Results with sodass and consequence connectors

In brief

Use sodass to connect an event with its result: the clause after sodass tells you what happened as a consequence. Unlike English ‘so’, sodass introduces a subordinate clause, with the conjugated verb at the end. You can also start a new main clause with deshalb, deswegen, or daher (‘therefore’, ‘as a result’).

Form

Main clause (cause), sodass + subordinate clause (result; conjugated verb last). Cause. Deshalb/Deswegen/Daher + conjugated verb + subject + rest.

Usage

• Use sodass when the result follows directly from the situation in the first clause.
• Use deshalb, deswegen, or daher to present the result in a separate main clause; put the conjugated verb immediately after the connector.
• A comma comes before a sodass clause; a full stop or semicolon can separate two main clauses.

Examples

• Der Zug hatte Verspätung, sodass ich den Anschluss verpasst habe. — The train was delayed, so I missed my connection.
• Die Anleitung war unklar, sodass wir noch einmal nachfragen mussten. — The instructions were unclear, so we had to ask again.
• Es gab nur wenige freie Plätze. Deshalb haben wir online reserviert. — There were only a few seats available. That’s why we made a reservation online.
• Die Straße ist gesperrt. Daher nehmen wir einen anderen Weg. — The road is closed. Therefore, we’re taking another route.

Common mistake

❌ Es regnete stark, sodass wir blieben zu Hause.

✅ Es regnete stark, sodass wir zu Hause blieben.

English ‘so’ can be followed by ordinary main-clause word order. German sodass needs a subordinate clause: place the conjugated verb at the end.

Remember

After sodass, put the conjugated verb last; after deshalb, deswegen, or daher at the start of a main clause, put it second.