Statements with dass clauses

In brief

Use dass (that) to introduce what someone thinks, says, knows, or hopes. It connects a statement to a main clause: Ich glaube, dass Anna heute arbeitet. English often leaves out ‘that’ in sentences like ‘I think Anna is working today’; German keeps dass when you use this construction.

Form

Main clause + comma + dass + subject + other information + conjugated verb. The conjugated verb goes at the end of the dass clause.

Usage

• Use a dass clause to report what someone says or believes.
• Use it after expressions such as ich weiß or wir hoffen to state what is known or hoped for.
• Put a comma before dass, and keep dass even when English omits ‘that’.

Examples

• Ich glaube, dass Anna heute arbeitet. — I think Anna is working today.
• Sie sagt, dass der Bus um acht kommt. — She says the bus arrives at eight.
• Wir hoffen, dass du Zeit hast. — We hope you have time.

Common mistake

❌ Ich glaube, dass Anna arbeitet heute.

✅ Ich glaube, dass Anna heute arbeitet.

After dass, put the conjugated verb at the end of the clause, rather than keeping the English word order.

Remember

Use a comma before dass. In a dass clause, the conjugated verb comes last.