1.Purpose of this reference page
This page consolidates the main German comma rules for:
subordinate clauses
relative clauses
infinitive groups
enumerations
additions
parenthetical insertions
overlapping comma-relevant structures
It follows the current official framework and is intended as a cross-level reference.
2.Current rule status
Under the 2024 Official Rules, comma use with infinitive clauses is treated more systematically.
Especially important:
expanded zu-infinitive groups
→ are delimited as infinitive subordinate clauses with commas
Special cases remain for unexpanded infinitives and multi-part predicates.
3.Core function of the comma
The comma makes grammatical structure visible.
It marks, among other things:
boundaries of subordinate clauses
boundaries of additions
members of an enumeration
boundaries of infinitive groups
It is therefore not primarily a “breathing pause”.
4.Comma is not the same as a spoken pause
You may pause in speech where no comma is written.
Conversely, a comma may be grammatically required even when speech contains little or no audible pause.
So:
syntax first
prosody second
5.Three main areas
For most cases, start with three domains:
1. enumeration / coordination
2. addition / parenthesis
3. subordinate clause
Under the current framework, infinitive groups often belong to the domain of infinitive subordinate clauses.
6.Finite subordinate clauses
A finite subordinate clause contains a finite verb.
Examples:
..., weil er kommt.
..., dass sie Recht hat.
..., obwohl wir wenig Zeit haben.
Such clauses are separated from the matrix clause with a comma.
7.Subordinate clause after the main clause
Typical pattern:
Ich bleibe zu Hause, weil ich krank bin.
Structure:
main clause , subordinate clause
The comma marks the clause boundary.
8.Subordinate clause before the main clause
Typical pattern:
Weil ich krank bin, bleibe ich zu Hause.
Structure:
subordinate clause , main clause
A comma follows the fronted subordinate clause.
9.Embedded subordinate clause
An embedded subordinate clause needs two boundary commas.
Example:
Anna lag, als ich sie anrief, schon im Bett.
Structure:
main-clause part , subordinate clause , main-clause part
10.dass clauses
Example:
Ich weiß, dass er kommt.
dass introduces a subordinate clause.
The comma stands before that clause.
11.weil clauses
Example:
Wir gehen, weil es spät ist.
The comma separates the causal clause from the matrix clause.
12.obwohl clauses
Example:
Obwohl es regnete, gingen wir spazieren.
The comma is required even when the concessive clause comes first.
13.wenn clauses
Example:
Wenn du Zeit hast, ruf mich an.
wenn may express condition or repeated time.
The comma rule remains the same.
14.als clauses
Example:
Als ich ankam, war niemand da.
Here als introduces a temporal subordinate clause.
The comma marks the following boundary to the main clause.
15.bevor and nachdem
Examples:
Bevor wir beginnen, klären wir die Ziele.
Nachdem er gegessen hatte, ging er spazieren.
Both subordinate clauses are delimited with commas.
16.damit clauses
Example:
Ich schreibe es auf, damit wir nichts vergessen.
damit often introduces a purpose clause.
The comma stands before the subordinate clause.
17.sodass clauses
Example:
Es regnete stark, sodass die Straße überflutet wurde.
The result clause is separated with a comma.
18.ob clauses
Example:
Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt.
Indirect yes/no questions are subordinate clauses and are separated with a comma.
19.Indirect wh-questions
Examples:
Ich weiß nicht, wann er kommt.
Sie fragte, warum wir warten.
Question words can also introduce subordinate clauses.
20.Subordinate clauses without an introducer
A subordinate clause can occur without a conjunction.
Example:
Früher dachte man, die Erde sei eine Scheibe.
The clause boundary is still marked with a comma.
21.Conditional clause without wenn
Example:
Regnet es, bleiben wir im Haus.
The first part functions like a conditional clause:
Wenn es regnet, ...
Therefore a comma is used.
22.Several subordinate clauses in sequence
Example:
Ich weiß, dass er kommt, weil wir ihn eingeladen haben.
