German Conjunctions: „während“ and „bevor“ – CBSE Class 9 Grammar Guide , Lektion 4
🧩 What are Conjunctions in German?
Conjunctions (Konjunktionen) are words that connect two sentences or ideas.
In German, some conjunctions change the word order of the sentence — they send the verb to the end of the clause.
For example:
➡️ Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil es regnet.
(I stay at home because it’s raining.)
🌟 1️⃣ The Conjunction „während“
📘 Meaning:
👉 während = while / during
It is used to express two actions happening at the same time.
⚙️ Grammar Rule:
-
„während“ is a subordinating conjunction, so the verb goes to the end of the clause.
-
It connects a main clause and a subordinate clause.
💡 Sentence Structure:
➡️ Main clause + während + subordinate clause (verb at the end)
➡️ or Während + subordinate clause (verb at end), + main clause
📚 Examples with während
| German Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Ich höre Musik, während ich meine Hausaufgaben mache. | I listen to music while I do my homework. |
| Während es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. | While it’s raining, I stay at home. |
| Er liest ein Buch, während sie schläft. | He reads a book while she sleeps. |
| Wir essen, während der Film läuft. | We eat while the movie is playing. |
🧠 Tip for Students:
✔ The verb always goes to the end in the „während“-clause.
✔ Both actions usually happen at the same time.
🌈 2️⃣ The Conjunction „bevor“
📘 Meaning:
👉 bevor = before
It shows that one action happens earlier than another.
⚙️ Grammar Rule:
-
„bevor“ is also a subordinating conjunction, so the verb goes to the end of its clause.
💡 Sentence Structure:
➡️ Main clause + bevor + subordinate clause (verb at the end)
➡️ or Bevor + subordinate clause (verb at end), + main clause
📚 Examples with bevor
| German Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Ich wasche meine Hände, bevor ich esse. | I wash my hands before I eat. |
| Bevor der Unterricht beginnt, schreiben wir die Hausaufgaben ab. | Before the class starts, we copy the homework. |
| Ich gehe ins Bett, bevor es zu spät ist. | I go to bed before it’s too late. |
| Wir spielen, bevor wir lernen. | We play before we study. |
🧠 Tip for Students:
✔ „bevor“ = one action happens first, then the next.
✔ The verb always goes to the end in the „bevor“-clause.
🧩 Word Order Reminder
👉 Both „während“ and „bevor“ are subordinating conjunctions,
so the verb in the second clause goes to the end.
Example:
-
Ich rufe dich an, bevor ich komme.
-
Ich singe, während ich koche.
🎓 In CBSE Class 9 German Syllabus
Students must:
✅ Identify and use common conjunctions like weil, dass, wenn, während, bevor
✅ Form subordinate clauses with correct word order
✅ Translate sentences using these conjunctions correctly
📘 Conclusion
The conjunctions „während“ and „bevor“ are important for building complex sentences in German.
They show time relationships — simultaneous actions with während, and sequential actions with bevor.
For Class 9 CBSE students, mastering these conjunctions will make your writing and speaking more fluent and accurate.
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