Level: B2 Entry Focus: Instrumental („indem“) and Consecutive („sodass“) connectors.
Part 1: Story & Dialogue
Context: Lukas has finally repaired his broken bicycle. He explains to Tim how he managed to do it without a mechanic.
Tim: „Dein Fahrrad fährt wieder! Wie hast du das gemacht?“
Your bike drives again! How did you do that?
Lukas: „Ich habe Geld gespart, indem ich es selbst repariert habe.“
I saved money by repairing it myself.
Tim: „Aber du hast doch keine Ahnung von Technik.“
But you have no idea about technology.
Lukas: „Ich habe das Problem gelöst, indem ich ein YouTube-Video geschaut habe.“
I solved the problem by watching a YouTube video.
Lukas: „Der Mann im Video hat es so gut erklärt, dass ich alles verstanden habe.“
The man in the video explained it so well that I understood everything.
Tim: „Und hast du das Werkzeug gehabt?“
And did you have the tools?
Lukas: „Nein. Ich habe mir Werkzeug von meinem Nachbarn geliehen, sodass ich nichts kaufen musste.“
No. I borrowed tools from my neighbor, so that I didn't have to buy anything.
Tim: „Schlau. Ich repariere mein Auto oft, indem ich einfach gegen den Motor trete.“
Smart. I repair my car often by simply kicking against the engine.
Lukas: „Das ist gefährlich!“
That is dangerous!
Lukas: „Du könntest etwas kaputt machen, sodass das Auto gar nicht mehr fährt.“
You could break something, so that the car doesn't drive at all anymore.
Tim: „Ach was. Man lernt nur, indem man Fehler macht.“
Oh well. One only learns by making mistakes.
Part 2: Vocabulary Section (Method & Result)
German Word: „indem“ English Meaning: by doing X / by means of Usage: Explains the Method (How?).
German Word: „dadurch, dass“ English Meaning: by the fact that... Usage: Stronger version of „indem“.
German Word: „sodass“ English Meaning: so that / with the result that Usage: Explains the Result.
German Word: „so ... dass“ English Meaning: so ... that Usage: Emphasizes the intensity („So schön, dass...“).
German Word: „lösen“ English Meaning: to solve Usage: „Ein Problem lösen.“
German Word: „erreichen“ English Meaning: to achieve / reach Usage: „Ein Ziel erreichen.“
German Word: „die Methode“ English Meaning: the method Usage: „Eine gute Methode.“
German Word: „die Folge“ English Meaning: the consequence Usage: „Die Folge ist...“
Part 3: Grammar Focus
Topic: Advanced Connectors (Indem & Sodass)
Both are „Nebensatz-Konnektoren“ (Subordinate Clauses). The verb goes to the End.
1. Indem (Instrumental - The "How") In English, we use the "Gerund" form: "By going", "By eating". German does not have a Gerund. German uses „indem“ + a full sentence.
Question: „Wie hast du das gemacht?“ (How did you do that?)
English: By working hard.
German: „Indem ich hart gearbeitet habe.“ (Lit: In-that I hard worked have.)
Example: „Man bleibt fit, indem man Sport treibt.“ (One stays fit by doing sports.)
2. Sodass (Consecutive - The "Result") This connects a cause with a direct result.
Structure: [Action], sodass [Result].
Example: „Es regnete stark, sodass wir zu Hause blieben.“ (It rained heavily, so that we stayed at home.)
3. So ... dass (The "Intensity" Split) If you want to emphasize an adjective or adverb, you split the connector. „So“ goes before the adjective, „dass“ starts the next sentence.
Example: „Der Film war so langweilig, dass ich eingeschlafen bin.“ (The movie was so boring that I fell asleep.)
Example: „Er spricht so schnell, dass ich nichts verstehe.“
4. Common Mistake (Damit vs. Sodass)
Damit (In order to) - The Goal/Intention (You want this to happen). „Ich lerne, damit ich den Job bekomme.“ (Purpose).
Sodass (So that) - The Result (It just happened as a consequence). „Der Zug war spät, sodass ich den Termin verpasste.“ (Result—I didn't want to miss it).
Part 4: Practice (Method)
Try to translate the logic:
English: You improve your German by reading books.
German: „Du verbesserst dein Deutsch, indem du Bücher liest.“
English: He drove too fast, so that the police stopped him.
German: „Er fuhr zu schnell, sodass die Polizei ihn stoppte.“