German · B1 · Family moment
Making things right after an argument in German
Help your child reconnect with a friend after an argument. Use sobald (as soon as) to show that a next step can happen immediately once someone is ready or something has happened.
What you'll learn
- Use sobald to link a first event with an immediate next step.
- Place the conjugated verb at the end of a sobald clause.
- Use sobald clauses before or after the main clause in gentle conversations about making things right.
German phrases for making things right after an argument
Sobald ich Ella sehe, entschuldige ich mich.
As soon as I see Ella, I will apologise.
Sehe ends the sobald clause. The next step is apologising.
Wir können reden, sobald du dich bereit fühlst.
We can talk as soon as you feel ready.
Fühlst goes at the end of the sobald clause.
Sobald er fertig ist, kannst du es erklären.
As soon as he finishes, you can explain.
Fertig ist means 'is finished' or 'is done'; ist closes the clause.
Ich höre zu, sobald du aufhörst zu schreien.
I will listen as soon as you stop shouting.
The sobald clause marks when listening will begin. In this natural phrasing, zu schreien follows aufhörst.
Sobald wir ruhig sind, können wir eine Lösung finden.
As soon as we are calm, we can find a solution.
Sind ends the sobald clause; können begins the main clause.
Sag mir Bescheid, sobald du Hilfe brauchst.
Tell me as soon as you need help.
Sag mir Bescheid is a natural way to say 'let me know'. Brauchst ends the sobald clause.
Sobald sie zurückkommt, frage ich sie.
As soon as she comes back, I will ask her.
Zurückkommt stays together at the end of the sobald clause.
Wir können noch einmal anfangen, sobald alle einverstanden sind.
We can start again as soon as everyone agrees.
Sind closes the sobald clause. Alle einverstanden sind means that everyone agrees.
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
sich entschuldigen
to apologise
A useful phrase for taking a first step towards making things right.
bereit
ready
Sich bereit fühlen means 'to feel ready'.
zuhören
to listen
Used for listening attentively to someone.
schreien
to shout; to scream
In an argument, this usually means 'to shout'.
ruhig
calm; quiet
Here it describes feeling calm enough to talk.
die Lösung
solution
Plural: die Lösungen.
die Hilfe
help
Usually used without a plural in this meaning. Plural: die Hilfen, for specific aids or forms of assistance.
einverstanden sein
to agree; to be in agreement
Useful for checking that everyone is happy to move forward.
Sobald: an immediate next step
Sobald means 'as soon as'. Its clause names the event or state that makes the next action possible. The main clause says what happens immediately afterwards. German often uses present-tense forms here even when English uses 'will'.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| First event | sobald + subject + ... + conjugated verb | sobald ich Ella sehe |
| Next step | main clause | entschuldige ich mich |
| Complete sequence | Sobald ..., ... . | Sobald ich Ella sehe, entschuldige ich mich. |
Verb position and clause order
In a sobald clause, the conjugated verb normally comes at the end. Separate the clauses with a comma. If the sobald clause comes first, put the main clause's conjugated verb immediately after the comma, before its subject. A following infinitive phrase can appear after the verb, as in sobald du aufhörst zu schreien.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Sobald clause last | main clause + comma + sobald + subject + ... + verb | Wir können reden, sobald du dich bereit fühlst. |
| Sobald clause first | Sobald + subject + ... + verb + comma + main-clause verb + subject + ... | Sobald du dich bereit fühlst, können wir reden. |
| Verb with a separable prefix | sobald + subject + ... + joined verb | Sobald sie zurückkommt, frage ich sie. |
| Following infinitive phrase | sobald + subject + conjugated verb + infinitive phrase | Ich höre zu, sobald du aufhörst zu schreien. |
More examples
Sobald du bereit bist, höre ich dir zu.
As soon as you are ready, I will listen to you.
Bist ends the first clause; höre follows the comma.
Wir suchen gemeinsam eine Lösung, sobald alle ruhig sind.
We will look for a solution together as soon as everyone is calm.
The sobald clause follows the main clause, with sind at the end.
Sobald Ella zurückkommt, können wir noch einmal anfangen.
As soon as Ella comes back, we can start again.
Returning is the first event; starting again is the next step.