B2-70 · Order events with ehe, kaum dass, sooft and seitdem
Generations in conflict
Use the temporal connectors ehe, seitdem, kaum dass and sooft to say when things happen in conversations between older and younger generations.
About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions
01
Before and since: ehe and seitdem
Ehe means before. It is a more formal or literary word for bevor. Seitdem means since and refers to something that started in the past and still continues. Both connectors send the verb to the end of their clause.
Ehe meine Großeltern ein Handy hatten, schrieben sie Briefe.
Before my grandparents had a mobile phone, they wrote letters.
Überleg dir die Folgen, ehe du so etwas postest.
Think about the consequences before you post something like that.
Seitdem es den Familienchat gibt, reden wir öfter miteinander.
Since we've had the family chat, we talk to each other more often.
Mein Onkel ist entspannter, seitdem er in Rente ist.
My uncle has been more relaxed since he retired.
With seitdem, German uses the present tense for a situation that is still true, where English uses the present perfect: Seitdem er in Rente ist, means since he retired. Seit can also be used as a connector; as an adverb meaning since then, seitdem takes the first position and the verb follows it.
02
Immediately and every time: kaum dass and sooft
Kaum dass means no sooner … than: the main clause follows immediately after the event. Sooft means whenever, every time that. Both are slightly formal and send the verb to the end.
| Meaning | Connector | Everyday equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| before | ehe | bevor |
| since | seitdem | seit |
| no sooner … than | kaum dass | sobald |
| whenever | sooft | immer wenn |
Kaum dass die Familie am Tisch sitzt, beginnt die Diskussion über Politik.
No sooner is the family sitting at the table than the discussion about politics begins.
Kaum dass Tim sein Handy herausholt, schaut seine Oma kritisch.
No sooner does Tim take out his phone than his grandma gives him a critical look.
Sooft wir über das Klima sprechen, gibt es Streit.
Whenever we talk about the climate, there is an argument.
Sooft meine Mutter mich besucht, bringt sie Kuchen mit.
Whenever my mother visits me, she brings cake.
Kaum dass is written as two words with dass, not das. After the subordinate clause, the main clause starts with its verb: Sooft …, bringt sie Kuchen mit. Separable verbs join together at the end: herausholt.
03
Old and young at work
In a fictional office, older and younger colleagues, sometimes called die Babyboomer and die Generation Z, learn to work together. Paul has worked there for thirty years; Aylin has just joined. Their views differ, but both have something to offer.
Ehe junge Leute Kritik üben, sollten sie zuhören, meint Paul.
Before young people criticise, they should listen, says Paul.
Seitdem Aylin im Team ist, arbeiten alle digitaler.
Since Aylin joined the team, everyone has been working more digitally.
Sooft die Älteren ihre Erfahrung teilen, lernen die Jüngeren etwas dazu.
Whenever the older people share their experience, the younger ones learn something new.
Kaum dass das Projekt angefangen hatte, gab es den ersten Konflikt.
No sooner had the project started than there was the first conflict.
After a subordinate clause in first position, the main clause begins with its finite verb. In the past, kaum dass usually takes the past perfect: Kaum dass das Projekt angefangen hatte, … . Kritik üben means to criticise; die Älteren and die Jüngeren are the older and the younger people.
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