Doppelkonjunktionen - Double conjunctions

Double conjunctions (Doppelkonjunktionen) help connect two clauses that have a logical relationship with each other.
They usually appear in pairs and affect the word order in the sentence.
Double conjunctions make sentences more flexible and varied.

1. Zwar … aber (Although … but …)

Used to express a contrast between two clauses.

ℹ️ Formula

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Subjekt + zwar + Verb + …, aber + Subjekt + Verb + …

Example:

Er ist zwar müde, aber er arbeitet weiter.
(Although he is tired, he keeps working.)

Das Wetter ist zwar kalt, aber die Sonne scheint.
(Although the weather is cold, the sun is shining.)

Note:

"Zwar" cannot stand alone but always goes together with "aber".
The "zwar" clause only introduces the contrasting information, while "aber" is the part that gets the emphasis.

2. Entweder … oder (Either … or …)

Used when there are two options to choose from.

ℹ️ Formula

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Option 1: Subjekt + Verb + entweder + …, oder + Subjekt + Verb + … Option 2: Entweder + Verb + Subjekt + …, oder + Subjekt + Verb + …

(The verb is always in second position in each clause)

Example:

Entweder gehen wir ins Kino, oder wir bleiben zu Hause.
(Either we go to the cinema, or we stay at home.)

Du kannst entweder Deutsch oder Englisch sprechen.
(You can speak either German or English.)

Note:

Both clauses can be complete sentences or just a noun/adjective phrase.
"Entweder" can stand at the beginning of the sentence or right before the phrase being chosen.

3. Nicht nur … sondern auch (Not only … but also …)

Used to add a further piece of information with emphasis.

ℹ️ Formula

💡

Subjekt + Verb + nicht nur + …, sondern auch + …

(The verb is in second position; "nicht nur" and "sondern auch" modify the element that follows them)

Example:

Er ist nicht nur intelligent, sondern auch fleißig.
(He is not only intelligent but also hardworking.)

Wir haben nicht nur in Berlin, sondern auch in München Freunde.
(We have friends not only in Berlin but also in Munich.)

Note:

"Nicht nur" always goes together with "sondern auch".
If the verb is the same in both clauses, the verb can be dropped in the second clause.

4. Sowohl … als auch (Both … and …)

Used to express that both possibilities are true.

ℹ️ Formula

💡

Subjekt + Verb + sowohl + … als auch + …

(The verb is in second position)

Example:

Er spricht sowohl Deutsch als auch Englisch.
(He speaks both German and English.)

Das Buch ist sowohl spannend als auch lehrreich.
(The book is both exciting and educational.)

Note:

"Sowohl … als auch" can go with a verb or a noun.
This structure expresses combination, not contrast.

5. Weder … noch (Neither … nor …)

Used to express the negation of both possibilities.

ℹ️ Formula

💡

Subjekt + Verb + weder + … noch + …

(The verb is in second position. There is no need to add "nicht" because the structure already carries a negative meaning)

Example:

Er kann weder Deutsch noch Englisch sprechen.
(He can speak neither German nor English.)

Weder das Essen noch der Service war gut.
(Neither the food nor the service was good.)

Note:

"Weder … noch" completely negates both clauses.
There is no need to use "nicht", because this structure already carries a negative meaning.

6. Je … desto (The more … the more …)

Used to express a directly proportional relationship between two clauses.

ℹ️ Formula

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Je + Komparativ + …, desto + Komparativ + Verb + Subjekt …

Example:

Je mehr du lernst, desto besser wirst du.
(The more you study, the better you get.)

Je länger ich warte, desto ungeduldiger werde ich.
(The longer I wait, the more impatient I get.)

Note:

The verb in the "je" clause always stands at the end of the sentence.
The verb in the "desto" clause is in second position, as in a normal sentence.

🎯 7. Summary: Important notes

ℹ️ Note

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Double conjunctions always come in pairs and affect the word order in the sentence.
"Zwar … aber" expresses contrast, "nicht nur … sondern auch" expresses addition.
"Entweder … oder" presents two options to choose from, "weder … noch" negates both.
"Sowohl … als auch" emphasizes combination, "je … desto" expresses a directly proportional relationship.
Some double conjunctions like "je … desto" change the word order, so pay attention to the verb position.

ℹ️ Exercise

Practice exercise

Apply what you have just learned about double conjunctions:

📝 Doppelkonjunktionen exercise

Practice writing sentences with zwar...aber, entweder...oder, je...desto.