verb is 2nd after 'ich')

Adverb: "Ich habe Hunger. Deshalb bestelle ich Pizza." (Verb is 2nd after 'Deshalb')

See the difference? In the first one, "ich" stays in front. In the second one, "bestelle" jumps ahead of "ich." If you master this contrast, you’ve basically leveled up to a "boss mode" beginner. You'll stop making those awkward pauses where you wonder where the verb goes.

Quick FAQ

Q

Can I put the adverb in the middle of the sentence?

Yes! You can say "Ich bestelle deshalb Pizza." It's less dramatic but totally correct.

Q

Is dann always a conjunctive adverb?

Mostly, yes. When it means "then" as a sequence, it usually takes Position 1 and causes inversion.

Q

What if I use a comma instead of a period?

The rule is the same. Position 1 is the start of the clause after the comma.

Q

Why is German so obsessed with verbs in Position 2?

It's just their thing. Like how Italians are obsessed with good coffee or Americans with giant trucks. It's the core of the language's DNA.

Q

Is trotzdem too formal for texting?

Not at all! It's very common. "Kein Geld, trotzdem Party!" (No money, party anyway!)

Q

Does this work with questions?

Usually, we use these in statements. In questions, the verb already moves to Position 1, so it's a different vibe.

Q

Can I use und deshalb together?

You can! "Ich bin müde, und deshalb gehe ich." Here, und is Pos 0, deshalb is Pos 1, gehe is Pos 2. It's a double-layered grammar sandwich.

Standard V2 Word Order with Connectors

Position 1 (Connector) Position 2 (Verb) Position 3 (Subject) Rest of Sentence
Deshalb
gehe
ich
nach Hause.
Dann
trinken
wir
einen Kaffee.
Außerdem
hat
er
keine Zeit.
Folglich
müssen
sie
warten.
Dennoch
bleibt
es
schön.
Zudem
ist
das
Essen gut.

Meanings

Conjunctive adverbs connect two independent clauses by providing logical flow, such as causality or sequence.

1

Causality

Expressing a result or consequence.

“Ich bin müde, deshalb schlafe ich.”

“Es ist spät, darum gehe ich.”

2

Sequence

Ordering events in time.

“Zuerst essen wir, dann gehen wir ins {das|n} Kino.”

“Wir kaufen ein, danach kochen wir.”

3

Addition

Adding information to a previous statement.

“Ich habe keine Zeit, außerdem bin ich müde.”

“Er ist nett, zudem ist er schlau.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Connecting Thoughts: Therefore, Then, Besides (Conjunctive Adverbs)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Connector + Verb + Subject
Deshalb gehe ich.
Negative
Connector + Verb + Subject + nicht
Deshalb gehe ich nicht.
Question
Connector + Verb + Subject + ...?
Dann gehst du?
Modal Verb
Connector + Modal + Subject + Inf
Deshalb muss ich gehen.
Perfect Tense
Connector + Aux + Subject + Part
Deshalb bin ich gegangen.
Passive
Connector + werden + Subject + Part
Deshalb wird es gemacht.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Ich bin erschöpft, demzufolge ruhe ich mich aus.

Ich bin erschöpft, demzufolge ruhe ich mich aus. (Daily life)

Neutral
Ich bin müde, deshalb schlafe ich.

Ich bin müde, deshalb schlafe ich. (Daily life)

Informal
Ich bin müde, dann schlafe ich halt.

Ich bin müde, dann schlafe ich halt. (Daily life)

Slang
Bin müde, also pennen.

Bin müde, also pennen. (Daily life)

Connector Logic

Connector

Causality

  • deshalb therefore
  • darum that's why

Sequence

  • dann then
  • danach afterwards

Addition

  • außerdem besides
  • zudem furthermore

Word Order Comparison

Conjunction (weil)
weil ich gehe because I go
Adverb (deshalb)
deshalb gehe ich therefore I go
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Examples by Level

1

Dann gehe ich.

Then I go.

2

Deshalb lerne ich.

Therefore I study.

3

Dann essen wir.

Then we eat.

4

Deshalb schlafe ich.

Therefore I sleep.

1

Es regnet, deshalb bleibe ich hier.

It is raining, therefore I stay here.

2

Ich bin müde, dann gehe ich schlafen.

I am tired, then I go to sleep.

3

Er ist krank, deshalb kommt er nicht.

He is sick, therefore he is not coming.

4

Wir haben Zeit, dann spielen wir.

We have time, then we play.

1

Ich habe viel zu tun, außerdem bin ich müde.

I have much to do, besides I am tired.

2

Das Wetter ist schlecht, folglich bleiben wir zu Hause.

The weather is bad, consequently we stay home.

3

Er hat nicht gelernt, dennoch hat er bestanden.

He didn't study, nevertheless he passed.

4

Es ist teuer, zudem ist es alt.

