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Grammar notes
All six connectors here are subordinating (verb to the end), split into two groups.
Conditions
| Word | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| falls | A condition, close to wenn but framed as "in case" | Falls es regnet, nehmen wir einen Regenschirm mit. |
| sofern | A condition, more formal, often "provided that / insofar as" | Sofern nichts dazwischenkommt, treffen wir uns um acht. |
| außer wenn | An exception to the rule ("except if / unless") | Wir gehen spazieren, außer wenn es regnet. |
Purpose and result
| Word | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| damit | The purpose or intention behind an action ("so that") | Ich spreche laut, damit alle mich hören können. |
| sodass | The result or consequence of an action, not the intention | Er hat laut geschrien, sodass alle ihn hören konnten. |
| indem | The means or method used to do something ("by doing X") | Er verbessert sein Deutsch, indem er jeden Tag liest. |
The classic trap is damit vs. sodass: damit answers "why did you do that on purpose?", while sodass answers "what happened as a result?" — compare Ich flüstere, damit er nicht aufwacht (so that he doesn't wake up — that's the goal) with Ich war so laut, sodass er aufwachte (so loud that he woke up — that's just what happened).
Falls, Damit, Sodass & More: Condition and Purpose
How many words this round?
24 words available · each round is a random pick, so replaying covers different ones.