what is it?
Consecutive connectors express a result or consequence: the second clause or sentence states what follows from the situation described in the first. German has three main tools for this: the subordinating conjunction sodass (or so dass), which introduces a verb-final result clause; the split correlative so + adjective/adverb … dass, which grades the cause before naming the result; and the main-clause adverbials infolgedessen, folglich, and demzufolge, which start a new main clause with verb-second word order. A fourth, more formal pattern — zu … als dass — expresses a negative result and typically takes Konjunktiv II in the dependent clause.
when to use it
sodass — use when you want to attach the result directly to the cause clause as a subordinate clause. The result is presented as a straightforward, factual consequence. Both written and spoken registers accept it.
so + adjective/adverb … dass — use when the degree or intensity of a quality is itself the trigger for the result. The adjective or adverb sits in the main clause modified by so; dass then introduces the result clause.
infolgedessen / folglich / demzufolge — use when the result is expressed as a separate main clause, often in writing or formal speech. These adverbials occupy the first position (Vorfeld), pushing the finite verb to second position.
zu … als dass (+ Konjunktiv II) — use when the cause is too extreme for a result to be possible. The result clause is negated in meaning and the Konjunktiv II signals the hypothetical, unrealised nature of that result.
formation
The four patterns differ in their clause structure. The table below summarises each one.
| pattern | main clause | connector | result clause / second clause |
|---|---|---|---|
| sodass | Es regnete stark, | sodass | das Spiel abgebrochen wurde. (verb-final) |
| so … dass | Es war so laut, | dass | ich nichts verstehen konnte. (verb-final) |
| infolgedessen / folglich | Der Zug hatte Verspätung. | Infolgedessen / Folglich | verpassten wir den Anschluss. (verb-second) |
| zu … als dass | Das Problem ist zu komplex, | als dass | man es schnell lösen könnte. (Konj. II, verb-final) |
sodass vs. so dass: Both spellings are accepted by the current official rules (Duden) when the word functions as a conjunction. The fused form sodass is more common in practice. The split so … dass pattern (with an adjective between the two words) is always written as two separate words and is never fused.
With infolgedessen, folglich, and demzufolge, the adverbial fills the Vorfeld (position 1). The finite verb must immediately follow in position 2 (subject–verb inversion applies):
examples in context
common pitfalls
Doubling so with sodass: The split pattern so laut, dass … and the conjunction sodass are two different constructions. Writing *so laut, sodass … mixes them incorrectly. When you grade an adjective with so, the result clause must begin with plain dass, not sodass.
V2 order inside the sodass-clause: sodass is a subordinating conjunction, so the finite verb goes to the end of the clause. *…, sodass wurde das Spiel abgebrochen is wrong. The correct order is …, sodass das Spiel abgebrochen wurde.
Missing Konjunktiv II after als dass: The zu … als dass construction expresses an unrealised, hypothetical result. Careful written usage requires Konjunktiv II in the dependent clause. Using indicative (*als dass man es schnell löst) is considered an error in formal contexts. Use könnte, wäre, würde … instead.
Spelling confusion: sodass vs. so dass vs. so … dass: As a conjunction meaning «so that», both sodass and so dass are officially correct. However, the degree pattern — where so modifies an adjective or adverb — is always written as two separate words and can never be fused into *solautdass or any similar form. If an adjective or adverb stands between so and dass, the two words are always separate.
Three sentences, graded here. Nothing is saved and no account is needed.
Die Sendung hatte die höchsten Einschaltquoten des Jahres; ___ verlängerte der Sender sie um eine weitere Staffel.
Fill in the blank with the correct consecutive connector.