well
Because: Well
Well means because: Ech bleiwen doheem, well ech krank sinn (I am staying at home because I am ill).
How It Works
After the main clause
Ech léiere Lëtzebuergesch, well ech zu Lëtzebuerg wunnen.
Before the main clause
Then the main verb comes straight after the comma: Well et reent, huelen ech de Bus. See subordinate clause first.
As an answer
A well clause can answer a firwat question on its own, still with the verb at the end: Firwat bass du net komm? – Well ech keng Zäit hat.
Verb forms at the end
With a modal verb, the modal usually comes before the infinitive: ..., well hie muss schaffen. In the perfect, the helper verb comes last: ..., well ech fréi opgestane sinn.
Well or dofir?
Well introduces the reason. Dofir (that is why) introduces the result, and the verb comes right after it: Ech si krank, dofir bleiwen ech doheem.
Examples (6)
- Ech bleiwen doheem, well ech krank sinn.
I'm staying at home because I'm ill.
Word by Word: I stay at-home, because I ill am.
Sinn goes to the end of the well clause and keeps its n before the full stop.
- Ech léiere Lëtzebuergesch, well ech zu Lëtzebuerg wunnen.
I'm learning Luxembourgish because I live in Luxembourg.
Word by Word: I learn Luxembourgish, because I in Luxembourg live.
Léieren becomes léiere before the L of Lëtzebuergesch.
- Well et reent, huelen ech de Bus.
Because it's raining, I'm taking the bus.
Word by Word: Because it rains, take I the bus.
The well clause comes first, so huelen follows the comma directly.
- Firwat bass du net komm? – Well ech keng Zäit hat.
Why didn't you come? – Because I didn't have time.
Word by Word: Why are you not come? – Because I no time had.
A well clause can answer firwat on its own.
- Hie kann net kommen, well hie muss schaffen.
He can't come because he has to work.
Word by Word: He can not come, because he must work.
The modal muss comes before the infinitive schaffen at the end.
- Ech sinn haut midd, well ech fréi opgestane sinn.
I'm tired today because I got up early.
Word by Word: I am today tired, because I early up-stood am.
In the perfect, the helper sinn comes last. Opgestanen loses its n before the s of sinn by the n-rule.
Common Mistakes
Keeping the verb in second place after well.
Ech bleiwen doheem, well ech sinn krank.Ech bleiwen doheem, well ech krank sinn.Well sends the conjugated verb to the end of its clause.
Using well to introduce a result.
Ech si krank, well ech doheem bleiwen.Ech si krank, dofir bleiwen ech doheem.The intended meaning is I am ill, so I am staying at home. Well ech doheem bleiwen would give the stay at home as the reason for being ill. For a result, use dofir, with the verb right after it.
Using main-clause order in a short answer with well.
Well ech hat keng Zäit.Well ech keng Zäit hat.Even alone as an answer, a well clause is a subordinate clause, so the verb goes last.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Because: Well, learn The Verb at the End of Subordinate Clauses and Why: Firwat.
Related Patterns
- dofir / alsoThat's Why: Dofir and Also
Dofir introduces a result, while well introduces a reason.
Level 3 - dattThat: Datt
Datt is another common conjunction with the verb at the end.
Level 2 - Starting With a Subordinate Clause
When the well clause comes first, the main verb follows the comma.
Level 3 - Modal Verbs in Subordinate Clauses
At the end of a well clause the modal usually comes before the infinitive.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice well in Bubblegum
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