Two subordinate clauses meet here.
The commas mark their respective boundaries.
23.Subordinate clause inside a subordinate clause
Example:
Ich glaube, dass er, obwohl er müde ist, noch arbeitet.
The embedded subordinate clause receives two commas.
The outer subordinate clause then continues.
24.Relative clause: core rule
Relative clauses are separated with commas.
Example:
Das Buch, das ich gekauft habe, ist spannend.
The relative clause is parenthetical here and therefore needs two commas.
25.Relative clause at the end
Example:
Ich kenne die Frau, die dort arbeitet.
A comma stands before the relative clause.
No second comma is needed at the end of the sentence.
26.Relative clause with a preposition
Example:
Die Kollegin, mit der ich arbeite, ist heute nicht da.
The preposition belongs to the relative expression.
The commas mark the boundaries of the whole relative clause.
27.Relative clause with was
Example:
Alles, was er sagt, klingt plausibel.
was can also introduce a relative clause.
The same comma rule applies.
28.Infinitive groups: core idea
A clause-like infinitive group typically contains a zu-infinitive and can carry its own internal structure.
Example:
Er versucht, den Bericht heute fertigzustellen.
Under the current official framework, such expanded groups are delimited with commas.
29.Expanded zu-infinitive
Expanded means that additional constituents belong to the infinitive.
Example:
Sie hofft, die Prüfung im Juni zu bestehen.
The infinitive group includes:
die Prüfung
im Juni
The group is separated with a comma.
30.Infinitive group after a verb
Example:
Der Minister bedauerte, das Kabinett nicht überzeugt zu haben.
The infinitive group depends on the verb bedauern and is delimited as an infinitive subordinate unit.
31.Infinitive group after a noun
Example:
Sie hatte den Wunsch, früher abzureisen.
The group explains the noun:
Wunsch
It is separated with a comma.
32.Infinitive group after an adjective
Example:
Sie war froh, im Haus bleiben zu können.
The infinitive group depends on the adjective froh.
The comma marks the boundary of the subordinate unit.
33.Infinitive group with a correlate
Example:
Er hat es nie bereut, diese Ausbildung gemacht zu haben.
The pronoun es anticipates the infinitive group.
The group is separated with a comma.
34.Infinitive group with darauf, daran, damit
Examples:
Er hoffte darauf, die Stelle zu bekommen.
Sie dachte daran, früher zu gehen.
Damit, alles rechtzeitig abzuschließen, rechnete niemand.
Reference words make the relation especially explicit.
35.Fronted infinitive group
Example:
Den Bericht rechtzeitig fertigzustellen, war schwierig.
The infinitive group precedes the matrix clause.
A comma closes the group.
36.Postposed infinitive group
Example:
Es war schwierig, den Bericht rechtzeitig fertigzustellen.
The infinitive group follows the matrix clause.
A comma precedes it.
37.Embedded infinitive group
Example:
Sein Plan, im Herbst nach Wien zu ziehen, überraschte uns.
The infinitive group is embedded and is therefore delimited on both sides.
38.um ... zu
um ... zu introduces a purpose infinitive group.
Example:
Sie spart Geld, um eine Reise zu machen.
The group is separated with a comma.
39.ohne ... zu
Example:
Er ging, ohne sich zu verabschieden.
The infinitive group is separated with a comma.
The same applies when fronted:
Ohne sich zu verabschieden, ging er.
40.anstatt / statt ... zu
Examples:
Statt zu arbeiten, ging er spazieren.
Sie spielte weiter, anstatt eine Pause zu machen.
These groups are separated with commas.
41.Unexpanded zu-infinitive
A single zu-infinitive without further constituents can be analysed in different ways.
Example:
Kim hat versucht(,) abzunehmen.
If abzunehmen is understood as an infinitive subordinate clause, a comma is used.
If it is understood as a close word group, it may appear without a comma.
