German · B1 · Family moment
Time With Limits in German
Use solange (“as long as”) to connect freedom with clear boundaries or to explain how long care and support will continue.
What you'll learn
- Set reassuring boundaries using solange.
- Put the finite verb at the end of a solange clause.
- Place the main-clause verb directly after a fronted solange clause.
- Distinguish continuing conditions from duration.
German phrases for time with limits
Solange du dort bleibst, wo ich dich sehen kann, kannst du in der Nähe des Schultors spielen.
As long as you stay where I can see you, you can play near the school gate.
The solange clause sets a condition. The added wo clause explains the place: “where I can see you.” The main clause begins kannst du.
Du kannst das Tablet benutzen, solange du die Lautstärke niedrig hältst.
You can use the tablet as long as you keep the sound low.
The permission comes first. In the following solange clause, hältst goes at the end.
Solange dein Freund hier ist, bleibt das Tablet im Schrank.
As long as your friend is here, the tablet stays in the cupboard.
After the fronted solange clause, bleibt comes before the subject das Tablet. For a female friend, use deine Freundin.
Ich bleibe neben dir, solange du Hilfe bei deinen Hausaufgaben brauchst.
I'll stay beside you as long as you need help with your homework.
Solange describes how long the support continues. German commonly uses the present tense for promises like this.
Solange sich alle an die Regeln halten, könnt ihr weiterspielen.
As long as everyone follows the rules, you can keep playing.
Ihr addresses more than one child. When addressing one child, use kannst du weiterspielen.
Du kannst das Buch aus der Bücherei behalten, solange du es noch für dein Projekt brauchst.
You can keep the library book as long as you still need it for your project.
Noch means “still.” Brauchst closes the solange clause.
Solange dein Zahn wehtut, wählen wir weiches Essen.
As long as your tooth hurts, we'll choose soft food.
Wehtun is separable, but its parts join at the end of this subordinate clause: wehtut.
Wir warten im Unterstand, solange es regnet.
We'll wait under the shelter as long as it is raining.
Solange expresses duration here. Es regnet means both “it rains” and “it is raining.”
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
solange
as long as; for as long as
Write it as one word when it introduces a subordinate clause.
in der Nähe des Schultors
near the school gate
In der Nähe means “nearby”; des Schultors specifies the place using the genitive.
die Lautstärke
volume
Die Lautstärke niedrig halten means “to keep the volume low.”
sich an die Regeln halten
to follow the rules
The reflexive pronoun changes with the subject: du hältst dich, ihr haltet euch.
weiterspielen
to keep playing; to continue playing
After a modal verb, use the infinitive: ihr könnt weiterspielen.
wehtun
to hurt
Compare dein Zahn tut weh with solange dein Zahn wehtut.
der Unterstand
shelter; covered place
Im Unterstand means “in the shelter” or “under the shelter,” depending on its design.
Solange: continuing conditions and duration
Solange connects an action with something that remains true. It can set a condition for permission or describe how long an action continues.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Continuing condition | Permission + solange + condition | Du kannst das Tablet benutzen, solange du die Lautstärke niedrig hältst. |
| Duration | Action + solange + ongoing situation | Wir warten im Unterstand, solange es regnet. |
Verb at the end of the subordinate clause
Solange introduces a subordinate clause. Its finite verb—the verb form that agrees with the subject—goes at the end. Separate the subordinate clause from the main clause with a comma.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary verb | solange + subject + other information + finite verb | solange du es noch für dein Projekt brauchst |
| Separable verb | solange + subject + joined finite verb | solange dein Zahn wehtut |
| Modal verb | solange + subject + other information + infinitive + finite modal verb | solange ich dich sehen kann |
Starting with the solange clause
When the solange clause comes first, it fills the first position of the whole sentence. The main-clause finite verb comes directly after the comma, followed by the subject. When the main clause comes first, its usual word order stays unchanged.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Subordinate clause first | Solange … finite verb, main-clause finite verb + subject … | Solange dein Freund hier ist, bleibt das Tablet im Schrank. |
| Main clause first | Subject + finite verb …, solange … finite verb. | Das Tablet bleibt im Schrank, solange dein Freund hier ist. |
| Main clause with a modal verb | Solange … finite verb, modal verb + subject … + infinitive. | Solange sich alle an die Regeln halten, könnt ihr weiterspielen. |
More examples
Solange du Hilfe brauchst, bleibe ich bei dir.
As long as you need help, I'll stay with you.
Brauchst ends the subordinate clause; bleibe comes before ich in the main clause.
Ich bleibe bei dir, solange du Hilfe brauchst.
I'll stay with you as long as you need help.
The same message with the main clause first. The comma is still required.
Solange ihr leise seid, könnt ihr hier spielen.
As long as you are quiet, you can play here.
A continuing condition addressed to several children: seid ends the subordinate clause, and könnt starts the main clause.