A2 Grammar · Unit 11 · Topic 34 of 46

German Connector Deshalb

About 3 minutes · examples, common mistakes, Hindi help and practice with answers

In short

deshalb (that's why) gives a result. The verb comes straight after it, in position 2.

Ich habe morgen eine Prüfung. Deshalb lerne ich heute Abend.

deshalb means "that's why" or "so". It gives the result of the first sentence. Like trotzdem, it takes position 1 and the verb follows straight after it.

How it works

  • Deshalb + verb + subject: Ich habe morgen eine Prüfung. Deshalb lerne ich heute.
  • It can also come after the verb: Ich lerne deshalb heute.
  • Compare: weil gives the reason (verb at the end); deshalb gives the result (verb in position 2).
  • Same meaning: darum, deswegen.

Examples

  • Ich habe morgen eine Prüfung. Deshalb lerne ich heute Abend. (I have an exam tomorrow. That's why I'm studying this evening.)
  • Es ist kalt. Deshalb zieht Geeta eine Jacke an. (It's cold, so Geeta is putting on a jacket.)
  • Der Bus kam nicht. Deshalb bin ich zu spät. (The bus didn't come. That's why I'm late.)

हिंदीdeshalb = इसलिए। पहले कारण, फिर नतीजा। deshalb के बाद verb तुरंत आता है।

Where the verb goes after weil, dass, wenn and deshalb

Verb position after deshalb and trotzdem compared with weil, dass, wenn and ob

Swipe the picture sideways to see all of it →

Both groups join two ideas, but they treat the verb differently. After weil, dass, wenn and ob the conjugated verb moves to the end of its clause. After deshalb and trotzdem it stays in position 2, straight after the connecting word.

दोनों तरह के शब्द दो बातों को जोड़ते हैं, पर verb की जगह अलग होती है। weil, dass, wenn और ob के बाद verb उस हिस्से के बिल्कुल आख़िर में जाता है। deshalb और trotzdem के बाद verb तुरंत दूसरे नंबर पर आता है।

Common mistakes

Subject before the verb: ✗ Deshalb ich lerne heute. ✓ Deshalb lerne ich heute.

Practice

Join with deshalb.

  1. Ich bin müde. Ich gehe früh ins Bett.
  2. Wir haben Hunger. Wir bestellen Pizza.
  3. Ravi will in Deutschland arbeiten. Er lernt Deutsch.
Show answers

Answers: 1. Deshalb gehe ich früh ins Bett. 2. Deshalb bestellen wir Pizza. 3. Deshalb lernt er Deutsch.

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