Subordinating conjunctions in German. Subordinate clauses in German

To It is designated in two ways in German. Compare:

Er geht nach Deutschland, um Deutsch zu lernen. – He is going to Germany to learn German.

Ich schenke ihm ein deutsches Buch, damit er deutsche Literatur im Original liest. – I give him a German book so that he can read German literature in the original.

In the second case, we have two sentences, the second of them is a subordinate clause with an introductory word damit (to). In the first case, there is one simple sentence, because there is only one agent (one subject): He's going to learn German. Here is a special infinitive (the verb is in an indefinite form) phrase with the word um (to). A zu is placed, as you remember, before the second verb in the sentence.

So, if there is only one actor, If He goes and aka will teach- Then um , and if there are two actors, if I give I to read He– Then damit.

However, damit has the right to be used in any case:

Wir beeilten uns, um den Zug nicht zu verpassen. – We were in a hurry so as not to miss the train.

Wir beeilten uns, damit wir den Zug nicht verpassten. – We were in a hurry so that we wouldn’t miss the train.

A um is possible only when the actor is alone.

The exception is sentences with verbs schicken, senden (to send)- it’s possible in them um even when the actors are different:

Ich habe die Kinder zum Bäcker geschickt, um Brötchen zu holen. – I sent the children to the baker to bring buns (for buns).

There are two more infinitive phrases similar to the phrase with um- with the word ohne (without, without) and with the word (an)statt (instead of):

Er geht nach Deutschland, ohne die Sprache zu lernen. – He goes to Germany without learning (literally: without learning) the language.

Klaus ist in die Berge gefahren, (an)statt sich um seine Arbeit zu kümmern. – Klaus went to the mountains, not caring (instead of caring) about work.

Here there is also one subject (one agent). When the second figure appears, these phrases turn into subordinate clauses, adding dass. Since we are talking about an unreal, unfulfilled action, it is possible to use Konjunktiv 2:

ohne dass sein Studium beendet war/ were.

Er musste aus dem Ausland zurückkehren, anstatt dass seine Eltern ihn zu Ende studieren ließen. “He had to return from abroad instead of his parents giving him the opportunity to finish his studies.

Ohne dass ich was gesagt hätte, fing sie an zu weinen. – (Although) I didn’t say anything, she started crying.

Note also the infinitive phrase with als:

Der Junge hat nichts / etwas anderes im Kopf, als mit dem Motorrad herum zu fahren. - The guy has nothing else/something else on my mind other than (literally: than) driving around on a motorcycle.

But what should he actually do? This can also be indicated using als, as well as what should not:

Er tut alles andere, als sich auf die Prüfung vor zu bereiten. – He is not preparing for the exam at all (literally: he is doing everything other than preparing for the exam).

Try it yourself:

Make up sentences with damit or with um…zu:

Ich will meine eigene Firma gründen. Ich arbeite selbständig. – I want to found my own company. I work independently.

Ich mache meinen Sohn zum Vertreter unserer Firma in China. Er arbeitet selbständig. – I will make my son a representative of our company in China. ...

Er bucht für seine Frau eine Reise in die Berge. Sie fährt Ski. – He orders a trip to the mountains for his wife. She goes skiing.

Wir reisen in die Berge. Wir fahren Ski. - We're going to the mountains. ...

Ich wecke meine Tochter um sechs Uhr. Sie kommt rechtzeitig in die Schule. – I wake up my daughter at six o’clock. She comes to school on time.

Ich stehe um sechs Uhr auf. Ich komme rechtzeitig zur Arbeit. – I get up at six o’clock. I come to work on time.

Sie lernt Englisch. Sie kann (< – können) im Ausland arbeiten. – Она учит английский. Она может работать за границей.

Agnes bringt ihrer Freundin Englisch bei. Sie kann im Ausland arbeiten. Agnes is teaching her friend English. ...

Ich kaufe mir dieses Buch. Ich fühle mich sicherer in deutscher Sprache. – I buy/will buy myself this book. I feel more confident in German.

Mein Onkel hat mir dieses Buch geschenkt. Ich fühle mich sicherer in deutscher Sprache. – My uncle gave me this book. ...

Ich fahre meine Gäste zum Bahnhof. Sie kommen schneller in die Stadt. – I’ll take the guests to the station. They will get to the city faster.

Ich fahre mit dem Taxi. Ich komme schneller in die Stadt. - I'll take a taxi. I'll get to the city quickly.

Mein Chef lässt mich sein Auto kontrollieren. Er hat im Urlaub keinen Ärger. – The boss instructs me to check his (his) car. He won't have any troubles on vacation.

