Connectors (Konnektoren) in German

Connectors help connect ideas clearly. They make sentences smooth, logical, and easy to understand.
Given below are different types of connectors. Each type includes a short explanation, verb position and examples.

1. Expressing a Consequence (Folge)

These connectors introduce a logical result of a previous statement. They are an alternative to „deshalb“.

Connectors:

• folglich
• infolgedessen
• demnach
• somit

Rules:

• These connectors are adverbial, meaning they occupy the first position in a sentence and are followed by the verb in position 2.

Examples:

Er möchte gerne Anwalt werden, infolgedessen muss er Jura studieren.
(He wants to become a lawyer. Therefore, he has to study law.)

Während der Vorlesung wurde ihm langweilig, demnach ging er nach Hause.
(He got bored during the lecture. Consequently, he went home.)

Es hat stark geregnet, folglich wurde das Spiel abgesagt.
(It rained heavily. As a result, the game was canceled.)

Er hat die Regeln nicht beachtet, somit wurde er disqualifiziert.
(He didn’t follow the rules. Therefore, he was disqualified.)

2. Expressing a Negative Consequence (negative Folge)

These connectors indicate what would happen if a condition is not met.

Connectors:

• andernfalls (otherwise)
• sonst (otherwise)

Rules:

• These are also adverbial connectors and are followed by the verb in position 2.

Examples:

Komm bitte pünktlich, andernfalls gehen wir ohne dich los.
(Please be on time. Otherwise, we’ll leave without you.)

Ich hoffe, dass ich die Prüfung bestanden habe, sonst muss ich sie nochmal schreiben.
(I hope I passed the exam. Otherwise, I’ll have to take it again.)

Lern regelmäßig, andernfalls wirst du die Prüfung nicht bestehen.
(Study regularly. Otherwise, you won’t pass the exam.)

3. Conditional Connectors (Bedingung) 

Conditional connectors express conditions under which an action, event, or situation in the main clause takes place.
They answer the question:
“Under what condition does the statement apply?”

German has several conditional connectors, each with a specific nuance.

1. wenn / falls

Meaning: Both introduce a subordinate clause and express a real or neutral condition.
English: if / in case
The verb goes to the end of the subordinate clause.

Difference:

wenn = neutral, most commonly used (if)

falls = slightly more hypothetical or formal (in case)

Examples:

Ich achte nicht auf die Zeit, wenn ich einen spannenden Krimi lese.
I don’t pay attention to the time when/if I’m reading an exciting detective novel.

Ändere deine Routinen, falls die Zeit zu schnell vergeht.
Change your routines in case time passes too quickly.

Wenn du mich brauchst, ruf mich an.
If you need me, call me.

Falls es regnet, bleiben wir zu Hause.
In case it rains, we’ll stay at home.

2. außer wenn

Meaning: Introduces a subordinate clause expressing a restrictive condition.
It means: except if / unless → logically the same as wenn … nicht.

Logic:

The main statement is generally valid,
except if the stated condition happens.

Examples:

Die Zeit vergeht schnell, außer wenn man jung ist.
Time passes quickly, except if you are young.

Ich gehe jeden Morgen joggen, außer wenn ich krank bin.
I go jogging every morning, except if I’m sick.

Wir fahren an den See, außer wenn das Wasser zu kalt ist.
We go to the lake, except if the water is too cold.

3. es sei denn / es sei denn, dass

Meaning: A negated condition (= unless / if … not).
It limits the validity of the main statement.

Two structures are possible:

a) es sei denn + main clause (verb in 2nd position)

Most natural in advanced German.

Wir gehen spazieren, es sei denn, es regnet.
We’ll go for a walk unless it rains.

b) es sei denn, dass + subordinate clause (verb at the end)

Wir gehen spazieren, es sei denn, dass es den ganzen Tag regnet.
We’ll go for a walk unless it rains all day.

Comparison

Example:

wenn (negative):
Wir gehen spazieren, wenn es nicht den ganzen Tag regnet.
We go for a walk if it does not rain all day.

außer wenn (positive):
Wir gehen spazieren, außer wenn es den ganzen Tag regnet.
We go for a walk except if it rains all day.

es sei denn (positive):
Wir gehen spazieren, es sei denn, (dass) es den ganzen Tag regnet.
We go for a walk unless it rains all day.

Konjunktiv II with es sei denn

You can use Konjunktiv II to express greater distance or improbability.

… es sei denn, dass es regnete.

… es sei denn, dass es regnen würde.

