German · B1 · Family moment
Gentle Ways Together in German
Gentle Ways Together: small, gentle actions help your baby feel safe and loved. Practise describing how something is achieved using indem (“by …-ing”), with the finite verb at the end of the clause.
What you'll learn
- Describe gentle everyday routines with your baby.
- Use indem to explain how an action is achieved.
- Place the finite verb at the end of an indem clause.
German phrases for gentle ways together
Ich helfe dir, zur Ruhe zu kommen, indem ich dich nah bei mir halte.
I help you settle by holding you close.
Zur Ruhe kommen means “to settle” or “to calm down.” Halte goes at the end of the indem clause.
Du erkundest deine Decke, indem du sie mit deinen Fingern berührst.
You explore your blanket by touching it with your fingers.
Sie refers to the feminine noun die Decke. Mit takes the dative: mit deinen Fingern.
Ich prüfe die Temperatur des Badewassers, indem ich ein Badethermometer benutze.
I check the bath temperature by using a bath thermometer.
Des Badewassers means “of the bathwater.” Benutze is the finite verb at the end.
Wir gestalten das Füttern ruhiger, indem wir kurze Pausen machen.
We make feeding calmer by taking short breaks.
Das Füttern means “feeding.” As a verb used as a noun, Füttern is capitalised.
Ich ermutige dich zum Krabbeln, indem ich dein Spielzeug in deine Nähe lege.
I encourage you to crawl by placing your toy nearby.
Zum Krabbeln means “to crawl” after ermutigen. In deine Nähe means “near you” when placing something there.
Du machst mich auf dich aufmerksam, indem du mit deinen Ärmchen winkst.
You get my attention by waving your little arms.
Mich auf dich aufmerksam machen means “to get my attention.” Ärmchen is an affectionate word for little arms.
Ich helfe dir, vertraute Wörter zu erkennen, indem ich sie im Laufe des Tages wiederhole.
I help you recognise familiar words by repeating them during the day.
Sie refers to Wörter. Im Laufe des Tages means “during the day” or “over the course of the day.”
Wir machen das Wickeln einfacher, indem wir alles griffbereit halten.
We make nappy changes easier by keeping everything within reach.
Das Wickeln means “changing nappies.” Alles griffbereit halten means “to keep everything within reach.”
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
zur Ruhe kommen
to settle; to calm down
A gentle expression for becoming calmer, not necessarily falling asleep.
die Decke
blanket
Plural: die Decken.
das Badethermometer
bath thermometer
Plural: die Badethermometer.
das Füttern
feeding
From füttern, “to feed.” For breastfeeding specifically, use das Stillen.
krabbeln
to crawl
The usual verb for a baby moving on hands and knees.
die Ärmchen
little arms
Singular: das Ärmchen. The ending -chen makes the word affectionate or indicates small size.
vertraut
familiar
Vertraute Wörter are words the baby has heard before.
griffbereit
within reach; close at hand
Useful for describing supplies that are easy to reach.
Explain how with indem
An indem clause describes the method used to achieve something. It often corresponds to English “by …-ing.” German uses a subject and a finite verb instead of an -ing form.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Action or result | Main clause | Wir machen das Wickeln einfacher. |
| Method | indem + subject + other words + finite verb | indem wir alles griffbereit halten |
| Complete sentence | Main clause + comma + indem clause | Wir machen das Wickeln einfacher, indem wir alles griffbereit halten. |
Verb position and punctuation
Separate the indem clause from the main clause with a comma. Put its finite verb—the verb that agrees with its subject—at the end. If the indem clause comes first, the main clause starts with its finite verb.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Singular subject | indem ich … benutze | Ich prüfe die Temperatur des Badewassers, indem ich ein Badethermometer benutze. |
| Plural subject | indem wir … machen | Wir gestalten das Füttern ruhiger, indem wir kurze Pausen machen. |
| Method first | Indem … finite verb, main-clause verb + subject … | Indem wir kurze Pausen machen, gestalten wir das Füttern ruhiger. |
More examples
Ich beruhige dich, indem ich leise mit dir spreche.
I soothe you by speaking softly to you.
The indem clause explains how the soothing is done. Spreche comes last.
Du erkundest dein Spielzeug, indem du es berührst.
You explore your toy by touching it.
Es refers to the neuter noun das Spielzeug.
Indem ich dir etwas vorsinge, helfe ich dir, zur Ruhe zu kommen.
By singing something to you, I help you settle.
The separable verb vorsingen stays together as vorsinge at the end of the indem clause. The main clause begins with helfe.