What Are “Weiterführende Nebensätze”?.

Weiterführende Nebensätze are subordinate clauses that refer to and continue the statement in the main clause before them. They often comment on, explain, or provide additional information about the entire main clause rather than just one noun. These clauses are common in formal writing and complex sentence structures.

Key Characteristics:

• They do not serve as sentence objects (like relative clauses).
• They function as comments or explanations of the entire main clause.
• They are introduced by words like was, wo(r) + Präposition, weshalb, weswegen.

Types of Continuing Subordinate Clauses

“was” (which, what) – Referring to a Whole Statement

Usage:

• “was” is used to refer to an entire main clause (not just a noun).
• It often comments on or evaluates the statement in the main clause.
• Common meanings: “which”, “a fact that…”

Examples:

Morgen fliegt er nach Afrika, was schon lange sein Traum war.
Tomorrow he is flying to Africa, which has been his dream for a long time.)

Innerhalb eines Jahres hat er Deutsch gelernt, was viele für unmöglich halten.
He learned German within a year, which many consider impossible.)

Sie bekam die Stelle, was niemand erwartet hatte.
She got the job, which no one had expected.)

Sentence Structure:

Main Clause + „was“ + Comment on the Whole Sentence

Er hat das Rennen gewonnen, was eine große Überraschung war.
He won the race, which was a big surprise.

“wo(r) + Präposition” (where + preposition) – Referring to Something Mentioned Before

Usage:

• “wo(r) + Präposition” replaces a prepositional phrase referring to an abstract idea or situation.
• It is used with verbs that require specific prepositions (e.g., “rechnen mit”, “sorgen um”, “freuen auf”).

Examples:

Man muss drei Monatsmieten im Voraus zahlen, womit der neue Mieter nicht gerechnet hatte.
You have to pay three months’ rent in advance, which the new tenant had not expected.)

Die Firma könnte bald pleitegehen, worum sich der Chef viele Sorgen macht.
The company could soon go bankrupt, which worries the boss a lot.)

Sie bekam eine Gehaltserhöhung, worüber sie sich sehr freute.
She got a raise, which made her very happy.)

Sentence Structure:

Main Clause + „wo(r) + Präposition“ + Additional Information

Er verlor sein Handy, worüber er sich sehr ärgerte.
He lost his phone, which made him very angry.

Rule:

• “wo(r) + Präposition” replaces “Präposition + das”.

• • Q …mit dem er nicht gerechnet hatte.
  • R …womit er nicht gerechnet hatte.

“weshalb/weswegen” (why, for which reason) – Expressing a Reason

Usage:

• “weshalb” and “weswegen” introduce a reason for the action in the main clause.
• Common meanings: “why”, “for which reason”, “which is why”.

Examples:

Er wurde plötzlich krank, weshalb er nicht kommen konnte.
He suddenly got sick, which is why he couldn’t come.)

Er hat seinen Job verloren, weshalb er sich jetzt um die neue Stelle bewirbt.
He lost his job, which is why he is now applying for the new position.)

Es regnete den ganzen Tag, weswegen wir nicht rausgehen konnten.
It rained all day, which is why we couldn’t go outside.)

Sentence Structure:

Main Clause + „weshalb/weswegen“ + Consequence or Explanation

Er hatte kein Geld mehr, weswegen er einen Kredit aufnahm.
He had no money left, which is why he took out a loan.

Rule:

• “weshalb” and “weswegen” can be replaced by “deshalb” or “darum” in the main clause.

Examples:

Er wurde krank. Deshalb konnte er nicht kommen.
He became ill. Therefore he could not come.

Er wurde krank, weshalb er nicht kommen konnte.
He became ill, which is why he could not come.