Both correspond to English unless it rained / unless it were to rain.

“Antecedent marking”

Antecedent marking means clearly signalling a condition in a sentence.

English:
We will go for a walk, unless it rains.
“unless” marks the condition that can stop the result.

German ):
Wir gehen spazieren, es sei denn, es regnet.
„es sei denn“ marks a negated condition (= wenn … nicht) and introduces an exception in a neutral, factual way.

Examples:

Die Zeit vergeht schnell, es sei denn, man ist jung.
Time passes quickly unless you are young.

Die Polizei ist nicht befugt, Gewalt anzuwenden, es sei denn, es besteht Gefahr im Verzuge.
The police are not authorized to use force unless there is imminent danger.

Mittags ist es hier lebhafter, es sei denn, es regnet.
It is livelier here at midday unless it is raining.

Richter dürfen nicht entlassen oder frühpensioniert werden, es sei denn, sie stimmen selbst zu.
Judges may not be dismissed or given early retirement unless they themselves agree.

4. selbst wenn

Meaning: A conditional connector expressing an insufficient condition.
The condition in the subordinate clause is not enough to change the outcome.
→ The main clause remains true even if the condition is fulfilled.

Meaning: Selbst wenn (even if) has conditional meaning. Sentences with even if emphasize an insufficient condition.
This means that the consequence described in the main clause does not occur even though the condition described in the subordinate clause is fulfilled.

English: even if

Examples:

Ich würde ihn niemals heiraten, selbst wenn er viel Geld hätte.
I would never marry him, even if he had a lot of money.

Ich bleibe morgen zu Hause, selbst wenn das Wetter gut ist.
I will stay home tomorrow, even if the weather is good.

Du könntest kein Haus kaufen, selbst wenn du mehr verdienen würdest.
You could not buy a house even if you earned more.

Word order

It introduces a subordinate clause → verb goes to the end:

Selbst wenn er viel Geld hätte, würde ich ihn niemals heiraten.

5. (dann) wenn – variant of selbst wenn

Used in similar meaning, especially in written or higher-level German:

Ich würde ihn niemals heiraten, auch (dann) wenn er viel Geld hätte.
… even if he had a lot of money.

Ich bleibe zu Hause, auch wenn das Wetter gut ist.

Indicative vs. Subjunctive (Konjunktiv II) with selbst wenn

Indicative → condition seems realistic

Ich werde ihn niemals heiraten, selbst wenn er irgendwann viel Geld hat.
I won’t ever marry him, even if he (realistically) becomes rich someday.

Konjunktiv II → condition seems unrealistic, hypothetical

Ich würde ihn niemals heiraten, selbst wenn er viel Geld hätte.
I would never marry him, even if he had a lot of money.

Summary Table of Conditional Connectors

Connector	Clause type	Meaning	English	Logic
wenn	subordinate	real condition	if	neutral
falls	subordinate	hypothetical condition	in case	cautious
außer wenn	subordinate	exception	except if	= if…not
es sei denn	main clause or subordinate clause	exception	unless	= if…not
selbst wenn	subordinate	insufficient condition	even if	consequence unchanged

 

All the Connectors at a glance and their Usage

Connector	Meaning	Verb Position	Example
demnach	therefore	Position 1	Er hat viel gearbeitet, demnach verdient er eine Pause. He worked a lot; therefore, he deserves a break.
andernfalls	otherwise	Position 1	Komm mit, andernfalls wirst du es bereuen. Come along; otherwise, you will regret it.
außer wenn	except when	Verb at end (subordinate)	Ich gehe joggen, außer wenn es regnet. I go jogging, except when it rains.
sonst	otherwise	Position 1	Mach deine Hausaufgaben, sonst gibt es Ärger. Do your homework; otherwise, there will be trouble.
somit	thus	Position 1	Der Vertrag wurde unterzeichnet, somit ist die Arbeit offiziell begonnen. The contract was signed; thus, the work officially began.
es sei denn	unless	Position 1 or 3	Wir gehen morgen wandern, es sei denn, es regnet. We are going hiking tomorrow, unless it rains.
infolgedessen	as a result	Position 1	Er war krank, infolgedessen konnte er nicht arbeiten. He was ill; as a result, he couldn’t work.
folglich	consequently	Position 1	Es hat stark geschneit, folglich fiel der Unterricht aus. It snowed heavily; consequently, classes were canceled.
wenn / falls	if	Verb at end (subordinate)	Wenn/Falls du Zeit hast, ruf mich an. If you have time, call me.