Konzessivsatz mit obwohl

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📘 Grammatik · Unit 12 · 1/16

Konzessivsatz mit obwohl

3 parts6 examples3 common mistakes

Example

  1. Obwohl es regnet, gehen wir spazieren.Although it is raining, we are going for a walk.

Rule

obwohl names a counter-reason: something happens although something else speaks against it.

Practise

This topic’s own test: 10 sets, 10 questions in each.Grammatik-Test →

obwohl introduces a subordinate clause

Like weil and dass, obwohl sends the conjugated verb to the end. The subordinate clause can come first or last.

  1. Obwohl es regnet, gehen wir spazieren.Although it is raining, we are going for a walk.
  2. Ich bin gekommen, obwohl ich krank bin.I came although I am sick.
  3. Obwohl er wenig Zeit hatte, hat er geholfen.Although he had little time, he helped.

The family of contrasts

The same meaning, three constructions. Which one you use is decided by the word order — not by the content.

WortTypWortstellungBeispiel
obwohlNebensatzkonjunktionVerb am EndeObwohl es regnet, gehen wir.
trotzdemKonnektorPosition 1, Verb folgtEs regnet. Trotzdem gehen wir.
trotzPräposition + Genitivkein VerbTrotz des Regens gehen wir.
aberKonjunktionPosition 0Es regnet, aber wir gehen.

Practising rephrasing

Being able to express the same content in all four forms is exactly what the B1 exam requires.

  1. Obwohl das Angebot günstig ist, lehnen wir ab.Although the offer is favourable, we are declining.
  2. Das Angebot ist günstig. Trotzdem lehnen wir ab.The offer is favourable. Nevertheless, we are declining.
  3. Trotz des günstigen Angebots lehnen wir ab.Despite the favourable offer, we are declining.

Common mistakes

Trotzdem es regnet, gehen wir. Obwohl es regnet, gehen wir.
A subordinate clause needs obwohl.
Obwohl es regnet, wir gehen spazieren. Obwohl es regnet, gehen wir spazieren.
After the subordinate clause, the verb follows immediately.
Trotz es regnet, gehen wir. Trotz des Regens gehen wir.
trotz is a preposition and needs a noun in the genitive.

Quick check · 3 questions

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