dennoch/trotzdem

"dennoch" and "trotzdem" (contrast)

"dennoch" and "trotzdem" (nevertheless) are connector adverbs. They express a contrast: something happens although you would expect the opposite. They often stand in position 1, followed by the verb (position 2).

Careful – verb position: because "trotzdem/dennoch" is an adverb (not a subordinating connector), the verb comes right after it: Trotzdem gingen wir … (not "…, trotzdem wir gingen").

Note:

• Meaning ≈ "obwohl" (although), but different word order.
• "obwohl" introduces a subordinate clause (verb at the end); "trotzdem/dennoch" is an adverb (verb in position 2).

Common mistakes

• ❌ Trotzdem wir gingen spazieren. → ✅ Trotzdem gingen wir spazieren. (adverb → verb in position 2).
• ❌ Obwohl es regnete, trotzdem gingen wir. → ✅ Obwohl es regnete, gingen wir. / Es regnete. Trotzdem gingen wir. (don't use both together).

Examples:

• Er hatte wenig Zeit. Trotzdem half er mir. (He had little time. Nevertheless he helped me.)
• Die Aufgabe war schwer. Dennoch löste sie das Kind. (The task was hard. Nevertheless the child solved it.)
• Es war teuer. Trotzdem kauften wir es. (It was expensive. We bought it anyway.)