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ConjunctionsCompound conjunctions

It is useful to be able to produce more complex sentences by using a conjunction. Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions used correctly will enhance your German.

Part of GermanGrammar

Compound conjunctions

There are four conjunctions which consist of more than one word.

They are known as compound conjunctions.

  • entweder... oder... 鈥 either... or...
  • nicht nur... sondern auch... 鈥 not only... but also...
  • sowohl... als auch... 鈥 both... and...
  • weder... noch... 鈥 neither... nor...

How compound conjunctions are used

  • entweder... oder...

Wir fahren entweder mit dem Bus, oder wir gehen zu Fu脽. 鈥 We either go by bus, or we walk.

A weighing scale with an icon representing a bus on one side and a person walking on the other.
  • nicht nur... sondern auch...

Sie spielen nicht nur Handball, sondern auch Fu脽ball. 鈥 They play not only handball, but also football.

  • sowohl... als auch...

Ich mag sowohl den Sommer, als auch den Winter. 鈥 I like both summer and winter.

  • weder... noch...

Ich esse weder Fleisch, noch Eier. 鈥 I eat neither meat, nor eggs.

Question

Translate these sentences into English to check your understanding of these longer conjunctions.

  • Ich kaufe entweder ein T-Shirt, oder ich kaufe ein Top.
  • Wir haben nicht nur zwei Katzen, sondern auch zwei Hunde.
  • Ich lese sowohl Krimis, als auch Science-Fiction.
  • Es gibt weder B盲ume, noch B眉sche im Garten.

Question

Now try translating these sentences into German.

  • I either play on the computer, or I read.
  • He has not only two brothers, but also three sisters.
  • We go both to Italy and to France.
  • I can neither paint, nor draw.

Did you know?

Handball is one of the most popular sports Germany, although it is not well known in the UK.

It was first played in Germany and Scandinavia in the nineteenth century. There is a now Handball-Bundesliga (national league) 鈥 just like there is for football.

There are seven people in a team and when they begin, young Germans play in teams according to their age 鈥 Altersklasse 鈥 and there are also some mixed teams.

German National Handball Team v MT Melsungen
Image caption,
Handball has been an Olympic sport since 1936