dassclause

A dass clause, in German grammar, is a type of subordinate clause (Nebensatz) introduced by the conjunction dass, roughly equivalent to the English content clause that/“that.” It is used to report or convey the content of statements, thoughts, beliefs, desires, or perceptions. Dass-clauses commonly function as complements to a main clause, often serving as the object of verbs such as sagen, glauben, meinen, wissen, hoffen, or behaupten, but they can also occupy other syntactic positions in more complex sentences.

Syntactic features include that the dass clause is a finite clause in which the conjugated verb appears at the end. It is introduced by dass and set off from the main clause by a comma in standard written German. The word order inside the dass clause follows normal German syntax, with the subject and other elements preceding the final verb. In sentences with multiple clauses, the dass clause behaves like other subordinate clauses and allows the main clause to retain its usual word order.

Usage notes and examples illustrate its function as a content complement:

- Ich glaube, dass er heute kommt. (I believe that he is coming today.)

- Sie sagt, dass sie müde ist. (She says that she is tired.)

- Er wusste, dass du ihn gesehen hast. (He knew that you have seen him.)

- Es ist wichtig, dass du pünktlich bist. (It is important that you are punctual.)

The dass clause is central to reporting and expressing cognitive or perceptual content in German, forming a core component of Nebensätze and the broader system of complement clauses.