It is expensive, furthermore it is old.

1

Die Firma ist pleite, demzufolge wurden alle entlassen.

The company is bankrupt, consequently everyone was fired.

2

Sie ist sehr begabt, nichtsdestotrotz arbeitet sie hart.

She is very gifted, nevertheless she works hard.

3

Der Plan ist riskant, gleichwohl ist er notwendig.

The plan is risky, nevertheless it is necessary.

4

Wir haben die Deadline verpasst, infolgedessen gibt es Probleme.

We missed the deadline, as a result there are problems.

1

Die Ergebnisse sind inkonsistent, mithin ist die Hypothese zu verwerfen.

The results are inconsistent, consequently the hypothesis is to be rejected.

2

Er ist ein Genie, gleichwohl mangelt es ihm an Empathie.

He is a genius, nevertheless he lacks empathy.

3

Die Lage ist prekär, nichtsdestoweniger müssen wir handeln.

The situation is precarious, nevertheless we must act.

4

Das Budget wurde gekürzt, demgemäß wurden die Projekte gestoppt.

The budget was cut, accordingly the projects were stopped.

1

Die Argumentation ist schlüssig, folglich ist der Schlussfolgerung zuzustimmen.

The argumentation is logical, consequently the conclusion is to be agreed with.

2

Es herrschte akuter Mangel, demzufolge wurden Rationierungen eingeführt.

There was an acute shortage, consequently rationing was introduced.

3

Die Entscheidung war kontrovers, nichtsdestotrotz wurde sie umgesetzt.

The decision was controversial, nevertheless it was implemented.

4

Die Datenlage ist dünn, mithin bleibt die Prognose vage.

The data situation is thin, consequently the forecast remains vague.

Easily Confused

Connecting Thoughts: Therefore, Then, Besides (Conjunctive Adverbs) vs Weil vs. Deshalb

Learners mix up the word order.

Connecting Thoughts: Therefore, Then, Besides (Conjunctive Adverbs) vs Dann vs. Danach

Both mean 'then' but have different syntactic roles.

Connecting Thoughts: Therefore, Then, Besides (Conjunctive Adverbs) vs Aber vs. Jedoch

Both mean 'but' but 'jedoch' can act as a conjunctive adverb.

Common Mistakes

✗

Deshalb ich gehe.

✓

Deshalb gehe ich.

Subject must follow the verb.
✗

Dann wir essen.

✓

Dann essen wir.

Verb must be in position 2.
✗

Weil deshalb gehe ich...

✓

Ich gehe, deshalb...

Don't mix conjunctions and adverbs.
✗

Deshalb, ich gehe.

✓

Deshalb gehe ich.

No comma needed after the adverb.

Sentence Patterns

___ (connector) ___ (verb) ___ (subject) ___ (rest).

Ich bin ___, deshalb ___ ___ ___.

___ (connector) ___ (verb) ___ (subject) ___ (rest), ___ (connector) ___ (verb) ___ (subject) ___ (rest).

___ (connector) ___ (verb) ___ (subject) ___ (rest), ___ (connector) ___ (verb) ___ (subject) ___ (rest).

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Bin müde, dann schlafe ich.

Job Interview very common

Ich habe Erfahrung, deshalb bin ich geeignet.

Academic Essay very common

Die Daten sind klar, folglich ist die Hypothese korrekt.

Social Media common

Es ist toll, außerdem ist es günstig!

Travel occasional

Der Zug kommt spät, deshalb nehme ich das Taxi.

Food Delivery App occasional

Kein Fleisch, deshalb nehme ich die Pizza.

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💡

The V2 Anchor

Always look for the verb after your connector. If it's not there, you've likely made a mistake.
⚠️

Subject Placement

Don't let the subject sneak into the first position after a connector!
🎯

Variety

Don't just use 'deshalb'. Try 'folglich' or 'darum' to sound more advanced.
💬

Formal vs Informal

Use 'demzufolge' in writing and 'dann' in speech.

Smart Tips

Use a connector to start the second sentence.

Ich bin müde. Ich schlafe. → Ich bin müde, deshalb schlafe ich.

Use 'außerdem' to add information.

Das Essen ist gut. Es ist billig. → Das Essen ist gut, außerdem ist es billig.

Use 'folglich' for logical conclusions.

Die Zahlen sind hoch. Wir müssen sparen. → Die Zahlen sind hoch, folglich müssen wir sparen.

Use 'dann' to sequence events.

Ich ging nach Hause. Ich aß. → Ich ging nach Hause, dann aß ich.

Pronunciation

des-HALB

Emphasis

The connector often carries a slight stress to emphasize the logical link.

Falling

Deshalb gehe ich. ↘

Statement of fact.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Remember 'The Verb is the Boss'. It always wants to be in the second seat, no matter what comes first.