42.Unexpanded really means unexpanded
Compare:
Sie versucht(,) zu schlafen.
with:
Sie versucht, heute länger zu schlafen.
In the second sentence, heute länger expands the infinitive group, which is clearly delimited as clause-like.
43.Multi-part predicate without a comma
If the zu-infinitive forms a multi-part predicate together with another verb, no comma is used.
Core idea:
verb + zu-infinitive
→ one close predicate unit
There is therefore no subordinate-clause boundary to mark.
44.Structural ambiguity
With some verbs, two analyses are possible.
Examples include:
versuchen
beabsichtigen
versprechen
gestatten
probieren
wagen
Comma use can indicate which structure is intended.
45.versuchen with or without a comma
Compare:
Der Minister versuchte das Kabinett zu überzeugen.
close predicate unit
and:
Der Minister versuchte, das Kabinett zu überzeugen.
infinitive group treated as a clause-like unit.
46.beabsichtigen with or without a comma
Depending on the analysis, both structures may occur:
Er beabsichtigt morgen abzureisen.
Er beabsichtigt, morgen abzureisen.
The comma marks the infinitive group as more clearly separate.
47.Using commas to control interpretation
Comma placement can show which unit a phrase belongs to.
Compare:
Sie beschloss, im Morgengrauen nicht noch einmal aufzubrechen.
and:
Sie beschloss im Morgengrauen, nicht noch einmal aufzubrechen.
The adverbial im Morgengrauen is attached differently.
48.Negation and infinitive groups
nicht can also attach differently.
Example:
Sie beschloss im Morgengrauen nicht, noch einmal aufzubrechen.
Here nicht belongs to the matrix verb.
Comma placement helps make the intended structure visible.
49.Question word + infinitive
Constructions introduced by a question word may contain an infinitive with or without zu.
Examples:
Ich weiß nicht, was anzufangen.
Er wusste nicht, wie weiterzumachen.
Such constructions are separated with commas.
50.Infinitive groups in an enumeration
Example:
Er dachte daran, den Brief zu schreiben, die Unterlagen zu prüfen und den Termin zu bestätigen.
The whole infinitive construction is separated from the main clause.
Within it, the rules for enumerations also apply.
51.Two infinitive groups side by side
Example:
Er beschloss, früher zu gehen, und versprach, morgen wiederzukommen.
Each infinitive group is delimited according to its own syntactic relation.
52.Infinitive group with a perfect infinitive
Example:
Sie bedauerte, so spät gekommen zu sein.
The internal verb form is more complex, but the comma rule remains the same.
53.Infinitive group with passive
Example:
Er hofft, rechtzeitig informiert zu werden.
Passive infinitive groups follow the same boundary rules.
54.Infinitive group with perfect passive
Example:
Sie behauptet, rechtzeitig informiert worden zu sein.
The form is complex:
informiert worden zu sein
For comma placement, the entire infinitive group is treated as one unit.
55.Infinitive group and modal verb
Example:
Er glaubt, früher gehen zu müssen.
gehen zu müssen forms a verbal complex inside the infinitive group.
The comma stands at the boundary to the matrix unit.
56.Infinitive groups: quick rule
Practical orientation:
expanded clause-like zu-group?
→ comma
um / ohne / anstatt / statt ... zu?
→ comma
single unexpanded zu-infinitive?
→ check the analysis
close part of a multi-part predicate?
→ no comma
57.Enumerations: core rule
Coordinate items in a series are separated by commas when no suitable conjunction takes over the boundary.
Example:
Wir brauchen Zeit, Geld, Personal und Geduld.
Commas separate the earlier coordinate items.
58.No comma before simple und
In a simple series, there is normally no comma before und.
Wir kaufen Äpfel, Birnen und Bananen.
und links the final two coordinate items.
59.No comma before simple oder
There is likewise no comma before simple oder in an ordinary series.
Wir fahren mit dem Zug, dem Bus oder dem Auto.
