Folgesätze

Folgesätze are a concept in German grammar referring to subordinate clauses that express a consequence or result. They answer the question "what is the consequence?" or "what is the result?". These clauses are typically introduced by conjunctions such as "so dass" (so that) or "so dass ... nicht" (so that ... not).

For example, in the sentence "Es regnete stark, so dass die Straße nass wurde" (It rained heavily, so that the street became wet), the clause "so dass die Straße nass wurde" is a Folgesatz, indicating the consequence of the heavy rain. Similarly, "Er lernte fleißig, so dass er die Prüfung bestand" (He studied diligently, so that he passed the exam) shows a Folgesatz expressing the positive outcome of his studying.

The structure of a Folgesatz is similar to other subordinate clauses in German. The conjugated verb is placed at the end of the clause. This is a key characteristic distinguishing it from main clauses. Unlike other subordinate clauses that might express time, condition, or reason, the Folgesatz's primary function is to establish a cause-and-effect relationship where the effect is presented as a direct result of the action or state in the main clause. Understanding Folgesätze is crucial for accurately interpreting complex German sentences and for constructing grammatically correct and nuanced expressions of consequence.