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💡 Word order alert: Most double conjunctions keep normal word order — the verb stays in second position.
The exception is je … desto/umso: after desto or umso, the verb jumps to first position.
Also note: weder … noch already contains the negation — never add nicht or kein on top!
German Double Conjunctions — Zweiteilige Konnektoren
Double Conjunctions at a Glance
Click each group to see meaning, word order, and example sentences
1
Ergänzung
Adding / Emphasising
| German Expression | Function / Meaning |
|---|---|
| sowohl … als auch | both … and | adds two equal elements | normal word order |
| Er spricht sowohl Deutsch als auch Spanisch. | He speaks both German and Spanish. ✓ |
| nicht nur … sondern auch | not only … but also | puts extra emphasis on the second element | normal word order |
| Sie ist nicht nur intelligent, sondern auch sehr fleißig. | She is not only intelligent but also very hardworking. ✓ |
2
Alternativen
Alternatives / Choices
| German Expression | Function / Meaning |
|---|---|
| entweder … oder | either … or | presents exactly two options | normal word order |
| Wir fahren entweder mit dem Zug oder mit dem Bus. | We are travelling either by train or by bus. ✓ |
| weder … noch | neither … nor | negates BOTH elements | ⚠️ do NOT add nicht or kein! |
| Er hat weder Zeit noch Geld. | He has neither time nor money. ✓ (NOT: Er hat weder Zeit noch kein Geld ✗) |
3
Einschränkung & Gegensatz
Concession & Contrast
| German Expression | Function / Meaning |
|---|---|
| zwar … aber | admittedly … but / it’s true that … but | concedes a point, then pushes back | normal word order |
| Das Buch ist zwar teuer, aber es lohnt sich. | The book is admittedly expensive, but it’s worth it. ✓ |
| einerseits … andererseits | on the one hand … on the other hand | balances two contrasting perspectives |
| Einerseits möchte ich reisen, andererseits habe ich zu wenig Geld. | On the one hand I want to travel; on the other hand I have too little money. ✓ |
4
Proportional
Proportional Change — the more … the more
| German Expression | Function / Meaning |
|---|---|
| je … desto | the more … the more | ⚠️ INVERTED word order after desto — verb comes FIRST! |
| Je mehr du übst, desto besser wird dein Deutsch. | The more you practise, the better your German becomes. ✓ (verb ‘wird’ is first after desto) |
| je … umso | the more … the more | umso and desto are interchangeable | same inverted word order rule |
| Je länger ich in Deutschland lebe, umso leichter fällt mir die Sprache. | The longer I live in Germany, the easier the language becomes for me. ✓ |
Quick-fire practice quiz
🎯 Test yourself — Double Conjunctions
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