Distinguishing sobald and solange in German

In this lesson you will learn how to use the conjunctions sobald and solange correctly in German. Both express a time relationship, but they describe different links between two actions.

1Word order with „sobald“ and „solange“

Both words introduce a Nebensatz (subordinate clause). In a Nebensatz, the conjugated verb stands at the end.

Examples:

• Sobald ich fertig bin, gehe ich nach Hause. (As soon as I am finished, I go home.)
• Solange der Unterricht dauert, musst du ruhig sein. (As long as the class lasts, you must be quiet.)

You can swap main clause and Nebensatz:

• Ich gehe nach Hause, sobald ich fertig bin. (I go home as soon as I am finished.)
• Du musst ruhig sein, solange der Unterricht dauert. (You must be quiet as long as the class lasts.)

Notice: If the Nebensatz comes first, the verb in the main clause must be in second position.

2„sobald“ – Point in time: „gleich nachdem“

sobald focuses on the moment something happens: directly after another action.

Typical meanings:

• „in dem Moment, wenn“ (at the moment when)
• „gleich nachdem“ (immediately after)

Examples:

• Sobald ich fertig bin, gehe ich nach Hause. (As soon as I am finished, I go home.)
• Sobald es dunkel wird, mache ich das Licht an. (As soon as it gets dark, I switch on the light.)
• Ich rufe dich an, sobald ich ankomme. (I will call you as soon as I arrive.)
• Sobald ich Zeit habe, helfe ich dir. (As soon as I have time, I will help you.)

Tenses with „sobald“

Often the Nebensatz is in the present, the main clause in Futur I or also in the present:

• Ich werde dich anrufen, sobald ich Zeit habe. (I will call you as soon as I have time.)
• Ich helfe dir, sobald ich Zeit habe. (I help you / will help you as soon as I have time.)

In the past, you describe two actions one after another:

• Sobald ich zu Hause war, habe ich gegessen. (As soon as I was at home, I ate.)

Difference between „sobald“ and „so bald“

As a conjunction, you write sobald together:

• Sobald ich ankomme, rufe ich dich an. (As soon as I arrive, I call you.)

so bald (separate) is an adverb with „bald“:

• Er kommt nicht so bald zurück. (He is not coming back so soon.)

3„solange“ – Duration: „für die ganze Zeit, in der …“

solange focuses on a duration: something is true for the whole time that something else lasts.

Typical meanings:

• „für die Zeit, in der“ (for the time in which)
• „so lange wie“ (for as long as)

Examples:

• Solange der Unterricht dauert, darfst du nicht sprechen. (As long as the class lasts, you may not talk.)
• Solange ich genug Geld habe, kaufe ich viele Bücher. (As long as I have enough money, I buy many books.)
• Bleib hier, solange ich weg bin. (Stay here as long as I am away.)
• Solange das Fenster offen ist, ist es kalt. (As long as the window is open, it is cold.)

Often the action in the main clause ends when the condition in the Nebensatz ends:

• Solange ich krank bin, bleibe ich zu Hause. (As long as I am ill, I stay at home.)

Difference between „solange“ and „so lange“

As a conjunction, you write solange together:

• Solange du lernst, wirst du besser. (As long as you study, you will get better.)

so lange (separate) combines „so“ and the adverb „lange“:

• Ich kann so lange warten, wie du möchtest. (I can wait as long as you want.)

4Comparison: „sobald“ or „solange“?

Memory help: „sobald“ = from when?, „solange“ = how long?

5„wenn“ instead of „sobald/solange“

With wenn you can often form grammatically correct sentences, but the special nuance is lost.

• Sobald ich ankomme, rufe ich dich an. (Directly after arrival.)

• Wenn ich ankomme, rufe ich dich an. (Neutral, without „immediately“.)

• Solange der Unterricht dauert, darfst du nicht sprechen. (For the whole duration.)

• Wenn der Unterricht ist, darfst du nicht sprechen. (Sounds unclear and unnatural.)

Use sobald when you want to stress the beginning/point in time, and solange when you want to stress the duration of an action.