Mastering German Consecutive Clauses: "sodass" and "so...dass"

Introduction

Understanding different types of clauses is essential for mastering German sentence structure. One such type is the German Consecutive Clauses (Konsekutivsätze),which express a consequence or result of an action. This article will delve into what consecutive clauses are, how to use them, the difference between sodass and so ... dass, and how they differ from causal clauses.

What Are German Consecutive Clauses (Konsekutivsätze)?

Consecutive clauses in German are subordinate clauses that describe the outcome or consequence of the action stated in the main clause. They are typically introduced by conjunctions like sodass (so that) or the combination so ... dass (so... that).

Key Characteristics

Express a result or consequence.
Connected to the main clause using specific conjunctions.
Affect the word order in the sentence.

Examples of German Consecutive Clauses

Below are examples of consecutive clauses using both sodass and so ... dass, along with their English translations:

German Sentence	English Translation
Es regnete stark, sodass wir zu Hause blieben.	It rained heavily, so that we stayed at home.
Es regnete so stark, dass wir zu Hause blieben.	It rained so heavily that we stayed at home.
Er sprach leise, sodass niemand ihn hörte.	He spoke softly, so that no one heard him.
Er sprach so leise, dass niemand ihn hörte.	He spoke so softly that no one heard him.
Sie hat viel gelernt, sodass sie die Prüfung bestand.	She studied a lot, so that she passed the exam.
Sie hat so viel gelernt, dass sie die Prüfung bestand.	She studied so much that she passed the exam.
Der Film war spannend, sodass wir nicht einschliefen.	The movie was exciting, so that we didn't fall asleep.
Der Film war so spannend, dass wir nicht einschliefen.	The movie was so exciting that we didn't fall asleep.
Es war kalt, sodass wir das Fenster schlossen.	It was cold, so that we closed the window.
Es war so kalt, dass wir das Fenster schlossen.	It was so cold that we closed the window.

How to Use German Consecutive Clauses

Consecutive clauses are used to show the result of an action mentioned in the main clause. They are introduced by the conjunction sodass or the combination so ... dass. The choice between them can slightly alter the emphasis in the sentence.

Using "sodass"

The conjunction sodass is a compound word formed from so (so) and dass (that) and is used to introduce a consequence directly.

Example:

Das Wetter war schlecht, sodass wir zu Hause blieben. (The weather was bad, so we stayed at home.)

Using "so ... dass"

The structure so ... dass separates so and dass, allowing you to modify an adjective or adverb in the main clause, emphasizing the degree to which something happened.

Example:

Das Wetter war so schlecht, dass wir zu Hause blieben. (The weather was so bad that we stayed at home.)

Difference Between "sodass" and "so ... dass"

Student learning about German Consecutive Clauses in a classroom while using a laptop, focused on understanding grammar structures.

While both sodass and so ... dass are used to express consequences, there is a subtle difference:

"sodass"

Using sodass focuses on the consequence as a direct result of the main clause without necessarily emphasizing the degree or intensity.

Example:

Er hat viel gearbeitet, sodass er müde war. - He worked a lot, so that he was tired.

"so ... dass"

Using so ... dass emphasizes the intensity or degree of the action in the main clause that leads to the consequence.

Example:

Er hat so viel gearbeitet, dass er müde war. - He worked so much that he was tired.

Word Order in German Consecutive Clauses

In consecutive clauses, the conjugated verb moves to the end of the clause, following the rules of subordinate clauses in German.

Structure:

Main Clause + Conjunction + Subordinate Clause (Verb at the end)

Example with "sodass":

Sie tanzte die ganze Nacht, sodass sie müde war.

Example with "so ... dass":

Sie tanzte so lange, dass sie müde war.

For more on German word order, visit our article on German Word Order.

Causal Clauses vs. Consecutive Clauses

It's important to distinguish between causal clauses (Kausalsätze) and consecutive clauses (Konsekutivsätze),as they serve different functions.

Causal Clauses (Kausalsätze)

Causal clauses express the reason or cause of an action and are introduced by conjunctions like weil (because) or da (since).

Example:

Wir blieben zu Hause, weil es regnete. - We stayed home because it was raining.

Consecutive Clauses (Konsekutivsätze)

Consecutive clauses express the result or consequence of an action, using conjunctions like sodass or so ... dass.

Example:

Es regnete, sodass wir zu Hause blieben. - It was raining, so that we stayed home.

Notice the difference:

Causal Clause: Focuses on the cause.
Consecutive Clause: Focuses on the effect.

Learn more about causal clauses in our article on German Causal Clauses.

Conclusion

German consecutive clauses are essential for expressing consequences or results of actions. By understanding how to use sodass and so ... dass, you can create more nuanced and precise sentences. Remember to pay attention to word order, as the verb in the subordinate clause moves to the end.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a consecutive clause in German?

A consecutive clause (Konsekutivsatz) is a subordinate clause that expresses the consequence or result of the action in the main clause.

What's the difference between "sodass" and "so ... dass"?

Both are used to express consequences, but sodass introduces the consequence directly, while so ... dass emphasizes the degree or intensity of the action leading to the consequence.

How does word order change in consecutive clauses?

In consecutive clauses, the conjugated verb moves to the end of the clause, following the rules for subordinate clauses in German.

Which conjunctions are used in German consecutive clauses?

The most common conjunctions are sodass and the combination so ... dass.

Can I use commas with consecutive clauses?

Yes, consecutive clauses are typically separated from the main clause with a comma.