Visual Association

Imagine a train. The first carriage is the 'Connector', the second is the 'Engine' (Verb), and the third is the 'Passenger' (Subject). If the Connector moves, the Engine stays in the second spot!

Rhyme

Connector first, verb stays second, subject third, the rule is reckoned.

Story

Hans is walking. He sees a sign: 'Connector'. He puts it in his pocket (Pos 1). He sees a Verb. He puts it in his hand (Pos 2). He sees his Subject. He puts it in his bag (Pos 3). He walks away saying 'Deshalb gehe ich'.

Word Web

deshalbdannaußerdemfolglichdennochzudemdarum

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about your day using a different connector for each one. Check if your verb is in the second position.

Cultural Notes

Using 'folglich' or 'mithin' is highly valued in university settings.

'Demzufolge' is preferred in formal reports.

Using 'dann' is very common in spoken German.

These adverbs evolved from Old High German particles used to link clauses.

Conversation Starters

“

Warum lernst du Deutsch?

“

Was machst du am Wochenende?

“

Wie findest du die neue Regel?

“

Was sind deine Pläne für die Karriere?

Journal Prompts

Describe your morning routine.
Why did you choose to learn German?
Argue for or against remote work.
Reflect on a major life decision.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the correct verb form.

Deshalb ___ (ich/gehen) nach Hause.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: gehe ich
V2 rule requires verb then subject.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Dann wir essen Pizza.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dann essen wir Pizza.
Verb must be in position 2.
Choose the correct connector. Multiple Choice

Es regnet, ___ bleibe ich zu Hause.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: deshalb
Deshalb is the correct conjunctive adverb.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich bin müde, deshalb schlafe ich.
Correct V2 order.
Translate to German. Translation

Therefore, I am going.

Answer starts with: Des...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Deshalb gehe ich.
Standard V2.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Warum lernst du Deutsch? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Deshalb lerne ich es.
V2 rule.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

außerdem / er / hat / Zeit / keine

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Außerdem hat er keine Zeit.
V2 rule.
Match the connector to its meaning. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A: Therefore, B: Then, C: Besides
Correct meanings.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the correct verb form.

Deshalb ___ (ich/gehen) nach Hause.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: gehe ich
V2 rule requires verb then subject.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Dann wir essen Pizza.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dann essen wir Pizza.
Verb must be in position 2.
Choose the correct connector. Multiple Choice

Es regnet, ___ bleibe ich zu Hause.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: deshalb
Deshalb is the correct conjunctive adverb.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

ich / deshalb / müde / bin / schlafe / ich

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich bin müde, deshalb schlafe ich.
Correct V2 order.
Translate to German. Translation

Therefore, I am going.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Deshalb gehe ich.
Standard V2.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Warum lernst du Deutsch? B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Deshalb lerne ich es.
V2 rule.
Build a sentence. Sentence Building

außerdem / er / hat / Zeit / keine

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Außerdem hat er keine Zeit.
V2 rule.
Match the connector to its meaning. Match Pairs

1. Deshalb, 2. Dann, 3. Außerdem

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: A: Therefore, B: Then, C: Besides
Correct meanings.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

8 exercises
Complete the sequence. Fill in the Blank

Zuerst lerne ich. ______ (Then) mache ich Sport.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dann
Fix the word order. Error Correction

Ich bin müde. Außerdem ich habe Kopfschmerzen.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Außerdem habe ich Kopfschmerzen.
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

sonst / wir / kommen / spät / .

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Sonst kommen wir spät.
Translate to German. Translation

I am sick. That's why I'm not coming.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich bin krank. Deshalb komme ich nicht.
Match the adverb to its meaning. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: deshalb - therefore
Which one shows a sequence? Multiple Choice

I eat, ______ I sleep.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: dann
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

Der Film ist alt. ______ (Anyway), er ist gut.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Trotzdem
Fix the sentence. Error Correction

Das Auto ist kaputt. Darum wir gehen zu Fuß.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Darum gehen wir zu Fuß.

Score: /8

FAQ (8)

German is a V2 language. The verb must be in the second position of the main clause.

Yes, but it's less common. It usually starts the clause.

Yes, they are synonyms.

The modal verb goes to position 2, and the infinitive goes to the end.

Yes, usually when connecting two independent clauses.

It is neutral and very common in all registers.

Yes, it is very common in storytelling.

'Folglich' is more formal and academic.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish moderate

Por lo tanto

German requires V2 inversion; Spanish does not.

French moderate

Par conséquent

German requires V2 inversion; French does not.

Japanese low

したがって (shitagatte)

German verb is second; Japanese verb is last.

Arabic moderate

لذلك (lidhalika)

German requires V2 inversion; Arabic does not.

Chinese low

因此 (yīncǐ)

German requires V2 inversion; Chinese does not.

English moderate

Therefore

German requires V2 inversion; English does not.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
German Word Order: Inversion (XVS)

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