Learn Hardcore German: Wir sind sparsam, deshalb kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover für den Winter. - We are thrifty, so we buy only an inexpensive sweater for the winter.

Wir sind sparsam, deshalb kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover für den Winter.

We are thrifty, so we buy only an inexpensive sweater for the winter.

Breakdown of Wir sind sparsam, deshalb kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover für den Winter.

the; (masculine, accusative)

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Questions & Answers about Wir sind sparsam, deshalb kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover für den Winter.

Why does the verb come directly after deshalb (deshalb kaufen wir…) instead of after wir as in English?

In German main clauses, the conjugated verb must be in second position (the V2 rule).

In the sentence:

Wir sind sparsam, deshalb kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover für den Winter.

The second clause is:

deshalb kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover …

deshalb is in the first position (it’s a sentence adverb meaning therefore / that’s why).
The verb kaufen must then come in second position.
The subject wir comes after the verb.

So the order must be:

deshalb
kaufen
wir

You cannot say deshalb wir kaufen in a normal main clause; that would break the V2 rule.

Is deshalb the same as weil? When should I use each one?

They are related in meaning but not the same type of word and they create different structures.

weil means because and introduces a subordinate clause (verb goes to the end):
- Wir kaufen nur einen günstigen Pullover, weil wir sparsam sind.
  (weil … sind – verb at the end)
deshalb means therefore / that’s why / for that reason and belongs to a main clause (with V2 word order):
- Wir sind sparsam, deshalb kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover.
  (deshalb kaufen wir … – verb in second position)

Logical relationship:

weil introduces the reason.
deshalb introduces the result.

Often you could switch:

Weil wir sparsam sind, kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover.
Wir sind sparsam, deshalb kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover.

Same idea, but from opposite sides: because X, Y vs. X, therefore Y.

Why is it einen günstigen Pullover and not ein günstiger Pullover?

Because Pullover is:

masculine (der Pullover),
and here it is a direct object (we are buying it),

so it must be in the accusative case.

For masculine nouns:

Nominative (subject): ein günstiger Pullover
(e.g. Ein günstiger Pullover ist genug. – A cheap sweater is enough.)
Accusative (direct object): einen günstigen Pullover
(e.g. Wir kaufen einen günstigen Pullover. – We are buying a cheap sweater.)

Declension here:

Article: ein → einen (masc. accusative)
Adjective: günstig → günstigen after einen

So einen günstigen Pullover is exactly what you expect for a masculine accusative object with an indefinite article.

Why is it für den Winter and not für der Winter?

Because für is a preposition that always takes the accusative case.

der Winter is masculine:
- Nominative: der Winter
- Accusative: den Winter

After für, you must use the accusative, so:

für den Winter = for the winter

Für der Winter would mix a preposition that requires accusative with a nominative article, so it is ungrammatical.

Could I also say im Winter instead of für den Winter? What would be the difference?

Yes, but the meaning changes slightly.

für den Winter – focuses on the purpose / intended season:
- You are buying a sweater for use in winter, maybe now (in autumn, for example).
im Winter – means in winter / during winter, more about time than purpose:
- Wir kaufen nur einen günstigen Pullover im Winter.
  = We only buy a cheap sweater in winter (not in summer).

In your original sentence, für den Winter is more natural if you mean a sweater meant to be worn in winter.

What is the difference between sparsam and geizig? Could I use geizig here?

They are similar but with different connotations:

sparsam = thrifty, economical, careful with money in a positive or neutral way.
- You try not to waste money.
geizig = stingy, miserly, usually negative.
- You don’t want to spend money even when it would be reasonable or kind.

In your sentence:

Wir sind sparsam…
suggests a reasonable frugality, almost a virtue.

If you say:

Wir sind geizig, deshalb kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover…

you are saying We are stingy, which sounds self-critical or humorous. It’s grammatically fine, but the tone is very different.

Why is there a comma before deshalb? Could I also use a period or semicolon?

You have two main clauses:

Wir sind sparsam,
deshalb kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover für den Winter.

In German, it is common (and correct) to join them with a comma when using a conjunctive adverb like deshalb.

Possible punctuation:

Wir sind sparsam, deshalb kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover für den Winter.
Wir sind sparsam; deshalb kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover für den Winter.
Wir sind sparsam. Deshalb kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover für den Winter.

All three are grammatically acceptable; the period or semicolon makes the pause feel stronger. The comma version is very common in everyday writing.

What is the difference between günstig and billig for günstigen Pullover?

Both can mean cheap, but they feel different:

günstig = inexpensive, good value for money; usually positive or neutral.
- ein günstiger Pullover: affordable, a good deal.
billig = cheap, sometimes with a negative nuance: low-quality, trashy.
- ein billiger Pullover: could suggest it looks/feels cheap.

In marketing or polite conversation, günstig is preferred.
In your sentence, einen günstigen Pullover implies an affordable sweater, not necessarily low-quality.

Where should nur go in the sentence? Could I say deshalb nur kaufen wir…?

Nur is an adverb meaning only, and it usually goes directly before the element it limits.

In your sentence:

deshalb kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover für den Winter.

Here, nur limits einen günstigen Pullover (not several pullovers, just one), so it stands before it.

The word order in a main clause must still respect V2 (verb in second position):

deshalb
kaufen
wir
nur einen günstigen Pullover für den Winter

You cannot say:

deshalb nur kaufen wir einen günstigen Pullover … ❌

because that would put nur in the second position and push the verb out of the required V2 slot. Correct options:

Wir sind sparsam, deshalb kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover für den Winter. ✅
Wir sind sparsam, deshalb kaufen wir einen günstigen Pullover nur für den Winter. ✅ (then nur limits für den Winter, i.e. only for winter, not for other seasons)

Why is Pullover masculine? Is there a rule I can rely on?

Pullover is der Pullover (masculine). With many nouns, especially loanwords, the gender is somewhat arbitrary and must be learned.

Some helpful hints (but not strict rules):

Many nouns ending in -er (especially for people, tools, machines, or items) are masculine:
der Lehrer, der Computer, der Drucker, der Pullover.
Clothing items can have different genders:
der Mantel, die Hose, das Hemd, der Rock, der Pullover.

So: there is no simple rule that guarantees the gender of Pullover; you just have to learn it as der Pullover and then decline it accordingly (einen Pullover, den Pullover, etc.).

Could I say Wir sind sparsam, also kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover… instead of deshalb? Is there a difference?

Yes, you can use also here, but the nuance is slightly different.

deshalb = therefore / for that reason (more explicit cause–effect marker)
also (when used like this) ≈ so / thus, a bit more informal and conversational

Examples:

Wir sind sparsam, deshalb kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover.
Clear logical link: Because we are thrifty, for that reason we only buy one cheap sweater.
Wir sind sparsam, also kaufen wir nur einen günstigen Pullover.
More like: We’re thrifty, so we only buy one cheap sweater.

Grammatically, the word order is the same (V2 after deshalb or also):

… deshalb kaufen wir …
… also kaufen wir …

Both are correct; deshalb sounds a bit more neutral/formal, also a bit more colloquial.