Dass or Weil

Q: What are common mistakes with Dass or Weil?

Ich komme, dass ich Zeit habe → Ich komme, weil ich Zeit habe: Use 'weil' (because) to give a reason, not 'dass' (that). Ich weiß, weil er kommt → Ich weiß, dass er kommt: Use 'dass' (that) to introduce a statement or fact, not 'weil' (because). Ich lerne, dass ich es mag → Ich lerne, weil ich es mag: When explaining a reason, use 'weil', not 'dass'.

'Dass' and 'weil' are both subordinate conjunctions, but they have different meanings and uses.

'Dass' means 'that' and introduces a statement or fact.

'Weil' means 'because' and introduces a reason or cause.

This lesson explains when to use each one correctly.

Explanation

'Dass' (that) introduces a statement or fact: 'Ich weiß, dass er kommt' (I know that he comes).

'Weil' (because) introduces a reason or cause: 'Ich komme, weil ich Zeit habe' (I come because I have time).

Both send the verb to the end of the clause: 'dass er kommt', 'weil ich Zeit habe'.

You can often replace 'weil' with 'denn' (which doesn't send verb to end), but 'dass' cannot be replaced.

Rule: Use 'dass' for statements/facts, use 'weil' for reasons/causes.

Dass vs Weil - Usage Guide

Conjunction	Meaning	Use	Example	Translation
dass	that	Introduces statement/fact	Ich weiß, dass er kommt	I know that he comes
weil	because	Introduces reason/cause	Ich komme, weil ich Zeit habe	I come because I have time
dass	that	After verbs like wissen, glauben, sagen	Ich glaube, dass es wahr ist	I believe that it is true
weil	because	To explain why something happens	Ich lerne, weil ich es mag	I learn because I like it

Examples

Ich weiß, dass er kommt.

I know that he comes. (statement)

Ich komme, weil ich Zeit habe.

I come because I have time. (reason)

Ich glaube, dass du recht hast.

I believe that you are right. (statement)

Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil es regnet.

I stay home because it's raining. (reason)

Er sagt, dass er müde ist.

He says that he is tired. (statement)

Sie geht, weil sie Hunger hat.

She goes because she is hungry. (reason)

Common Mistakes

✗

Ich komme, dass ich Zeit habe

✓

Ich komme, weil ich Zeit habe

Use 'weil' (because) to give a reason, not 'dass' (that).

✗

Ich weiß, weil er kommt

✓

Ich weiß, dass er kommt

Use 'dass' (that) to introduce a statement or fact, not 'weil' (because).

✗

Ich lerne, dass ich es mag

✓

Ich lerne, weil ich es mag

When explaining a reason, use 'weil', not 'dass'.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!

Start Exercises →

Subordinate Conjunctions Dass or Ob Dass or Das

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know which article to use?

German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.

What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?

Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.

Are there rules for determining noun gender?

While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.

What happens if I use the wrong article?

While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.