German · B2 · Family moment
Staying at home for a little while in German
Practise agreeing on clear conditions for a short time home alone. Use sofern to mean “provided that”: an arrangement is acceptable only if a specified prerequisite is met. These phrases support a readiness conversation rather than a complete safety checklist.
What you'll learn
- Use sofern to make permission or a plan depend on a clear prerequisite.
- Place the finite verb at the end of a sofern clause.
- Distinguish a prerequisite with sofern from duration with solange and a possible eventuality with falls.
German phrases for staying at home for a little while
Du kannst hierbleiben, sofern du dich rundum wohlfühlst.
You can stay here provided that you feel completely comfortable.
The child's genuine comfort is the prerequisite; wohlfühlst comes last.
Ich probiere es gern aus, sofern du in der Nähe bist.
I'm happy to try, provided that you're nearby.
A child can use this to make trying the arrangement depend on the parent staying nearby.
Der Plan funktioniert, sofern dein Handy aufgeladen ist.
The plan works provided that your phone is charged.
The prerequisite follows sofern; the finite verb ist ends the clause.
Du kannst dir einen Snack machen, sofern du dafür den Herd nicht benutzt.
You can make a snack provided that it doesn't involve the cooker.
A natural German formulation: making a snack is allowed on condition that the cooker is not used.
Wir können die Zeit verlängern, sofern der erste Versuch gut läuft.
We can extend the time provided that the first attempt goes well.
A successful first attempt is the prerequisite for extending the time.
Ich gehe nach dem Mittagessen los, sofern wir eine Uhrzeit vereinbaren, zu der wir uns kurz melden.
I'll leave after lunch provided that we agree on a check-in time.
Vereinbaren closes the core sofern clause; the following phrase specifies the check-in time.
Du kannst deine Tante anrufen, sofern sie Zeit hat.
You can ring your aunt provided that she's available.
Zeit hat naturally expresses being available to talk; hat comes last.
Wir probieren es heute aus, sofern keiner von uns beiden Bedenken hat.
We'll try it today provided that neither of us has any doubts.
The prerequisite is that both people are free of concerns.
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
der Versuch, die Versuche
attempt; trial
Der erste Versuch means “the first attempt.”
das Handy, die Handys
mobile phone; cell phone
The everyday German word for a mobile phone.
der Herd, die Herde
cooker; stove
Den Herd nicht benutzen means “not to use the cooker.”
die Uhrzeit, die Uhrzeiten
clock time; specified time
Eine Uhrzeit vereinbaren means “to agree on a time.”
die Tante, die Tanten
aunt
die Bedenken (plural)
doubts; concerns; reservations
Used in the plural in this meaning. Bedenken haben means “to have concerns.”
sich rundum wohlfühlen
to feel completely comfortable
Useful for asking about genuine readiness, not just willingness.
sich kurz melden
to check in briefly; to get in touch briefly
Can refer to a short call or message.
Sofern introduces a prerequisite
Sofern means “provided that” or conditional “as long as.” It makes a plan, permission or offer dependent on a specified prerequisite. It is slightly more formal and explicit than everyday wenn, but useful for clear agreements.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Permission with a condition | Permission + sofern + prerequisite | Du kannst hierbleiben, sofern du dich rundum wohlfühlst. |
| A plan with a condition | Plan + sofern + prerequisite | Wir können die Zeit verlängern, sofern der erste Versuch gut läuft. |
Word order with sofern
Separate the sofern clause with a comma and put its finite verb at the end. If the sofern clause comes first, the main clause starts with its finite verb.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Condition after the main clause | Main clause, sofern + subject + … + finite verb. | Ich probiere es gern aus, sofern du in der Nähe bist. |
| Condition before the main clause | Sofern + subject + … + finite verb, main-clause verb + subject + … | Sofern du in der Nähe bist, probiere ich es gern aus. |
Sofern, solange and falls
Choose sofern to emphasise a prerequisite. Temporal solange means “for as long as” and focuses on duration. Falls means “if” or “in case” and presents a possible eventuality. Falls and sofern can overlap, but their emphasis differs; English “as long as” does not always translate as solange.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Prerequisite: sofern | provided that a requirement is met | Du kannst hierbleiben, sofern du dich wohlfühlst. |
| Duration: solange | for as long as a situation continues | Ich bleibe am Telefon, solange du mich brauchst. |
| Eventuality: falls | if a possible situation arises | Falls du dich unwohl fühlst, ruf mich an. |
More examples
Sofern dein Handy aufgeladen ist, funktioniert der Plan.
Provided that your phone is charged, the plan works.
The condition comes first: ist ends it, and funktioniert starts the main clause.
Du kannst dir einen Snack machen, sofern du dafür den Herd nicht benutzt.
You can make a snack provided that you don't use the cooker for it.
Sofern sets a specific limit on the permission.
Sofern keiner von uns beiden Bedenken hat, probieren wir es heute aus.
Provided that neither of us has any doubts, we'll try it today.
Fronting the condition highlights shared readiness as the prerequisite.