German · B1 · Family moment
One Thing Next in German
Use sobald (“as soon as”) to gently explain what comes next in your baby's day. It connects an event with an action that follows immediately afterward.
What you'll learn
- Describe everyday baby-care routines using sobald.
- Place the finite verb at the end of a sobald clause.
- Use correct main-clause word order when the sobald clause comes first.
- Use the German present tense to talk about planned next steps.
German phrases for one thing next
Sobald du aufwachst, nehme ich dich hoch.
As soon as you wake up, I'll pick you up.
Aufwachst goes at the end of the sobald clause. Hochnehmen splits into nehme … hoch in the main clause.
Ich bringe dir dein Fläschchen, sobald die Milch fertig ist.
I'll bring your bottle as soon as the milk is ready.
Fläschchen is a common, affectionate word for a baby's feeding bottle. Ist goes at the end of the sobald clause.
Sobald wir mit dem Wickeln fertig sind, kuscheln wir.
As soon as we finish changing your nappy, we'll have a cuddle.
Mit dem Wickeln fertig sein means “to be finished changing the nappy.” Kuscheln means “to cuddle.”
Wir gehen nach draußen, sobald ich deine kleine Mütze gefunden habe.
We'll go outside as soon as I find your little hat.
Gefunden habe emphasizes that finding the hat must be complete first. The finite verb habe comes last.
Sobald dein Bad fertig ist, helfe ich dir ins Wasser.
As soon as your bath is ready, I'll help you into the water.
Helfen takes the dative: dir means “you” here. Ins Wasser describes movement into the water.
Ich wische dir das Kinn ab, sobald du zu Ende gegessen hast.
I'll wipe your chin as soon as you finish eating.
German commonly uses dir das Kinn for “your chin” in care routines. Abwischen splits into wische … ab.
Sobald der Arzt deinen Namen aufruft, gehen wir zusammen rein.
As soon as the doctor calls your name, we'll go in together.
Aufrufen means “to call out” a name. Use die Ärztin for a female doctor. Rein is an everyday word for “in” or “inside.”
Ich nehme dich aus dem Kinderwagen, sobald wir zu Hause ankommen.
I'll take you out of the pram as soon as we get home.
Aus takes the dative: aus dem Kinderwagen. Ankommen stays joined at the end of the sobald clause.
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
sobald
as soon as
Introduces the event that triggers the next action. The finite verb goes at the end of its clause.
hochnehmen
to pick up; to lift up
A separable verb: Ich nehme dich hoch.
das Fläschchen
baby bottle; little bottle
The ending -chen makes a diminutive. All nouns ending in -chen are neuter.
wickeln
to change a baby's nappy
As a noun, it is capitalized: das Wickeln. Mit dem Wickeln means “with changing the nappy.”
kuscheln
to cuddle; to snuggle
Wir kuscheln is a natural way to say “we'll have a cuddle.”
die Mütze
hat; cap
Commonly used for a baby's soft or knitted hat.
das Kinn
chin
In care phrases, German often uses a dative pronoun plus the definite article: Ich wische dir das Kinn ab.
der Kinderwagen
pram; pushchair
After aus, use the dative form: aus dem Kinderwagen.
Verb-final word order with sobald
Sobald introduces a subordinate clause. Its finite verb—the verb that changes to match the subject—goes at the end. Always separate this clause from the main clause with a comma.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple verb | sobald + subject + other information + finite verb | Ich bringe dir dein Fläschchen, sobald die Milch fertig ist. |
| Separable verb | sobald + subject + joined finite verb | Sobald du aufwachst, nehme ich dich hoch. |
| Perfect tense | sobald + subject + other information + past participle + finite auxiliary | Wir gehen nach draußen, sobald ich deine kleine Mütze gefunden habe. |
Putting either clause first
The sobald clause can come first or last without changing the basic meaning. When it comes first, it fills the first position of the whole sentence, so the main clause begins with its finite verb, followed by the subject.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Main clause first | subject + finite verb + …, sobald + … + finite verb | Ich nehme dich hoch, sobald du aufwachst. |
| Sobald clause first | Sobald + … + finite verb, main-clause finite verb + subject + … | Sobald du aufwachst, nehme ich dich hoch. |
Talking about the next step
German normally uses the present tense for these planned future actions; a form with werden is not necessary. The perfect tense can appear in the sobald clause to emphasize that an action must be completed before the next step.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present tense with future meaning | present tense + sobald + present tense | Ich nehme dich aus dem Kinderwagen, sobald wir zu Hause ankommen. |
| Completed action before the next step | present tense + sobald + perfect tense | Ich wische dir das Kinn ab, sobald du zu Ende gegessen hast. |
More examples
Sobald du müde bist, bringe ich dich ins Bett.
As soon as you're tired, I'll put you to bed.
Bist ends the subordinate clause; bringe comes immediately after the comma.
Wir kuscheln, sobald du deinen Schlafanzug anhast.
We'll have a cuddle as soon as you have your pyjamas on.
Anhaben is separable, but it stays joined as anhast at the end of the subordinate clause.
Sobald ich deine Decke geholt habe, gehen wir nach draußen.
As soon as I've fetched your blanket, we'll go outside.
Geholt habe marks the completed first step. The finite auxiliary habe goes last.