B2-41 · Draw careful conclusions from study information
Nutrition science
Use folglich and demnach with main-clause word order to discuss dietary studies and the limits of their findings.
About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions
01
Draw a conclusion with folglich
Folglich means consequently or therefore. It introduces a conclusion from the information just given and suits formal reports. These fictional study extracts discuss how researchers record diets, without recommending a particular diet.
Die Studie erfasst nur Erwachsene, folglich liefert sie keine Daten über Kinder.
The study covers only adults; consequently, it provides no data on children.
Die Erhebung ist noch nicht abgeschlossen, folglich fehlen die endgültigen Ergebnisse.
Data collection is not yet complete; consequently, the final results are missing.
Die beiden Gruppen essen unterschiedlich, folglich vergleichen wir zwei Ernährungsweisen.
The two groups eat differently; consequently, we are comparing two dietary patterns.
Einige Angaben fehlen, folglich ist die Tabelle unvollständig.
Some information is missing; consequently, the table is incomplete.
Folglich is a linking adverb, so it does not send the verb to the end. When it starts a clause, the finite verb follows immediately: folglich liefert sie. Die Ernährungsweise means dietary pattern; die Erhebung means data collection or survey.
02
Infer something with demnach
Demnach means accordingly or from that it follows. It often points back to a figure, a source or a finding that supports the next statement. Folglich and demnach can overlap in meaning; both present a conclusion rather than a contrast.
| Position | Example |
|---|---|
| linking adverb first | Demnach fehlen Angaben. |
| linking adverb after the verb | Angaben fehlen demnach. |
| modal verb second | Folglich müssen wir nachfragen. |
Die Studie hat achtzig Teilnehmer, demnach umfasst die Stichprobe achtzig Personen.
The study has eighty participants; accordingly, the sample consists of eighty people.
Laut Protokoll wurden nur Hauptmahlzeiten erfasst, demnach fehlen Angaben zu Zwischenmahlzeiten.
According to the protocol, only main meals were recorded; accordingly, information on snacks is missing.
Der Fragebogen enthält keine Mengenangaben, demnach lässt sich die Nährstoffzufuhr daraus nicht berechnen.
The questionnaire contains no quantities; accordingly, nutrient intake cannot be calculated from it.
Laut Protokoll fehlt ein Ernährungstagebuch. Die Datensammlung ist demnach unvollständig.
According to the protocol, one food diary is missing. The dataset is therefore incomplete.
Demnach follows the same verb-second pattern as folglich and can also stand after the finite verb. Die Stichprobe is the sample, die Nährstoffzufuhr nutrient intake and das Ernährungstagebuch a food diary. The numbers below belong to an invented study.
03
Keep conclusions within the evidence
A conclusion should stay within what the information supports. A linking adverb makes the reasoning visible, but it does not prove a claim. Read the editor's notes on a fictional article about diets and practise the verb position after these adverbs.
Die Quellenangabe fehlt. Folglich muss die Redaktion die Quelle ergänzen.
The source reference is missing. Consequently, the editorial team must add the source.
Die Stichprobe umfasst nur zehn Personen. Demnach ist die Aussagekraft der Untersuchung begrenzt.
The sample consists of only ten people. Accordingly, the study has limited explanatory value.
Der Artikel nennt keine Studie. Folglich kann die Leserin die Behauptung nicht überprüfen.
The article names no study. Consequently, the reader cannot check the claim.
Die Daten belegen diese Behauptung nicht. Wir müssen die Aussage demnach vorsichtiger formulieren.
The data do not substantiate this claim. We must therefore phrase the statement more cautiously.
Die Aussagekraft means how much a study can tell us, and belegen means to substantiate a claim with evidence. The words allerdings and dennoch signal a reservation or contrast; folglich and demnach signal a conclusion. With a modal verb, put the modal second and the infinitive at the end.
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