Ich lasse mein Auto kontrollieren. Ich habe im Urlaub keinen Ärger. - I'll let you check my car. I won't have any troubles on vacation.

Ich gehe einkaufen. Ich habe am Wochenende etwas zu essen. – I’ll go to the store (to buy). I'll have something to eat on the weekend.

Meine Frau geht einkaufen. Ich habe am Wochenende etwas zu essen. — My wife is going to the store. I'll have something to eat on the weekend.

Say in German:

She wants to work abroad without learning English. I work independently, without founding my own company. I work independently, although (without) my uncle making me a representative of our company in China.

He goes skiing instead of studying English.

I'll go to the mountains instead of going to work. Agnes teaches her friend English instead of her studying the language abroad.

She has only one thing on her mind: skiing/Learn Engish.

He does whatever he wants instead of learning English.

Lesson #23. Expressing purpose: constructions Infinitiv+zu, um..zu, damit

Today we have a very interesting topic, we will analyze the designs Infinitive + zu, and also the design um...zu and union damit. Why is the topic interesting? Because there always comes a time when you get tired of speaking in simple phrases. I would like to build beautiful, more voluminous and meaningful proposals. And here we often have the question of how such proposals are constructed. And just the designs Infinitive + zu And um..zu are very often used in such sentences.

The construction “um..zu + Infinitiv” or the conjunction “damit”?

Translated into Russian, they are identical.

um...zu = damit= in order to

However, in terms of German grammar there is a big difference. When do we use the construction um..zu + Infinitiv? When the subject of the main clause and the subject of the subordinate clause are the same. For example:

Er treibt regelmäßig Sport. Er will gesund bleiben.
Wozu treibt er regelmäßig Sport? Er treibt regelmäßig Sport, um gesund zu bleiben.

Er treibt Sport.- He plays sports. And he wants to be healthy. Er will gesund bleiben.
The question we ask in this case is: Why? For what purpose? Wozu?

Accordingly, the complex sentence that we can construct is Er treibt regelmäßig Sport, um gesund zu bleiben.

Now, look, there is only one subject here - Er, that is, the subject He. He plays sports, and He wants to be healthy. Therefore, we can introduce the construction “um..zu + Infinitiv”.

We contrast this with the conjunction “damit”

Damit are used if the subject of the main clause and the subject of the subordinate clause do not coincide, that is, they are different subjects.

Ich treibe regelmäßig Sport. Meine Kinder sollen ein gutes Vorbild haben.
Ich ≠ meine Kinder
Ich treibe regelmäßig Sport, damit meine Kinder ein gutes Vorbild haben.

Ich treibe regelmäßig Sport, damit meine Kinder ein gutes Vorbild haben. — I play sports regularly so that my children have a good example to follow.

That is, we have two different subjects: Me and My children. Accordingly, according to the rule, we do not have the right to use the construction “um..zu + Infinitiv”.
We are putting an alliance damit.

From the point of view of word order, both in the first variant, when we use the construction “um..zu + Infinitiv”, and in the second variant, when we use the conjunction “damit”, the word order is normal. That is, in the main sentence everything is as usual. Subject, predicate then additional members of the sentence and in the subordinate clause too. The only thing is that Infinitiv, of course, comes at the end.

Infinitiv + zu design

This construction is called an infinitive phrase.

Let's look at examples:

Ich schlage vor, eine Reise nach Moskau zu machen. — I suggest taking a trip to Moscow
Ich habe vergessen, Brot und Milch zu kaufen.- I forgot to buy milk and bread.

Everything is very similar to how we speak Russian. The difference with German is that the Infinitive construction in German will be used with zu, that is zu + Infinitive. And, of course, according to the rule, the Infinitive in the subordinate clause will appear at the end of the sentence.

More examples:

Wir haben Zeit, in die Schule zu Fuß zu gehen.- We have time to walk to school.
Ich habe eine schöne Möglichkeit, meine Zukunft selbständig zu schaffen.- I have a great opportunity to create my own future.

Construction: Es ist + adjective

Used with adjectives “interessant”, “schön”, “leicht” and others.

For example:

Es ist interessant, etwas Neues zu erfahren. - It’s interesting to learn something new.

Now let's talk about when the particle ZU is not used

1. After all modal verbs: können, dürfen, müssen, sollen, wollen, mögen.

Ich kann diesen Text übersetzen.- I can translate this text.

2. After the verb werden, when using the future tense.

Ich werde dieses Buch nicht lesen.- I won't read this book.

3. After verbs of motion: gehen, kommen, laufen, springen, fahren, fliegen, schwimmen, reisen, rennen and some others.

Wir gehen unsere Oma be suchen.- We are going to visit our grandmother.

