German · B1 · Family moment
Our first floating experiment in German
Explore what floats and what sinks, and describe the results with sodass (“so” or “with the result that”). This guide helps you connect what happened in your experiment to its observed consequence.
What you'll learn
- Describe an observed result using sodass.
- Place the finite verb at the end of a sodass clause.
- Distinguish an actual consequence with sodass from an intended purpose with damit.
German phrases for our first floating experiment
Die Schüssel ist durchsichtig, sodass wir alles sehen können.
The bowl is transparent, so we can see everything.
The result is that we can see everything. The finite modal verb können comes last.
Ich habe zu viel Wasser eingefüllt, sodass etwas Wasser übergelaufen ist.
I added too much water, so some spilled out.
The spilling is an actual consequence. In the sodass clause, ist comes after übergelaufen.
Der Stein ist gesunken, sodass nur noch das Blatt an der Oberfläche geblieben ist.
The stone sank, so only the leaf was left on top.
The result clause ends with the finite verb ist.
Das Papier ist nass geworden, sodass unser Boot schwerer geworden ist.
The paper got wet, so our boat became heavier.
Sodass connects the wet paper to the resulting increase in weight.
Das Boot ist umgekippt, sodass die Münze herausgefallen ist.
The boat tipped over, so the coin fell out.
The coin falling out is the observed result, not a purpose.
Wir haben die Schüssel bewegt, sodass das Wasser angefangen hat zu schwappen.
We moved the bowl, so the water started shaking.
Schwappen describes water sloshing. Here, the infinitive phrase zu schwappen follows the clause's verb group.
Du hast die Schüssel ruhig gehalten, sodass nichts mehr übergelaufen ist.
You held the bowl steady, so nothing else spilled.
A result can also be something that did not happen: nothing more spilled.
Wir haben die Ergebnisse gezeichnet, sodass alle sie vergleichen können.
We drew the results, so everyone can compare them.
Sodass presents comparison as possible now because the drawings exist. Können comes last.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
die Schüssel
bowl
Plural: die Schüsseln.
das Wasser
water
Normally used without a plural in this meaning.
der Stein
stone
Plural: die Steine.
das Blatt
leaf
Plural: die Blätter.
die Oberfläche
surface
Plural: die Oberflächen. An der Oberfläche means “at the surface.”
das Papier
paper
Normally used without a plural for the material; die Papiere usually means documents.
das Boot
boat
Plural: die Boote.
die Münze
coin
Plural: die Münzen.
das Ergebnis
result
Plural: die Ergebnisse.
durchsichtig
transparent; see-through
A natural everyday word for something you can see through.
überlaufen
to overflow; to spill over
Used here for water spilling over the edge of the bowl.
schwappen
to slosh
Describes water moving back and forth in a container.
Sodass introduces a result
Use sodass to connect a situation or action to its observed consequence. Put a comma before sodass. The result clause normally follows the clause describing its cause.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Cause → result | Main clause, sodass + subject + … + finite verb. | Die Schüssel ist durchsichtig, sodass wir alles sehen können. |
| An unintended result | Action, sodass + observed consequence. | Das Boot ist umgekippt, sodass die Münze herausgefallen ist. |
Verb placement in the result clause
The finite verb is the verb marked for the subject and tense. Put it at the end of the sodass clause's core structure. With a modal, the infinitive comes before the modal; with a perfect-tense verb, the participle comes before the finite auxiliary. An extended infinitive phrase can follow this structure, as in angefangen hat zu schwappen.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| One verb | sodass + subject + … + finite verb | sodass das Wasser schwappt |
| Modal verb | sodass + subject + … + infinitive + finite modal | sodass wir alles sehen können |
| Perfect tense | sodass + subject + … + participle + finite auxiliary | sodass die Münze herausgefallen ist |
Result, not purpose
Sodass tells us what follows from an action or situation. Damit points to an intended goal, which may or may not be achieved. Choose sodass when reporting what actually happened or became possible.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Observed consequence | sodass = with the result that | Wir haben die Ergebnisse gezeichnet, sodass alle sie vergleichen können. |
| Intended goal | damit = so that / in order that | Wir haben die Ergebnisse gezeichnet, damit alle sie vergleichen können. |
More examples
Wir haben die Schüssel bewegt, sodass das Wasser schwappt.
We moved the bowl, so the water is sloshing.
The current result is expressed with the single finite verb schwappt at the end.
Das Boot ist umgekippt, sodass die Münze jetzt im Wasser liegt.
The boat tipped over, so the coin is now in the water.
Sodass introduces the observed consequence; liegt comes last.
Die Schüssel ist durchsichtig, sodass wir den Stein am Boden sehen können.
The bowl is transparent, so we can see the stone at the bottom.
The infinitive sehen comes before the final finite modal können.