German · B1 · Family moment
Friends Again Soon in German
Use these gentle German phrases to help your child reconnect after a disagreement. Sobald means “as soon as” and links a next step to the moment someone feels ready or something happens.
What you'll learn
- Suggest kind, practical steps for repairing a friendship.
- Use sobald to say that one action follows immediately after another.
- Place the finite verb at the end of a sobald clause.
- Use German present-tense forms to talk about future plans.
German phrases for friends again soon
Sobald du dich ruhiger fühlst, können wir über den Streit sprechen.
As soon as you feel calmer, we can talk about the argument.
Sich ruhiger fühlen means “to feel calmer.” With du, use dich.
Ich höre dir zu, sobald du bereit bist, es zu erklären.
I'll listen as soon as you are ready to explain.
Jemandem zuhören means “to listen to someone.” Use dir for “to you.” Bist ends the core sobald clause; the infinitive phrase es zu erklären follows it.
Sobald wir deinen Freund am Schultor sehen, kannst du dich entschuldigen.
As soon as we see your friend at the school gate, you can say sorry.
Sich entschuldigen means “to apologize” or “to say sorry.” For a female friend, use deine Freundin instead of deinen Freund.
Du kannst fragen, ob du noch mal dran sein darfst, sobald das Spiel zu Ende ist.
You can ask for another turn as soon as the game ends.
Noch mal dran sein means “to have another turn.” The ob clause gives the question your child can ask: whether they may have another turn.
Sobald dein Freund kommt, kannst du erklären, was dich geärgert hat.
As soon as your friend arrives, you can explain what upset you.
Was dich geärgert hat means “what upset or annoyed you.” For a female friend, use deine Freundin.
Wir machen ein neues Treffen zum Spielen aus, sobald ihr euch beide bereit dazu fühlt.
We'll arrange another playdate as soon as both of you feel ready.
Ein Treffen zum Spielen is a natural way to describe a playdate. Ihr addresses both children; euch belongs to the reflexive verb sich fühlen.
Sobald ihr euch auf die Regeln einigt, könnt ihr wieder anfangen.
As soon as you agree on the rules, you can start again.
Sich auf etwas einigen means “to agree on something.” Here, ihr and euch refer to both children.
Ich helfe dir, eine nette Nachricht zu schreiben, sobald wir zu Hause sind.
I'll help you write a kind message as soon as we get home.
Sobald wir zu Hause sind literally means “as soon as we are home.” This is a natural way to express “as soon as we get home.”
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
der Streit
argument; quarrel
Über den Streit sprechen means “to talk about the argument.”
zuhören
to listen
A separable verb: Ich höre dir zu. The person listening to is expressed in the dative.
sich entschuldigen
to apologize; to say sorry
Say Du kannst dich entschuldigen when speaking to your child.
dran sein
to have a turn; to be someone's turn
Common conversational German: Du bist dran means “It's your turn.”
ausmachen
to arrange; to agree on
For plans, use it as in Wir machen ein Treffen aus: “We're arranging a meeting.”
sich auf etwas einigen
to agree on something
Use auf with the accusative: Ihr einigt euch auf die Regeln.
bereit
ready
Bereit sein means “to be ready”; sich bereit fühlen means “to feel ready.”
Sobald: as soon as
Sobald introduces a time clause. It shows that the main action can happen as soon as the condition or event in that clause occurs. Put the finite verb—the verb that changes with the subject—at the end of the sobald clause.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Basic pattern | sobald + subject + other words + finite verb | sobald du dich ruhiger fühlst |
| With sein | sobald + subject + description + form of sein | sobald das Spiel zu Ende ist |
| With a plural subject | sobald + ihr + euch + other words + finite verb | sobald ihr euch auf die Regeln einigt |
Two possible clause orders
Separate the clauses with a comma. If the sobald clause comes first, it fills the first position of the sentence, so the main clause begins with its finite verb. If the main clause comes first, its usual word order stays unchanged.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Time clause first | Sobald … verb, main-clause verb + subject … | Sobald du bereit bist, höre ich dir zu. |
| Main clause first | Subject + main-clause verb …, sobald … verb. | Ich höre dir zu, sobald du bereit bist. |
| Main clause with a modal verb | Sobald … verb, modal verb + subject … + infinitive. | Sobald ihr euch auf die Regeln einigt, könnt ihr wieder anfangen. |
Present tense for future actions
German commonly uses the present tense for future plans when the timing is clear. These sobald sentences do not need werden, even where English uses “will.”
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A promise to listen | Present tense with future meaning | Ich höre dir zu, sobald du bereit bist. |
| A promise to help | Present tense in both clauses | Ich helfe dir, sobald wir zu Hause sind. |
More examples
Sobald du bereit bist, können wir zusammen überlegen.
As soon as you are ready, we can think it through together.
Bist ends the time clause; können starts the main clause.
Du kannst dich entschuldigen, sobald du deine Freundin siehst.
You can say sorry as soon as you see your friend.
This example uses Freundin for a female friend. Siehst goes at the end of the sobald clause.
Sobald ihr beide wieder spielen möchtet, könnt ihr neu anfangen.
As soon as both of you want to play again, you can make a fresh start.
In the time clause, the finite modal verb möchtet follows the infinitive spielen.