4. After the following verbs:
- sehen, hören, fühlen (verbs of sensations)
- lehren, lernen, helfen

Der Lehrer lehrt die Kinder lesen und schreiben.- The teacher teaches children to read and write.

In short, I gave you a basic idea of ​​this topic. Of course, you need to divide it into parts and train each separately. To understand in which case to use “um..zu + Infinitiv” and in which conjunction “damit”. And, of course, I advise you to try to use more complex options and thus make your speech in German richer and more competent.

Subordinate clauses of purpose answer the question “Wozu?” (For what?) and “Zu welchem ​​Zweck?” (For what purpose?).

If both parts of the sentence talk about the same subject, then the subordinate clause of the goal is connected to the main clause with the conjunction “um”, followed by all other members of the sentence, and the infinitive with “zu” appears at the end of the sentence.

Ich(= I) = ich(= I)

• Ich lerne fleißig Deutsch. Ich will in Deutschland studieren.
  I'm studying German hard. I want to study in Germany.
• Ich lerne fleißig Deutsch, um in Germany zu studieren.
  I am studying German hard so that I can study in Germany.

• Zwei Škoda-Automechaniker fahren in ein einsames, österreichisches Alpendorf, um Ski zu fahren.
  Two Škoda auto mechanics travel to a secluded Austrian Alpine village to go skiing.

In a sentence with “um…zu” the modal verb “wollen” is not used.

• Laura sieht sich oft Filme an. Sie will mit den Freunden darüber reden.
  Laura often watches films. She wants to talk about it with her friends.
• Laura sieht sich oft Filme an, um will mit den Freunden darüber zu reden.
  Laura often watches films to talk about it with friends.

If both parts of the sentence have different subjects, then the subordinate clause of the goal (Finalsatz) is connected to the main clause with the conjunction “damit”. After the conjunction, there is a subordinate clause (subject + other members of the sentence + predicate at the end).

Ich(= I) ≠ my Chef(= My boss)

• Ich lerne fleißig Deutsch. Mein Chef soll zufrieden sein.
  I'm studying German. My boss should be pleased.
• Ich lerne fleißig Deutsch, damit mein Chef zufrieden ist.
  I'm learning German to make my boss happy.

After studying the material in this lesson, you will be able to:

• find out where registration takes place
• ask when the meeting opens
• find out when sections meet
• ask where to find the section leader

Learn words and expressions for dialogue

die Tagung T A: gun(g) meeting, session	Die Tagung findet morgen statt. The session will take place tomorrow.
vertical theater e: heating element introduce	Welche Firma vertreten Sie? What company do you represent?
die Wirtschaft V And RTshaft economics, economy	Wir vertreten die Wirtschaft. We represent the economy.
das Institute institute y: T institute	Er studiert in einem Institut. He studies at the institute.
sich anmelden zikh A nmelden sign up, register	Sie müssen sich anmelden. You must register.
die Information information O: n information	Wo bekomme ich diese Information? Where can I get this information?
das Büro bureau O: bureau, office	Wo ist das Bureau der Firma? Where is the company office?
eröffnen e(a/r)b e fnen open	Wann wird die Ausstellung eröffnet? When does the exhibition open?
die Section zektsy O: n section	Ich interessiere mich für Section 2. I'm interested in section 2.
die Sitzung h And tsun(g) meeting	Die Sitzung ist eröffnet. The meeting is declared open.
tagen T A: gen sit	Wann tagt die Sektion 4? When does Section 4 meet?
der Leiter l A yta supervisor	Kann ich den Leiter sprechen? Can I talk to the manager?
die Pause P A use break	Wollen wir eine Pause machen! Let's take a break!
die Wissenschaft V And sunshaft the science	Er ist ein Mann der Wissenschaft. He is a man of science.
warum var at m Why	Ich weiß nicht, warum das so ist. I don't know why this is so.
been den bae uh nden end	Die Tagung ist beendet. The session is over.

Pay attention to the form and use of words

From the verb (sich)anmelden“to register)”, “to register” can be formed as a noun die Anmeldung“registration”, and sometimes “pass office” (at the entrance to any institution, factory, etc.). Expression Ich bin angemeldet is translated “I have an appointment.”, “I have agreed (to visit).,” “They are waiting for me.”:

Hat Dr. Hirsch Sprechstunde? - Fragen Sie bei der Anmeldung.
Is Dr. Hirsch accepting? - Ask at the reception.
Sind Sie angemeldet? You Deal(about admission)? (Offers?)

