Kurz-Quiz: denn vs. weil – Begründungen beim Essen

Use denn to link two main clauses without changing word order. If you chose weil, the verb must go to the end: weil ich Geld sparen will. Deshalb/trotzdem start a new main clause and don’t fit after a comma here.

In a weil-clause, the conjugated verb goes to the end: weil wir keine Zeit haben. The second option keeps verb-second order, which is incorrect after weil.

Trotzdem expresses contrast (“despite that”) and is followed by verb-second: trotzdem warten wir. Deshalb would mean “therefore,” which doesn’t fit the meaning here.

Deshalb (“therefore”) expresses a result and is followed by verb-second: Deshalb bestellen wir ...

Denn links two main clauses and keeps normal word order. With weil, the verb must go to the end: weil ich auf Diät bin (not weil ich bin...).

Deshalb shows the result of the first clause and is followed by verb-second: ... deshalb bestellt sie ... Denn would introduce a reason for the second clause and flips the logic.

The contrast is key: it’s spicy, but he still eats it → trotzdem. Deshalb would mean “therefore,” which doesn’t make sense here.

No reservation leads to waiting → Deshalb. After Deshalb, use verb-second: Deshalb müssen wir warten. Denn would attach a reason to the second clause (“because”), which would reverse the logic.