wegen
Meaning and Usage
"Wegen" is a preposition in German which means "because of" or "due to." It is commonly used to explain the reason for an action or a situation.
Linguistic Analysis
The word "wegen" does not have any prefix, root, or suffix, as it is a standalone preposition. It originated from the Middle High German "wegen" which means "towards."
Comparisons between German and English
The word "wegen" in German is similar in meaning to the English "because of" or "due to." However, in English, the preposition "because of" is always followed by a noun or a gerund, while "wegen" in German is followed by a noun in the genitive case.
Example Sentences
- Ich kann nicht kommen wegen des schlechten Wetters. (I can't come because of the bad weather.)
- Er hat wegen seiner Krankheit nicht arbeiten können. (He couldn't work due to his illness.)
Memory Tips
Associate "wegen" with the English phrase "because of" to remember its meaning and usage.
Additional Vocabulary
- Aufgrund von (due to)
- Auslöser (cause)
- Grund (reason)
Gender and Plural (for nouns)
"Wegen" is a preposition and does not have a gender or plural form.
Conjugation (for verbs)
Not applicable.