Nouns die Tagung And die Sitzung are translated “meeting” and are often used in the same context. Word die Tagung means “meeting”, “session” lasting several days, while the word die Sitzung“meeting” means a one-time work of any body:

die Tagung der UNO

UN session

die Sitzung des Vorstandes

board meeting

Unlike the verb öffnen“open” (door, book, window, etc.), verb eröffnen means “to open” (a meeting, an exhibition, etc., as well as something for the first time: a museum, a stadium, etc.).

Remember the following word formation method (2)

die Wirtschaft + -lieh = wirtschaftlich economic, economic
die Wissenschaft + -lieh = wissenschaftlich scientific

Practice reading individual words

Vor der Tagung

S.	Guten Tag! Ich vertrete ein Wirtschaftsinstitut. Wo ist die Anmeldung?
A.	Im Erdgeschoß links.
S.	Wo bekomme ich das Arbeitsprogramm?
A.	Im Informationsburo.
S.	Wann wird die Tagung eröffnet?
A.	Morgen um 10 Uhr.
S.	Wann finden die Sektionssitzungen statt?
A.	Die Sektionen tagen mittwochs bis freitags.
S.	Wo finde ich den Leiter der Sektion 3?
A.	Er fehlt im Augenblick.
S.	Wann findet die Tagung der Sektion 3 statt?
A.	Am ersten Arbeitstag nach der Pause.

Grammar explanations

You already know that the indefinite form of a verb (infinitive), referring to another verb (except modal), noun or adjective, is used with a particle zu and can form an infinitive group, usually separated by a comma ( see lesson 3, lesson 2):

Ich habe versucht, den Flug für den Montag zu buchen.
I have tried order air ticket for Monday.

If the infinitive group expresses the purpose of the action, then it is used with the word um“so that”, which comes at the beginning of the group:

Ich rufe die Auskunft an, um nach der Abfahrt des Zuges zu fragen.

I'm calling the information desk to ask about the departure of the train.

Um zu tanken, fahre ich zur Tankstelle.

To refuel, I'm going to the gas station.

Design with um used in cases where the infinitive group implies the same character as in the main clause:

Wir müssen uns beeilen, um den Zug nach Munich zu Schaffen.
We must hurry up to be on time on the Munich train.
(We hurry up and We we want to be on time)

In cases where different subjects are implied, instead of the infinitive group, the subordinate clause of the goal with the conjunction is used damit"to":

Ich hole ihn ab, damit er den Letzten Zug schafft.
I I'll pick him up to he managed on the last train.
(I I'll stop by to He managed)

In subordinate clauses with a conjunction damit The present tense of the verb is used.

Translation of the conjunction “so that” into German

He said, to We booked our flight ticket this week.
Er sagte, dass wir den Flug noch an dieser Woche buchen sollen.

We're going to the station to meet our comrades.
Wir fahren zum Bahnhof, um unsere Kollegen abzuholen.

I called the workshop to they towed my car.
Ich rief die Werkstatt an, damit sie meinen Wagen abschleppen.

1. You do not know when the meeting (session, etc.) opens. Ask. What answer would you give if you were the other person?

2. You are asked why you are going to the information office. Answer. What question would you ask if you were the other person?

3. They ask you why you need to go to the gas station. Answer. What question would you ask if you were the other person?

4. You are asked if a certain document is ready. Answer in the negative. What would you ask if you were your interlocutor?

The order of words in the main clause in both compound and complex sentences, with the exception of some nuances, coincides with the word order of a simple sentence.

Compound Sentences

As in Russian, a compound sentence in German consists of two equal sentences connected by a coordinating conjunction. The word order in all sentences coincides with the word order of the simple sentence. Coordinating conjunctions such as und, aber, denn, oder, sondern do not take up space in the sentence and do not affect the word order of the sentence they introduce:

Die Eltern fahren nach Italien und die Tante sorgt für die Kinder. — The parents are leaving for Italy, and the aunt will look after the children.

After these conjunctions, as in any simple sentence, inversion can be observed:

Die Eltern fahren nach Italien und für die Kinder sorgt die Tante. — The parents are leaving for Italy, and their aunt will look after the children.

However, there are coordinating conjunctions that affect the order of words in the sentence they lead, since they occupy a place in the sentence, i.e. are its full member. Such unions include : darum, trotzdem, folglich, dann, anderseits, sonst and some others. Since they are an equal member of the sentence, in the sentence they introduce they can occupy not only the very first position, but also the position following the conjugated part of the predicate:

Franz hatte sich sehr beeilt, trotzdem kam er zu spät. — Franz was in a hurry, but still he arrived too late.

