German A2.30 Listening Practice: Give A Reason With Weil
Listen to a A2 German dialogue about give a reason with weil, with audio, transcript, and grammar notes for language learning.
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Level
A2.30
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
16 segments
A short German listening chapter with transcript.
Add a reason after weil and hold the finite verb until the end of that reason.
Read while you listen.
1. Hanna · Teacher
Welcome to today's episode! Today we are learning how to give a reason in German using the word 'weil', which means 'because'. Pay attention to where the verb goes when 'weil' introduces a clause. Let's listen to a short conversation between Felix and Clara.
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2. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Hallo Felix, kommst du heute Abend mit ins Restaurant?
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3. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Ich kann heute nicht kommen, weil ich arbeite.
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4. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Schade, bleibst du lieber zu Hause?
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5. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Ja, ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich müde bin.
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6. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Das verstehe ich, weil du morgen früh arbeiten musst.
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7. Hanna · Teacher
Let's break down those key sentences! First, Felix said: 'Ich kann heute nicht kommen, weil ich arbeite.' This means 'I cannot come today because I am working.' Notice how 'weil' pushes the verb 'arbeite' to the very end of the reason clause.
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8. Lukas · Student
So whenever I start a reason clause with 'weil', the conjugated verb always gets kicked to the end?
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9. Hanna · Teacher
That's exactly right! Instead of saying 'weil ich arbeite heute', German structure requires 'weil ich arbeite'.
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10. Hanna · Teacher
Next, Felix explained: 'Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich müde bin.' He is staying home because he is tired.
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11. Lukas · Student
In 'weil ich müde bin', why is 'bin' at the end instead of right after 'ich'?
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12. Hanna · Teacher
Because 'bin' is the finite verb of the clause, and 'weil' always demands that the finite verb close out the clause.
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13. Hanna · Teacher
Finally, Clara said: '...weil du morgen früh arbeiten musst.' This includes both an infinitive, 'arbeiten', and a modal verb, 'musst'.
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14. Lukas · Student
What order do the verbs go in when there's a modal verb involved?
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15. Hanna · Teacher
The main verb 'arbeiten' stays directly before the final conjugated modal verb 'musst', so 'arbeiten musst' ends the sentence.
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16. Hanna · Teacher
Fantastic job! Remember, whenever you give a reason with 'weil', send that finite verb straight to the end. See you next time!
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