60.Repeated und / oder
With repeatable conjunctions, the series can stand without extra commas.
Er kauft Äpfel oder Birnen oder Bananen.
The conjunction itself marks the coordination.
61.Comma before aber
A comma is used before aber in coordination.
Der Weg war lang, aber schön.
aber marks contrast.
62.Comma before sondern
A comma is used before sondern.
Nicht der Preis, sondern die Qualität ist entscheidend.
A typical corrective structure is:
nicht X, sondern Y
63.Comma before jedoch and doch
When jedoch or doch coordinatively links contrasting items, a comma is used.
Die Lösung ist einfach, jedoch teuer.
The exact sentence structure should still be checked.
64.Series of adjectives
A comma separates coordinate adjectives.
ein neues, umweltfreundliches Verfahren
Meaning:
new
and
environmentally friendly
65.Non-coordinate adjectives
No comma is used when one adjective forms a closer unit with the noun.
neue umweltfreundliche Verfahren
Possible reading:
new
[environmentally friendly procedures]
The semantic structure determines punctuation.
66.The und test for adjectives
A useful heuristic is:
Can und naturally stand between the adjectives?
If yes, they are often coordinate:
ein neues und umweltfreundliches Verfahren
→ ein neues, umweltfreundliches Verfahren
The heuristic helps, but meaning remains decisive.
67.Enumeration of phrases
Longer coordinate phrases can also form a series.
Wir brauchen eine klare Strategie, ausreichend Personal, realistische Fristen und verlässliche Daten.
The commas separate the units.
68.Enumeration of clauses
Several coordinate clauses can be linked with commas when no conjunction connects them.
Er kam, er sah, er ging.
Each unit is clause-like.
69.und between independent clauses
With independent clauses linked by und, a comma may be useful to clarify structure.
Ich fotografierte die Berge, und meine Frau machte einen Spaziergang.
The comma can make the clause boundary easier to read.
70.oder between independent clauses
With two independent clauses linked by oder, a comma can also clarify structure.
Wir warten auf euch, oder die Kinder gehen schon voraus.
It may improve readability.
71.Subordinate clause plus und
When a subordinate-clause boundary meets coordination, the subordinate-clause comma remains.
Er sagte, dass er morgen komme, und verabschiedete sich.
The comma closes the subordinate clause.
72.Embedded subordinate clause before und
Example:
Anna lag schon im Bett, als ich sie anrief, und war nicht sehr gesprächig.
The second comma closes the embedded subordinate clause.
und does not remove it.
73.Infinitive group before und
Example:
Er hatte viel gelernt, um die Prüfung zu bestehen, und war trotzdem nervös.
The infinitive group is closed before und.
74.Additions: core idea
An addition provides extra information about a reference expression or the whole sentence.
Typical types:
apposition
explanation
afterthought
address
comment
Such additions are often delimited with commas.
75.Apposition
Example:
Bello, der Hund unserer Nachbarn, bellt die ganze Nacht.
der Hund unserer Nachbarn is an addition to Bello.
The parenthetical unit is marked with two commas.
76.Postposed apposition
Example:
Draußen hörten wir Bello, den Hund unserer Nachbarn.
The apposition stands at the end of the sentence.
Therefore one opening comma is sufficient.
77.Direct address
Direct addresses are separated by commas.
Herr Meyer, hören Sie bitte zu.
Hören Sie, Herr Meyer, bitte zu.
Position determines whether one or two commas are needed.
78.Interjections and response words
Independent response or reaction words can be separated.
Examples:
Ja, das stimmt.
Nein, ich komme nicht.
Ach, das wusste ich nicht.
Exact punctuation depends on syntactic integration.
79.bitte as an addition or integrated element
Compare:
Komm doch, bitte, morgen pünktlich.
bitte as an addition
and:
Komm doch bitte morgen pünktlich.
bitte integrated.
Comma use reflects the analysis.
