SONST, SONSTIG, SONSTIGES

In this lesson you will learn how to use sonst, sonstig and Sonstiges correctly in everyday German.

1The adverb "sonst"

"sonst" is an adverb. It has two main meanings:

1. sonst = andernfalls / wenn nicht (shows a consequence or warning)
2. sonst = normalerweise / sonst so (describes what is usually the case)

1.1 "sonst" with a condition: consequence or warning

Very often "sonst" stands in a second main clause and expresses a consequence. Before that there is often a "Wenn"-clause.

Examples:

• Beeil dich, sonst verpasst du den Zug.
  (Hurry up, otherwise you will miss the train.)
• Zieh eine Jacke an, sonst wirst du krank.
  (Put on a jacket, otherwise you will get ill.)
• Wenn du keine Zeit hast, sag Bescheid, sonst warte ich auf dich.
  (If you don’t have time, let me know, otherwise I will wait for you.)

Word order: "sonst" usually stands at the beginning of the clause, the verb directly follows:

• Sonst komme ich morgen.
  (Otherwise I will come tomorrow.)

1.2 "sonst" = normally, usually

Here, "sonst" means: in other situations, normally.

Examples:

• Heute bleibe ich zu Hause, sonst gehe ich immer ins Fitnessstudio.
  (Today I stay at home, normally I always go to the gym.)
• Er ist heute ruhig, sonst ist er sehr laut.
  (He is quiet today, otherwise he is usually very loud.)

1.3 Typical mistakes

• Don’t forget the comma between main clauses:
  • Komm rechtzeitig, sonst ist der Kurs schon vorbei.
    (Come on time, otherwise the course is already over.)
• Don’t confuse it with "außerdem": "sonst" gives an alternative, not an additional item.

2The adjective "sonstig"

"sonstig" means other, additional, further. It is an adjective and is declined like other German adjectives. It is often used in the plural.

Examples:

• Wir klären jetzt alle Fragen und sonstige Probleme.
  (We will clarify all questions and other problems.)
• Haben Sie sonstige Wünsche?
  (Do you have any other wishes?)
• Es gab ein paar sonstige Kosten.
  (There were some other costs.)

Typical fixed combinations:

• sonstige Fragen (other questions)
• sonstige Informationen (other information)
• sonstige Unterlagen (other documents)

Small overview (without article):

In everyday life you mainly hear "sonstig" in formal contexts: letters, forms, meetings.

3The noun "Sonstiges"

"Sonstiges" is a noun (capital S). It means other items / other matters.

Typical use:

• in meetings / minutes as a separate point:
  • TOP 5: Sonstiges (item 5: other business)
• in forms or lists with categories.

Examples:

• Unter „Sonstiges“ besprechen wir weitere Themen.
  (Under "Other business" we discuss further topics.)
• Haben Sie noch Fragen oder Sonstiges?
  (Do you have any other questions or anything else?)

Here "Sonstiges" is neuter, singular, but in practice it appears almost only in this fixed form.

4Summary and comparison

After this lesson you can understand and correctly use "sonst", "sonstig" and "Sonstiges" in simple German sentences.