B1-64 · Link events with sobald and solange
Theatre and cinema
Plan an evening at the theatre and the cinema and use sobald for the moment something starts and solange for how long it lasts.
About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions
01
sobald: as soon as
Sobald introduces a clause that says when something starts: as soon as. Like weil or wenn, it sends the verb to the end. If the sobald-clause comes first, the main clause begins with its verb.
Sobald der Vorhang aufgeht, wird es im Saal still.
As soon as the curtain goes up, the hall goes quiet.
Wir gehen hinein, sobald die Türen offen sind.
We go in as soon as the doors are open.
Sobald die Vorstellung vorbei ist, gehen wir essen.
As soon as the performance is over, we go out to eat.
Ruf mich an, sobald du die Karten hast.
Call me as soon as you have the tickets.
Das Theaterstück, or simply das Stück, is the play. Die Vorstellung is the performance and der Vorhang the curtain.
02
solange: as long as
Solange says that two things last for the same time: as long as. It also sends the verb to the end. It can express a condition as well: Solange du leise bist, darfst du bleiben.
Solange der Film läuft, bleiben die Handys aus.
As long as the film is on, the phones stay off.
Solange die Schauspielerin spricht, ist es ganz ruhig.
As long as the actress is speaking, it is completely quiet.
Du kannst die Rolle spielen, solange du den Text kannst.
You can play the role as long as you know the lines.
Solange es regnet, bleiben wir im Kino.
As long as it is raining, we stay in the cinema.
Der Schauspieler is the actor, die Schauspielerin the actress and die Rolle the role. Write solange as one word when it introduces a clause.
03
A moment or a period?
Use sobald for the moment something starts and solange for a period of time. Compare: Sobald der Film beginnt, sind wir still. Solange der Film läuft, sind wir still. Verbs like beginnen or ankommen describe a moment, so they go with sobald.
Sobald der Film beginnt, mache ich mein Handy aus.
As soon as the film starts, I switch off my phone.
Solange der Abspann läuft, bleibe ich sitzen.
As long as the credits are rolling, I stay in my seat.
Wir kaufen Popcorn, sobald wir im Kino sind.
We buy popcorn as soon as we are in the cinema.
Ich klatsche, solange der Applaus dauert.
I clap for as long as the applause lasts.
Der Abspann means the end credits and die Leinwand the screen. After either clause, the main clause starts with its verb: Solange der Abspann läuft, bleibe ich sitzen.
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