80.leider as an addition or integrated element
Compare:
Wir haben uns, leider, verpasst.
and:
Wir haben uns leider verpasst.
The two structures differ in communicative emphasis.
81.Postposed explanation
Typical introducers include:
nämlich
und zwar
insbesondere
genauer
vielleicht
Example:
Wir brauchen noch eine Information, nämlich den genauen Termin.
The explanation is marked as an addition.
82.Explanation inside the sentence
Example:
Auf der Ausstellung waren viele Firmen, insbesondere finnische, vertreten.
When the explanation is treated as a true addition, commas stand on both sides.
83.Reduced explanation and variants
With some postposed explanations, the closing comma depends on analysis.
In simplified form:
addition
→ comma on both sides
reduced constituent
→ closing comma may be omitted
The syntactic interpretation determines the punctuation.
84.Comparisons with als and wie: clause or phrase?
With als and wie, structure determines comma use.
With its own predicate:
Er arbeitet schneller, als ich erwartet hatte.
→ subordinate clause, so a comma is used.
Phrase only:
Er ist größer als sein Bruder.
→ no subordinate clause, so no comma.
85.wie clause
Example:
Das ging genauso schnell, wie wir erwartet hatten.
wie wir erwartet hatten is clause-like.
Therefore it is separated with a comma.
86.Formulaic reduced expressions
With formulaic reduced expressions, the structure may be less clause-like.
Examples:
Wie bereits gesagt(,) ist das problematisch.
Ich komme(,) wenn nötig(,) morgen vorbei.
In such special cases, the comma may be omitted.
87.Participial groups
Participial groups can have clause-like properties.
Example:
Vom Blitz getroffen(,) fiel er zu Boden.
Depending on analysis and emphasis, a comma may be used.
They are not identical to obligatory finite subordinate clauses.
88.Adjective groups as clause-like additions
Expanded adjective groups can also be marked as additions.
Example:
Auf seine Kinder stolz(,) hatte er am lautesten applaudiert.
Comma use depends on syntactic interpretation.
89.No comma around ordinary constituents
Not every long phrase is an addition.
Example:
Trotz aller guten Vorsätze hatte sie wieder zu rauchen angefangen.
Trotz aller guten Vorsätze is an ordinary constituent here.
No comma is used.
90.Place and date information in formal correspondence
In formal information blocks, components may be structured as additions.
Typical combinations include:
place
date
time
reference location
The convention of the particular text type should also be observed.
91.Comma with direct speech: boundary issue
With direct speech, comma rules interact with quotation-mark rules.
Example:
„Ich komme morgen“, sagte er.
These cases also belong to quotation punctuation.
For comma placement, the key issue is the boundary between reporting clause and quotation.
92.Comma and dash
A dash does not automatically replace a grammatically required comma.
General principle:
parenthesis marked by dashes
+
a required clause boundary afterwards
may result in a comma after the closing dash.
93.Comma and ellipsis
Ellipsis dots do not automatically cancel a required comma either.
If sentence structure requires a comma, it may follow the ellipsis.
Grammar remains decisive.
94.Comma with two dass clauses
Example:
Er sagte, dass er komme und dass er helfen wolle.
The two dass clauses are coordinated.
With simple und, no additional comma normally separates them.
95.Comma between coordinate subordinate clauses without und
Example:
Er wusste, dass die Frist kurz war, dass das Team überlastet war, dass Fehler drohten.
The coordinate subordinate clauses form a series and are separated from each other by commas.
96.Comma with relative clause and coordination
Example:
Das Buch, das ich gekauft habe, und die Zeitschrift liegen hier.
The commas belong to the relative clause.
und coordinates the two noun phrases.
97.Comma with apposition and coordination
Example:
Mein Onkel, ein großer Tierfreund, und seine Katzen leben dort.
The commas delimit the apposition.
The following conjunction does not change that.
98.Common mistake: placing commas by intuition
Unreliable strategy:
I hear a pause, so I add a comma.
