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Lesson 98 of 240

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Give a reason in German

Priya is late to Bäckerei Krause. She went back for a forgotten umbrella, then the U1 crawled.

Anton looks up from his unfinished Milchkaffee and wants a reason. Renate already knows the wet coat look.

By the end, you'll ask why and give a reason with weil, deshalb, or the main point.

Keep weil for the reason itself. Deshalb points back. Ask friends with du.

By the end of this lesson

Ask why and give a reason.

  • Warum denn?Why's that?
  • Warum willst du ___?Why do you want to ___?
  • Weil ich den Schirm vergessen habe.Because I forgot my umbrella.
  • Deshalb bin ich zu spät.That's why I'm late.
  • Der Hauptgrund ist die Arbeit.The main reason is work.
  • Ich konnte nicht, weil ___.I couldn't because ___.

Scene — late at the bakery

Rain on Fliederstraße. Priya pushes into Bäckerei Krause late, wet from going back for her umbrella.

Renate is at the counter. Anton sits at the corner table with two chairs and a Milchkaffee he has not touched.

Priya hurries into the rainy bakery while Renate waits at the counter and Anton sits with an untouched coffee.

Learn — ask why and give a reason

Six lines cover asking why and giving a reason.

After weil, the verb waits until the end of that clause.

  1. Renate leans forward at the counter with a puzzled, questioning look toward the doorway.

    Warum denn?

    Why's that?

    When to use it: Ask this when a friend's news surprises you.

    Use this why with a friend, not with new shop staff.

  2. Anton turns toward Priya from the corner table, asking why she wants coffee.

    Warum willst du ___?

    Why do you want to ___?

    When to use it: Ask a friend why they want to do something.

    Willst du is the friend form, not the Sie form.

  3. Priya steps into the bakery from the rain with empty hands and no umbrella.

    Weil ich den Schirm vergessen habe.

    Because I forgot my umbrella.

    When to use it: Give this as your reason after someone asks why.

    After weil, the verb goes last in the clause.

    Say it: Schirm starts with a sch sound, not s.

  4. Priya gestures back toward the wet doorway as she explains why she is late to Renate.

    Deshalb bin ich zu spät.

    That's why I'm late.

    When to use it: Say this after you have given the reason.

    Deshalb comes first, so the verb comes second.

    Say it: The ä in spät sounds like e in bed.

  5. Priya pauses by the coffee machine with her work bag nearby, explaining that work is the main reason she wants coffee.

    Der Hauptgrund ist die Arbeit.

    The main reason is work.

    When to use it: Name work as the main reason for something.

    Learn die Arbeit with the article as one piece.

    Say it: Hauptgrund puts the stress on the first syllable.

  6. Anton gestures toward the rainy window while Priya indicates that the train delay kept her from arriving sooner.

    Ich konnte nicht, weil ___.

    I couldn't because ___.

    When to use it: Say you could not do it, then add why.

    After weil, put the verb last in that part.

Story — anton wants a reason

Watch Priya explain why she is late. Anton asks, then wanders off the point.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned. Turn on Show English if you need it.

  1. Rain on Fliederstraße. Priya pushes the bakery door, late after going back for her umbrella.
  2. RenateNa, du kommst aber spät, wa?You're late, aren't you?
  3. AntonWarum denn?Why's that?
  4. PriyaWeil ich den Schirm vergessen habe.Because I forgot my umbrella.
  5. She went back for it, then stood waiting while the U1 crawled.
  6. PriyaDeshalb bin ich zu spät.That's why I'm late.
  7. She glances at the coffee machine. Anton has not touched his Milchkaffee.
  8. AntonWarum willst du Kaffee?Why do you want coffee?
  9. PriyaDer Hauptgrund ist die Arbeit.The main reason is work.
  10. AntonUnd die Bahn?And the train?
  11. PriyaIch konnte nicht, weil die U1 zu spät war.I couldn't, because the U1 was late.
  12. AntonDu fährst oft so?Do you often travel like that?
  13. PriyaIch fahre immer mit der U-Bahn.I always take the U-Bahn.
  14. Anton sits a little taller on both chairs.
  15. AntonIch bin nie zu spät.I am never late.
  16. RenateWarum denn?Why's that?
  17. AntonWeil ich immer viel zu früh losgehe.Because I always leave far too early.
  18. He looks proud, then loses the thread.
  19. AntonIch war nur zufällig in der Gegend.I just happened to be in the area.

Practice — why and because

Eleven quick exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, and spot a word-order slip.

They stay small, so the round moves fast.

0 of 11 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    German

    Warum denn?Drop the English here
    Weil ich den Schirm vergessen habe.Drop the English here
    Deshalb bin ich zu spät.Drop the English here

    English

    Drag an English line onto its German, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    A friend wants to do something. Ask why they want to.

  4. Fill the gap

    The main reason is work.

    Der Hauptgrund ist die ____.

  5. What does it mean?

    Deshalb bin ich zu spät.

  6. Build the line

    Because I forgot my umbrella.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Pick the reply

    Anton says:

    Warum bist du nicht früher gekommen?

    Why didn't you come earlier?

    And you reply with:

  8. Swap the word

    You already gave the reason. Say that's why you are late.

    Deshalb bin ich zu ____.

  9. Find the mistake

  10. True or false?

    She says she never takes the U-Bahn.

  11. What do you say?

    You heard a fact and want to know why it is that way.

Say it — say your reason

Now you're Priya, late and wet at the bakery. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak the line.

Tap ▶ first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. RenateDu kommst spät heute.You're late today.
  2. Priya (you)Tell her you forgot your umbrella.

    Weil ich den Schirm vergessen habe.

    Because I forgot my umbrella.

0 of 6 said

Recap — what you can say now

GermanEnglish
Warum denn?Why's that?
Warum willst du ___?Why do you want to ___?
Weil ich den Schirm vergessen habe.Because I forgot my umbrella.
Deshalb bin ich zu spät.That's why I'm late.
Der Hauptgrund ist die Arbeit.The main reason is work.
Ich konnte nicht, weil ___.I couldn't because ___.
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