Subordinating Conjunctions - Part 2

I. Recap

As discussed in another lesson, subordinating conjunctions connect a main clause to a subordinate clause. A clause is similar to a sentence in that it contains a subject and predicate. Subordinate clauses do not function independently like sentences do. This lesson focuses specifically on additional subordinating conjunctions found in German while the most frequent are discussed in a different lesson.

II. Additional Subordinating Conjunctions

Als ob

Like in English, this conjunction conveys how something seems though, in reality, it is usually the contrary.

Der Verkäufer tat, als ob er mich gut kannte. The salesman acted as if he knew me well.

Bevor

Bevor is used to introduce a subordinate clause, while the preposition vor is used in other situations (i.e. before nouns).

Bevor wir heute anfangen, haben Sie noch Fragen? Before we begin today, do you have any questions?

But:

Vor der Konferenz saßen wir im Kaffeehaus. Before the conference, we sat in the coffee shop.

Bis

Like until in English, bis is used to indicate the time when something will happen.

Ich belege Deutschkurse, bis ich die Sprache fließend sprechen kann. I am taking German courses until I can speak the language fluently.

Nachdem

Like bevor, nachdem is used to introduce a new clause, where the preposition nach is used before nouns.

Nachdem wir in Berlin angekommen sind, mieten wir ein Auto. After we have arrived in Berlin, we will rent a car.

But:

Nach unserer Ankunft in Berlin mieten wir ein Auto. After our arrival in Berlin, we will rent a car.

Da

Da describes the environment leading up to a situation.

Da wir uns seit dem Uniabschluss nicht mehr gesehen haben, treffen wir uns diesen Sommer in Paris. Since we haven’t seen one another since graduation, we are meeting in Paris this summer.

Damit

Damit gives the purpose of doing something, where sodass gives the result of an action.

Wir sind mit dem Zug durch Russland gefahren, damit wir die Landschaft sehen konnten. We took the train through Russia so that we could see the landscape.

Solange

Solange provides the limitations of a situation.

Solange du mich abholen kannst, komme ich mit. As long as you can pick me up, I will come along.

Sobald

Sobald provides the point at which an event will begin.

Ich nehme Kontakt mit Ihnen auf, sobald ich etwas erfahren habe. I will contact you as soon as I have found out.