Better:
Which syntactic units meet here?
Comma placement follows structure.
99.Common mistake: recognising subordinate clauses only by conjunctions
Not every subordinate clause has an explicit introducer.
Examples:
Regnet es, bleiben wir zu Hause.
Er sagte, er sei müde.
So clause status and dependency must be checked.
100.Common mistake: treating all infinitives alike
Not every infinitive forms the same structure.
Distinguish:
expanded clause-like infinitive group
unexpanded zu-infinitive
multi-part predicate
Only then decide on the comma.
101.Common mistake: comma before every und
und does not generally require a comma.
Ask:
Does a subordinate clause end before und?
Does an apposition end?
Does an infinitive group end?
Are two independent clauses being linked?
A comma can therefore appear before und, but for structural reasons.
102.Common mistake: forgetting the closing comma
Embedded units need two boundaries.
Examples:
Das Buch, das ich gekauft habe, ist teuer.
Sein Plan, früher abzureisen, überraschte uns.
Bello, der Hund unserer Nachbarn, bellt.
The second comma is structurally required.
103.Analysis algorithm
For a difficult sentence:
1. mark finite verbs
2. identify subordinate clauses
3. identify relative clauses
4. find zu-infinitives
5. check additions / appositions
6. identify enumerations
7. place boundaries from inside outward
This sequence prevents many errors.
104.Quick check for subordinate clauses
Questions:
Does it have its own finite verb?
Is the unit grammatically dependent?
Does it begin with weil, dass, obwohl, wenn, ob, a relative word ...?
Can it be placed before or after the matrix clause?
If yes, a comma boundary is highly likely.
105.Quick check for infinitive groups
Questions:
Is there zu + infinitive?
Do additional constituents belong to it?
Is it introduced by um / ohne / anstatt / statt?
Does it depend on a noun, adjective, verb, or reference word?
Is it genuinely part of a close multi-part predicate?
The answers determine the analysis.
106.Quick check for enumerations
Questions:
Are the elements coordinate?
Could und stand between them?
Is there already und / oder?
Is the connector aber / sondern / jedoch?
Coordinate status is the key.
107.Quick check for additions
Questions:
Is the information grammatically removable?
Does it additionally explain a reference expression?
Is it parenthetical?
Can the base sentence stand without it?
If yes, it is often an addition.
108.Quick reference: required comma
Typical cases:
finite subordinate clause
relative clause
embedded subordinate clause on both sides
expanded clause-like zu-infinitive group
um / ohne / anstatt / statt ... zu
apposition / true addition
enumeration without a linking conjunction
before aber / sondern in coordination
109.Quick reference: typically no comma
Typical cases:
simple coordination with und / oder
non-coordinate adjectives
ordinary constituent
close part of a multi-part predicate
With independent clauses linked by und/oder, a comma may be possible for clarity.
110.Quick reference: analysis-dependent cases
Check especially carefully:
unexpanded zu-infinitive
versuchen / beabsichtigen / probieren etc.
formulaic reduced expressions
participial groups
adjective groups
postposed reduced explanations
Here punctuation may reflect the chosen syntactic analysis.
111.Core principle
The most reliable question is not:
Where do I hear a pause?
but:
Which grammatical units meet here?
If you recognise clause boundaries, additions, and enumerations, most commas become systematic.
112.Summary
Key rules:
1. Subordinate clauses are delimited with commas.
2. Relative clauses follow the same boundary logic.
3. Expanded clause-like zu-infinitive groups are delimited under the current rules.
4. Unexpanded infinitives and multi-part predicates require closer analysis.
5. Coordinate list items without a linking conjunction are separated by commas.
6. Simple und/oder in ordinary coordination does not normally take a comma.
7. aber and sondern take a comma in coordination.
8. Embedded additions usually require two commas.
9. When several structures overlap, their boundaries apply simultaneously.
10. Grammatical structure matters more than spoken pauses.