Ich hoffe, dass wir die Prüfung schaffen.

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Breakdown of Ich hoffe, dass wir die Prüfung schaffen.

• wir: we
• dass: that
• hoffen: to hope

Questions & Answers about Ich hoffe, dass wir die Prüfung schaffen.

Why does the verb schaffen go to the end of the clause?

Because dass is a subordinating conjunction in German.

In a dass-clause, the conjugated verb moves to the final position:

• Main clause: Ich hoffe … (verb in 2nd position)
• Subordinate clause with dass: dass wir die Prüfung schaffen
  
  • Subject: wir
  • Object: die Prüfung
  • Verb (conjugated): schaffen (at the end)

This verb-final word order is standard for most subordinate clauses in German.

What exactly does dass do here, and can I leave it out?

dass introduces a subordinate clause that functions like a noun clause (it’s the thing you hope for).

• Whole structure: Ich hoffe, [dass wir die Prüfung schaffen].
  → I hope [that we pass the exam].

In spoken German, you will often hear:

• Ich hoffe, wir schaffen die Prüfung.

This is grammatically acceptable and quite common. The second clause then has normal main-clause word order (wir schaffen die Prüfung) and is just joined with a comma, without dass.

Using dass is slightly more explicit and is always correct; omitting it is more conversational.

What is the difference between dass and das?