GrammarC1· Recht & Verwaltung

Konnektoren: Bedingung und Einräumung

Connectors for conditions, exceptions and concessions

Kartoffel · your teacher

Hi! Let's look at this one together — step by step, no rush.

From what you know

Obwohl die Miete hoch ist, …Wenngleich die Erhöhung zulässig ist, ……, es sei denn, die Klausel ist unwirksam.

6 parts · about 6 min

1What & when

In one line

If: sofern. Unless: es sei denn. Although: wenngleich. Verb last, except after es sei denn, and vorausgesetzt,.

Before

Wenn die Wohnung keine Schäden hat, bekommen Sie die Kaution zurück.

Watch the sentence change …

sofern is a formal wenn. The verb goes to the end, and here the clause comes after the .

„Sie bekommen die Kaution zurück, sofern die Wohnung keine Schäden hat.“ — You'll get the deposit back provided the flat has no damage.

Kartoffel

First, what is it?

These are the formal of contracts, official letters and legal advice. They are more precise versions of what everyday German says with wenn, obwohl or aber. Each one says exactly how far a statement holds. sofern sets a condition. es sei denn names the exception. wenngleich admits a point against you. zumal adds the reason that tips the balance. wobei qualifies what you have just said.

Kartoffel

And when do you need it? More often than you'd think:

Recht & VerwaltungYou need them whenever the exact terms matter. Think of a rent increase from the Hausverwaltung (the property management) or a clause in your tenancy agreement: sofern nichts anderes vereinbart ist. Or think of a consultation at the tenants' association, or an objection to an official decision. sofern and wenngleich sound formal. In a chat with friends, wenn and obwohl do the job.

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