B1 · Subordinate clauses
Saying what something is for
damit, um … zu
Two ways to give a purpose, and one rule decides which: whether both halves have the same subject.
German has two constructions for purpose, and choosing between them is not a matter of style. Um … zu plus an infinitive is used when both halves of the sentence have the same subject: Ich lerne Deutsch, um in Wien zu studieren. One person does both things.
Damit introduces a full subordinate clause with its own subject and its own finite verb at the end, and it is required whenever the two subjects differ: Ich erkläre es noch einmal, damit alle es verstehen. I explain, they understand.
The rule is mechanical and it has no exceptions worth mentioning: same subject, um … zu is available; different subject, only damit will do. Damit is also always allowed, so a speaker who is unsure has a safe option.
Die Form
| um … zu | Ich gehe früh, um pünktlich zu sein. |
| separable verb | um rechtzeitig anzukommen |
| damit | Ich rufe an, damit sie Bescheid weiß. |
| negative purpose | damit nichts passiert |
Die Regeln im Einzelnen
um … zu requires the same subject in both halves.
Er spart, um ein Auto zu kaufen.He is saving to buy a car.
damit is used when the subjects differ, and is always possible.
Ich schreibe es auf, damit du es nicht vergisst.I will write it down so you do not forget.
With a separable verb, zu goes inside the word.
um rechtzeitig anzukommenin order to arrive on time
Both constructions are separated by a comma.
Sie ruft an, um sich zu entschuldigen.She is calling to apologise.
Genauer hingesehen
Three more zu-constructions built the same way
Once um … zu is familiar, two siblings come free. Ohne … zu means "without doing": Er ging, ohne etwas zu sagen. And anstatt … zu means "instead of doing": Anstatt zu helfen, sah er zu. All three take a bare infinitive with zu and all three need the same subject in both halves.
Their full-clause counterparts follow the same logic: ohne dass and anstatt dass take over when the subjects differ. The pattern is one thing to learn and it covers four constructions.
Ausnahmen und Sonderfälle (2)
-
the purpose is expressed after a verb of motion
German often uses a plain infinitive with zu or nothing at all.
Er geht einkaufen.He is going shopping.
Some very common combinations have worn down into fixed expressions.
-
the sentence starts with the purpose
the main clause verb still comes straight after the comma.
Um pünktlich zu sein, nehme ich den früheren Zug.To be on time, I am taking the earlier train.
The purpose clause occupies the first position, so the verb stays second.
Woran man es erkennt
- um
- zu
- damit
- wozu
- zwecks
Beispielsätze
Ich stehe früh auf, um in Ruhe zu frühstücken.I get up early to have a quiet breakfast.
Sie lernt, um die Prüfung zu bestehen.She is studying to pass the exam.
Wir gehen leise, damit das Kind weiterschläft.We are being quiet so the child keeps sleeping.
Er wiederholt es, damit es jeder versteht.He is repeating it so everybody understands.
Ich nehme den Schirm mit, um nicht nass zu werden.I am taking the umbrella so I do not get wet.
Noch 6 Beispielsätze
Ich rufe an, um einen Termin zu machen.I am calling to make an appointment.
Sie spart, damit ihre Tochter studieren kann.She is saving so her daughter can study.
Wir sind gekommen, um zu helfen.We came to help.
Mach das Fenster zu, damit es nicht zieht.Close the window so there is no draught.
Er ging, ohne sich zu verabschieden.He left without saying goodbye.
Anstatt zu warten, ging sie los.Instead of waiting, she set off.
Besonderheiten (2)
-
wozu asks for the purpose
The question word matching these clauses is <z>wozu</z> — "what for". <z>Warum</z> asks for a cause and is answered with <z>weil</z>; <z>wozu</z> asks for a purpose and is answered with <z>um … zu</z> or <z>damit</z>. German keeps the two questions apart where English uses "why" for both.
-
damit is also an ordinary word
Written the same way, <z>damit</z> can mean "with it": <z>Was soll ich damit?</z> The two are told apart by stress and by what follows — the conjunction is unstressed and starts a clause, the pronoun is stressed and stands alone.
Die typisch deutsche Falle
Aufgepasst
An um … zu clause has no subject of its own — it borrows the one from the main clause, which is why the construction only works when they are the same person. As soon as a second subject appears, the infinitive has nowhere to attach and the sentence needs a full clause with damit. This is worth checking deliberately, because the English "so that" covers both cases and gives no warning.
Same subject: um zu. Different subject: damit.
Jetzt selbst
5 Aufgaben zu diesem Thema. Die Antworten werden im Browser geprüft; nichts davon verlässt Ihr Gerät.