Commas in German: The Stops Along the Way

Please note: The grammar rules, spelling conventions, and examples in this article refer specifically to the German language and are intended for use in German-language primary school classrooms.

In German, the comma is not optional punctuation — it is a grammatical marker governed by clear rules. For primary school children, these rules can feel arbitrary. The bus stop metaphor helps: a comma is where the sentence pauses to let someone on or off.

German comma rules differ from English

English comma usage is relatively flexible; German usage is not. In German, commas are required in specific grammatical situations, including before subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions such as weil (because), dass (that), wenn (when/if), and obwohl (although). Understanding when to place a comma requires recognising sentence structure.

The bus stop metaphor

Present the sentence as a bus route. The main clause is the through-route. Subordinate clauses are side streets the bus visits before returning to the main road. The comma is the stop sign — it marks where the bus pauses, picks up extra information, and continues. Children who can hear the pause in speech can often find where the comma belongs.

Reading aloud for comma sense

Ask children to read a sentence aloud and notice where they naturally pause. In many cases, a natural breathing pause corresponds to a comma. This is not a foolproof rule — German grammar does not always align with speech rhythm — but it is a useful starting intuition that can be refined later.

Enumerations

Commas in lists (enumerations) are more intuitive: Ich kaufe Äpfel, Birnen, Bananen und Orangen. Children can see and feel the separation. Start with list commas as an accessible entry point before introducing the more complex rules around clauses.

Practice in context

Grammar rules learned in isolation fade. Practise comma placement in real writing tasks — children's own stories and sentences — rather than only in worksheets. When a child encounters a comma question in their own text, the stakes feel real, and the rule is more likely to be remembered.