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Ich bin dafür, dass wir heute früher beginnen.

Ich bin dafür, dass wir heute früher beginnen.
I am in favor of starting earlier today.
FromLesson 45inHardcore German

Breakdown of Ich bin dafür, dass wir heute früher beginnen.

ich
I
wir
we
heute
today
dass
that
beginnen
to begin
früher
earlier
dafür sein
to be in favor of

Questions & Answers about Ich bin dafür, dass wir heute früher beginnen.

What does the word dafür contribute in this sentence?
  • dafür sein is a set phrase meaning to be in favor or in support of something.
  • Here, dafür points forward to the content of the dass-clause (the proposal that we start earlier today).
  • Grammatically, it stands in for something like for that idea/proposal.
Why is there a comma and the conjunction dass?
  • dass introduces a subordinate content clause (what you are in favor of).
  • In German, a comma before dass is mandatory.
  • The dass-clause has the finite verb at the end, which is why you see the word order you do.
Why is beginnen at the very end of the clause?
  • In subordinate clauses introduced by dass, the finite verb goes to the end.
  • With wir, the finite form is wir beginnen, which happens to look identical to the infinitive, but it is a finite verb here, placed clause-finally because of dass.
Can I use a zu-infinitive instead of the dass-clause?
  • Yes: Ich bin dafür, heute früher zu beginnen.
  • Use this especially when the subject of the action is the same or obvious from context.
  • If the subject is different or you want to state it explicitly, prefer the dass-clause: Ich bin dafür, dass sie heute früher beginnen.
Why is it früher and not früh?
  • früh = early (absolute); früher = earlier (comparative, relative to some usual or planned time).
  • Since you mean earlier than usual/than planned, früher is the correct form.
Is heute früher the normal phrasing? Could I say früher heute?
  • heute früher is the standard way to say earlier today or earlier than usual today.
  • früher heute is generally not idiomatic; avoid it.
  • You can also say heute früher als sonst to make the comparison explicit.
What’s the difference between beginnen and anfangen here?
  • Both are fine; beginnen is a bit more formal, anfangen more colloquial.
  • Main clause: Wir fangen heute früher an. (separable)
  • Subordinate clause: … dass wir heute früher anfangen. (the verb is unsplit and at the end)
Can I just say Ich bin dafür. and stop there?
  • Yes. If the proposal is already known from context, Ich bin dafür. means you support it.
  • The full sentence with dass explicitly states what you support.
Can I omit dass like in English?
  • No in standard German. You need dass (or use a zu-infinitive construction).
  • Colloquial speech may drop dass in some dialects, but that is not standard and should be avoided in writing.
Do I need the comma after dafür?
  • Yes, before a dass-clause the comma is obligatory: …, dass …
  • If you use a zu-infinitive group (… dafür, heute früher zu beginnen), a comma is standard and recommended.
What is dafür grammatically?
  • A pronominal adverb (formed from da
    • preposition für).
  • It stands in for a prepositional phrase referring to a clause or idea. Similar forms include darüber, damit, daran, dagegen.
What’s the opposite of dafür in this pattern?
  • dagegen (against it): Ich bin dagegen, dass wir heute früher beginnen.
Can I rephrase it with a noun instead of a clause?
  • Yes: Ich bin für einen früheren Beginn (heute).
  • This uses für with a noun phrase instead of dafür with a clause.
Is eher a valid alternative to früher here?
  • Not for scheduled start times. eher often means rather/sooner in a different sense.
  • Use früher to mean earlier in the day or earlier than usual.
Can I front something else to position 1 (V2 rule), e.g., start with Heute?
  • Yes: Heute bin ich dafür, dass wir früher beginnen.
  • German main clauses are verb-second; moving Heute to the front moves bin to position 2.
How does Ich bin dafür, dass … differ from Ich bin damit einverstanden, dass …?
  • dafür sein expresses support or preference; it’s neutral and common in speech.
  • mit etwas einverstanden sein conveys explicit agreement/consent; it can sound a bit more formal or official.
Should dass be spelled with ß? Why not daß?
  • Modern standard German always spells it dass with double s. daß is the pre‑reform spelling and is no longer used in contemporary standard writing.
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German has four grammatical cases: nominative (subject), accusative (direct object), dative (indirect object), and genitive (possession). The case determines the form of articles and adjectives. For example, "the dog" is "der Hund" as a subject but "den Hund" as a direct object.

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