German · B1 · Family moment
Science With Results in German
Talk about your child's science project in German by connecting what happened with its observed result. Use sodass to introduce a consequence and place the finite verb at the end of that clause.
What you'll learn
- Describe actions and their results during a science project.
- Use sodass with correct subordinate-clause word order.
- Distinguish an observed consequence with sodass from an intended purpose with damit.
German phrases for science with results
Du hast mehr Gewicht aufgelegt, sodass die Papierbrücke eingestürzt ist.
You added more weight, with the result that the paper bridge collapsed.
Auflegen means to place something on top. In the sodass clause, the finite auxiliary ist follows the participle eingestürzt.
Das Modell war zu schwer, sodass es sofort gesunken ist.
The model was too heavy, with the result that it sank immediately.
Zu schwer means 'too heavy.' Sinken forms the present perfect with sein: es ist gesunken.
Wir haben die Lampe näher herangerückt, sodass der Schatten größer geworden ist.
We moved the lamp closer, with the result that the shadow became larger.
Näher and größer mean 'closer' and 'larger.' Größer geworden ist describes the resulting change in size.
Du hast die Vorhänge zugezogen, sodass wir das Licht besser sehen konnten.
You closed the curtains, with the result that we could see the light better.
Vorhänge zuziehen means to draw the curtains closed. The finite modal verb konnten comes after the infinitive sehen.
Die Batterie war leer, sodass sich der Motor nicht gedreht hat.
The battery was empty, with the result that the motor did not turn.
Eine leere Batterie is a flat or dead battery. Sich drehen means to turn or rotate.
Du hast die Kamera ruhig gehalten, sodass die Fotos scharf geworden sind.
You held the camera steady, with the result that the photos came out clearly.
Die Kamera ruhig halten means to hold the camera steady. Scharf describes clear, in-focus photos.
Wir haben den Test wiederholt, sodass wir zuverlässigere Ergebnisse erhalten haben.
We repeated the test, with the result that we had more reliable results.
Zuverlässigere Ergebnisse means 'more reliable results.' Ergebnisse erhalten means to obtain results.
Du hast jeden Schritt klar erklärt, sodass alle das Experiment verstanden haben.
You explained each step clearly, with the result that everyone understood the experiment.
Jeden Schritt means 'each step' and is accusative. Alle takes a plural verb: alle haben verstanden.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
die Papierbrücke
paper bridge
A compound of Papier and Brücke. Its gender comes from the final noun: die Brücke.
einstürzen
to collapse
Used for structures such as bridges or towers. Present perfect: ist eingestürzt.
der Schatten
shadow
Plural: die Schatten.
sich drehen
to turn; to rotate
Use the reflexive pronoun: Der Motor dreht sich.
scharf
sharp; in focus
For photographs, scharf means clear and in focus. The opposite is unscharf.
zuverlässig
reliable
Comparative: zuverlässiger. Before Ergebnisse, use zuverlässigere.
das Ergebnis
result
Plural: die Ergebnisse. Useful for discussing what a test showed.
der Schritt
step
Can describe a stage in a procedure. Jeden Schritt means 'each step.'
Sodass introduces an observed consequence
Use sodass to connect an action or situation with its result. It means 'with the result that' or 'so that' when describing a consequence. Put a comma before sodass.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Action or situation first | Main clause, sodass + result clause. | Das Modell war zu schwer, sodass es sofort gesunken ist. |
| Alternative spelling | sodass = so dass | Das Modell war zu schwer, so dass es sofort gesunken ist. |
Put the finite verb at the end
The finite verb is the verb form that marks person, number and tense. In a sodass clause, it goes at the end. In the present perfect, the auxiliary haben or sein follows the participle. With a simple past modal verb, the modal follows the infinitive.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| One finite verb | sodass + subject + other information + finite verb | Wir rückten die Lampe näher heran, sodass der Schatten größer wurde. |
| Present perfect | sodass + subject + other information + participle + haben/sein | Wir haben die Lampe näher herangerückt, sodass der Schatten größer geworden ist. |
| Simple past modal | sodass + subject + other information + infinitive + modal verb | Du hast die Vorhänge zugezogen, sodass wir das Licht besser sehen konnten. |
Consequence with sodass, purpose with damit
Sodass reports what actually resulted. Damit explains what someone intended to achieve, without necessarily saying whether it happened. Both conjunctions send the finite verb to the end.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Observed consequence | sodass = with the result that | Du hast die Kamera ruhig gehalten, sodass die Fotos scharf geworden sind. |
| Intended purpose | damit = so that / in order that | Du hast die Kamera ruhig gehalten, damit die Fotos scharf werden. |
More examples
Wir haben mehr Wasser hinzugefügt, sodass die Erde feucht geworden ist.
We added more water, with the result that the soil became damp.
Geworden ist describes an observed change; the finite auxiliary ist comes last.
Der Turm war zu hoch, sodass er umgefallen ist.
The tower was too tall, with the result that it fell over.
Umfallen means to fall over and forms the present perfect with sein.
Wir haben die Schritte aufgeschrieben, damit wir den Versuch später wiederholen können.
We wrote down the steps so that we can repeat the experiment later.
Damit expresses the purpose of writing down the steps, not an observed result. Können comes last.