German dass Explained: Word Order and Examples
Dass is one of the most important and most often used conjunctions in German. In this lesson, Johannes from YourGermanTeacher shows you how to build a correct sentence with dass, when to use it, and how to tell it apart from das.
The Sentence Structure
A sentence with dass has two parts: a main clause (Hauptsatz) and a subordinate clause (Nebensatz).
Ich weiß natürlich, dass Deutsch kompliziert ist.
| Part | What happens | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Main clause | The conjugated verb is in position 2. | Ich weiß natürlich, |
| Subordinate clause | Starts with dass in position 1, then the subject. The conjugated verb goes to the end. | dass Deutsch kompliziert ist. |
The main clause alone is not complete: Ich weiß natürlich ... What do I know? That information is in the dass part. This simple structure is the most common one for dass, so it is the one you should learn first.
When to Use dass
You use dass after verbs and expressions that need more information. The video groups the situations like this:
| Situation | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| Opinions and feelings | Ich denke, dass er Fußballprofi wird. | I think that he will become a professional footballer. |
| Hopes and wishes | Sie hoffen, dass er sich schnell wieder beruhigt. | They hope that he calms down quickly. |
| Knowledge and assumptions | Sie weiß, dass er sie liebt. | She knows that he loves her. |
| Something you read | Ich habe gelesen, dass es in Deutschland über 25.000 Burgen gibt. | I read that there are over 25,000 castles in Germany. |
The Verb at the End: Special Cases
| Case in the dass clause | Example | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Modal verb | Er weiß anscheinend nicht, dass man den Mundschutz größer machen kann. | The conjugated modal verb is at the very end. |
| Modal verb | Sie interessiert es nicht, dass man hier nicht rauchen darf. | Same rule. |
| Perfekt | Er ist froh, dass er die Prüfung bestanden hat. | The conjugated auxiliary (hat, ist) is at the end, after the participle. |
| Perfekt | Er hat mir erzählt, dass er in Paris geheiratet hat. | Same rule. |
| Separable verb | Jetzt weiß er, dass seine Frau die Hosen anhat. | Do not split the verb: the whole conjugated verb goes to the end. |
| Separable verb | Gut, dass Papa einen Schirm dabei hat. | dabeihaben is not split either. |
Die Hosen anhaben is a saying: the person who wears the trousers is the boss.
Tip 1: dass or das?
Das with one s is usually an article for a neuter noun, or a pronoun that replaces a noun mentioned before. As a relative pronoun it is the confusing one: Dort ist das Bild, das ich schön finde. The first das is the article of das Bild. The second das is a relative pronoun that refers back to das Bild.
The conjunction dass does not replace any noun. It only introduces a clause: Er weiß, dass ich das Bild schön finde. The word order of both clauses is the same, so you have to look at the function. In speech, das is often a little longer and dass a little shorter, but sometimes you cannot hear the difference at all.
Tip 2: dass in Questions
You can use a dass clause inside a yes-no question: Wusstest du, dass es im Berliner Fernsehturm ein Restaurant gibt? You can also use it inside a W-question, for example Warum hast du mir nicht gesagt, dass ...?
Homework
Finish one of these sentences in the comments: Ich freue mich, dass ..., Ich hoffe, dass ... or Ich wusste nicht, dass ...
What to Learn Next
Read Satzbau II: German Subordinate Clauses for the basics of verb-at-the-end sentences, and German weil Explained for another important conjunction. To make your sentences shorter, see German Infinitive with zu: Rules and Examples.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the verb go in a sentence with dass?
The conjugated verb goes to the end of the dass clause. Example: Ich weiß natürlich, dass Deutsch kompliziert ist.
What is the difference between das and dass?
Das is an article or a pronoun that refers to a neuter noun. Dass is a conjunction that introduces a clause and does not replace any noun.
When do I use dass in German?
Use it after verbs and expressions for opinions, feelings, hopes, wishes, knowledge and assumptions, for example denken, hoffen, wissen and lesen.
What happens with a modal verb or Perfekt in a dass clause?
The conjugated verb stays at the very end. With a modal verb: dass man hier nicht rauchen darf. With Perfekt: dass er die Prüfung bestanden hat.
What happens to a separable verb in a dass clause?
You do not split it. The conjugated verb goes to the end as one word, for example dass seine Frau die Hosen anhat.
Want to build correct German sentences with conjunctions like dass? Follow our structured A2 course for German online lesson by lesson.
