At CEFR level A2, you learn Konjunktionaladverbien (conjunctional adverbs) that link two independent main clauses and express a logical relationship between them. Each clause keeps verb-second word order.
Konjunktionaladverbien connect two main clauses and express a logical relationship. The verb always stays at position 2.
| Adverb | Bedeutung | Beispiel |
|---|---|---|
| deshalb | erwartete Folge therefore |
Es regnet stark, deshalb bleiben wir zu Hause. |
| trotzdem | unerwartete Folge nevertheless |
Es regnet stark, trotzdem geht er joggen. |
Es war kalt, deshalb hat Nina eine Jacke angezogen.
→ Adverb → Verb → Subjekt → Rest
Es war kalt, Nina hat deshalb eine Jacke angezogen.
→ Subjekt → Verb → Adverb → Rest
Deshalb (therefore) expresses expected consequence: the second clause is the natural result of the first (Es regnet, deshalb bleibe ich zu Hause). Trotzdem (nevertheless) expresses unexpected outcome: the action happens despite the obstacle (Es regnet, trotzdem gehe ich spazieren).
Both can occupy position 1 (triggering subject-verb inversion: deshalb geht er) or appear in the middle field after the verb (er geht deshalb). Both positions are grammatically correct with identical meaning. The verb always stays at position 2.
Unlike subordinating conjunctions, deshalb and trotzdem connect two main clauses, so both clauses maintain verb-second word order. When the adverb is at position 1, subject and verb invert (deshalb hat sie), but the verb stays at position 2.