Breakdown of Wir kritisieren das Restaurant, zumal die Hauptspeise teuer ist.
sein
to be
wir
we
teuer
expensive
das Restaurant
the restaurant
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
zumal
especially since
kritisieren
to criticize
die Hauptspeise
the main course
Questions & Answers about Wir kritisieren das Restaurant, zumal die Hauptspeise teuer ist.
Why is the verb ist at the very end of the sentence?
The word zumal is a subordinating conjunction, just like weil or dass. This means it introduces a dependent clause, which forces the conjugated verb (ist) to the end of that clause.
What is the exact difference between using zumal and just using weil here?
While weil simply states a reason ("because"), zumal adds emphasis, meaning "especially since" or "particularly because". Using zumal implies that the expensive main course is an extra strong or additional reason for criticizing the restaurant.
Could I flip this sentence around and start with the zumal clause?
Yes, you can! You would say: Zumal die Hauptspeise teuer ist, kritisieren wir das Restaurant. Notice that when the dependent clause comes first, it acts as the first block of information, so the main clause must immediately follow with its verb (kritisieren) to keep the verb in the second position overall.
If I forget the word zumal, is there another way to express "especially since" in German?
Yes, a common and slightly more conversational alternative is vor allem, weil (literally "above all, because"). For example: Wir kritisieren das Restaurant, vor allem, weil die Hauptspeise teuer ist. However, using zumal is a great way to elevate your German to a solid B2 level.
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