Franz hatte sich sehr beeilt, er kam trotzdem zu spät. — Franz was in a hurry, but he still arrived too late.

You can link a whole series of statements into a complex sentence. And if they are connected by an alliance und and the subject of these sentences coincides, it may not be repeated. But if the subject in the statement is not in first place, which happens with inversion, then its use is necessary:

Here the subject in the second sentence can be omitted:

Er h ö rte nur kurz zu und war sofort dagegen. - He just This

Here the subject in the second sentence is necessary:

Er h ö rte nur kurz zu und sofort war er dagegen . — He just This I listened and was immediately against it.

In general, all the rules for the word order of a simple sentence are equally valid for each part of a complex sentence with any conjunctions, but you just need to remember about the conjunctions that are full members of the sentence they introduce.

Complex sentences

Complex sentences consist of a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses dependent on it. Subordinate clauses form a single whole with the main one and, as a rule, are not used separately from it.

From a grammatical point of view, subordinate clauses are complete, i.e. they always contain a subject and a predicate. Even if the subject in a subordinate clause coincides with the subject of the main clause, it cannot be omitted.

The subordinate clause is attached to the main clause with the help of subordinating conjunctions, which give the sentence a certain meaning.

The main types of subordinate clauses in German along with their corresponding conjunctions
Subordinate clause type	main unions
subordinate clauses of time	wenn, als, während, solange, bevor, nachdem, sobald, bis sei, seitdem
subordinate clauses of reason	weil,da,zumal
conditional clauses	wenn, falls
subordinate clauses of consequence	so yes; so..., yes
concessive subordinate clauses	obwohl, obgleich, obschon, wenn… auch noch so
subordinate clauses of manner of action	wie, als; je..., desto; indem
subordinate clauses of purpose	damit; um…zu
relative clauses	der, wem, wesse, etc.

In subordinate clauses, the subject usually comes after the conjunction, and the conjugated part predicate is at the end of the sentence. The order of the other members of the sentence is the same as in a simple common sentence:

Die Zerstörungen waren so groß, so dass das Land andrere Nationen um Hilfe gebeten hat . — The destruction was so great that the country asked for help from other countries.

Subordinate clauses can appear either after or before the main clause.

The subordinate clause comes after the main clause:

Er schrieb seiner Tante, als er Geld brauchte. — He wrote to his aunt when he needed money.

The subordinate clause comes before the main clause:

Als er Geld brauchte, schrieb er seiner Tante. — When he needed money, he wrote to his aunt.

If the subordinate clause precedes the main clause, then in the main clause the conjugated part of the predicate comes immediately after the decimal point, and the subject is in third (or fourth place). In this case, the subordinate clause is, as it were, one member of the main clause, standing in first place, and thus inversion takes place in the main clause.

Just like in a simple sentence, the pronoun in the subordinate clause is placed, if possible, at the beginning of the sentence - immediately after the conjunction:

Wenn dir die Wohnung nicht gef ä llt , brauchst du sie nicht zu nehmen. - If you don’t like the apartment, then you have no reason to agree to rent it.

Subordinate clauses can also refer not only to the main clause, but also to another subordinate clause or infinitive group:

Er ärgerte sich, weil sie ihn nicht begrüßtte, als er ankam. “He got angry because she didn’t greet him when he came in.”

Der Besucher fürchtet, die Gastgäber zu kränken, wenn er das Hammelfleisch zurückweist. — The guest is afraid that he will offend the host if he refuses the lamb dish.

Infinitive phrases

The German language has special infinitive phrases um...zu, ohne...zu, anstatt...zu, which are independent subordinate constructions and largely determine the meaning of the infinitive phrase they introduce.

Infinitive phrase um…zu names a goal, intention, desire:

Ich fahre nach München, um dort zu studieren - I'm going to Munich to study there

Infinitive phrase ohne...zu means that the expected action does not occur or has not occurred:

Er verließ die Party, ohne sich zu verabschieden. — He left the party without saying goodbye.

Infinitive phrase anstatt…zu means that someone behaves differently than usual:

Er ging ins Ausland, anstatt das Geschäaft seines Vaters zu übernehmen - He went abroad instead of taking over his father's business.

Such infinitive phrases do not have their own subject. They refer to the designation of a person or thing in the main clause, serving as the subject. They can appear either before or after the main clause:

Er verließ seine Heimat, um im Ausland zu studieren - He left his homeland to study abroad.

Um im Ausland zu studieren verließ er seine Heimat - He left his homeland to study abroad.

But if the subject of the main and subordinate constructions are different, then not an infinitive phrase is used, but a full-fledged subordinate clause with conjunctions damit, ohne...das, anstatt...dass.

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