Expressing Consequences
To explain the result of a situation (like "therefore" or "that's why" in English), use the connectors deshalb, deswegen, or darum. They all mean the same thing and are used interchangeably.
Word Order: Position 1
When you start a sentence with deshalb, deswegen, or darum, it takes the first position. Because German strictly requires the conjugated verb in Position 2, the verb must come immediately after the connector. This pushes the subject into the third position.
Notice how the subject (ich) comes directly after the verb (nehme) in the second sentence below:
| My car is broken. That's why I am taking the bus. | Mein Auto ist kaputt. Deshalb nehme ich den Bus. |
| We are stuck in a traffic jam. Therefore we have to hurry. | Wir stehen im Stau. Deshalb müssen wir uns beeilen. |
Deswegen and darum follow the exact same rule. State the cause in the first sentence, then start the second sentence with the connector to show the effect.
| The train is delayed. Because of that I am missing the appointment. | Der Zug hat Verspätung. Deswegen verpasse ich den Termin. |
| It is raining. Because of that my shoes are wet. | Es regnet. Deswegen sind meine Schuhe nass. |
| I am sick. For that reason I am cancelling the meeting. | Ich bin krank. Darum sage ich das Treffen ab. |
| Yesterday there was a storm. Therefore the window is broken. | Gestern war ein Sturm. Darum ist das Fenster kaputt. |
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