weil sends the verb to the end
English because leaves the next clause as it is: because I am ill. German does not. After weil, the clause is a Nebensatz (subordinate clause), and its conjugated verb goes to the last position. A main clause, by contrast, keeps the verb in position two.
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.
I'm staying at home because I'm ill.
Ich komme nicht mit, weil ich keine Zeit habe.
I'm not coming along because I don't have time.
Wir nehmen den Bus, weil es regnet.
We're taking the bus because it's raining.
Longer verb forms
Take the main clause, put weil in front of it and move the conjugated verb to the end. With a separable verb, the prefix and the verb join again. With a modal or a Perfekt, the conjugated verb goes behind the infinitive or the participle.
Main clause and weil clause
| Main clause (verb second) | weil clause (verb last) |
|---|---|
| Er hat einen Termin. | …, weil er einen Termin hat. |
| Ich stehe um sechs auf. | …, weil ich um sechs aufstehe. |
| Wir müssen arbeiten. | …, weil wir arbeiten müssen. |
| Sie hat lange geschlafen. | …, weil sie lange geschlafen hat. |
Ich gehe früh ins Bett, weil ich morgen um sechs aufstehe.
I'm going to bed early because I'm getting up at six tomorrow.
Er kommt später, weil er noch arbeiten muss.
He's coming later because he still has to work.
Ich bin müde, weil ich schlecht geschlafen habe.
I'm tired because I slept badly.
The weil clause first
The weil clause can also come first. The whole clause counts as position 1, so the main verb follows directly after the comma, before its subject.
Which position the weil clause takes
| Position 1 | Verb | Rest |
|---|---|---|
| Ich | nehme | den Bus, weil es regnet. |
| Weil es regnet, | nehme | ich den Bus. |
Weil es regnet, bleiben wir zu Hause.
Because it's raining, we're staying at home.
Weil ich keine Zeit habe, rufe ich dich später an.
Because I don't have time, I'll call you later.
A weil clause can also answer Warum? on its own, still with the verb at the end.
A
Warum kommst du nicht mit?
Why aren't you coming along?
B
Weil ich noch arbeiten muss.
Because I still have to work.
