B2-35 · State conditions and exceptions
Water and resources
Use sofern for a condition that must be met and es sei denn for the one exception, with the right word order, to talk about water scarcity and consumption.
About 5 minutes to read · 12 quiz questions
01
sofern: provided that
Sofern introduces a condition and means provided that or as long as. Like wenn and falls, it sends the verb to the end of its clause. It sounds more formal and is common in official notices and reports.
Die Gemeinde füllt das Freibad, sofern genug Wasser vorhanden ist.
The municipality fills the open-air pool provided that enough water is available.
Sofern die Trockenheit anhält, gilt ab Montag ein Bewässerungsverbot.
If the drought continues, a watering ban applies from Monday.
Die Firma darf Grundwasser entnehmen, sofern der Pegel stabil bleibt.
The company may extract groundwater provided that the water level remains stable.
Sofern alle mitmachen, sinkt der Verbrauch deutlich.
Provided that everyone joins in, consumption falls considerably.
If the sofern clause comes first, the main clause starts with its verb: Sofern alle mitmachen, sinkt der Verbrauch. Die Trockenheit means drought, der Pegel the water level and das Grundwasser groundwater.
02
es sei denn: unless
Es sei denn means unless. It names the only exception to a statement that is usually negative or restrictive. It follows the main clause after a comma, and a second comma comes after denn: Die Pflanzen überleben nicht, es sei denn, es regnet bald.
Die Pflanzen überleben den Sommer nicht, es sei denn, es regnet bald.
The plants will not survive the summer unless it rains soon.
Das Bewässerungsverbot gilt bis Ende August, es sei denn, der Pegel steigt wieder.
The watering ban applies until the end of August unless the water level rises again.
Die Preise bleiben stabil, es sei denn, der Verbrauch steigt stark an.
Prices will remain stable unless consumption rises sharply.
Landwirte dürfen kein Grundwasser entnehmen, es sei denn, sie haben eine Genehmigung.
Farmers may not extract groundwater unless they have a permit.
After es sei denn, the clause keeps main-clause order with the verb in second position. A version with dass and the verb at the end also exists: es sei denn, dass es bald regnet. Es sei denn cannot begin the sentence. Die Genehmigung means permit.
03
Weigh conditions in a report
Sofern and es sei denn often describe the same situation from opposite sides. Sofern states the condition that must be met; es sei denn states the exception that would change a negative outcome.
| Meaning and word order | Example |
|---|---|
| provided that, verb at the end | sofern der Verbrauch nicht steigt |
| unless, verb in second position | es sei denn, der Verbrauch sinkt |
| unless, verb at the end | es sei denn, dass der Verbrauch sinkt |
Die Reserven reichen bis zum Herbst, sofern der Verbrauch nicht weiter steigt.
The reserves will last until autumn provided that consumption does not rise any further.
Die Reserven reichen nicht bis zum Herbst, es sei denn, der Verbrauch sinkt.
The reserves will not last until autumn unless consumption falls.
Die Stadt baut keinen neuen Speicher, es sei denn, das Land zahlt einen Teil der Kosten.
The town will not build a new reservoir unless the state pays part of the costs.
Sofern die Fabrik ihr Wasser wiederverwendet, darf sie weiter produzieren.
Provided that the factory reuses its water, it may continue production.
Die Reserven means the reserves, der Speicher a reservoir and wiederverwenden to reuse. Wiederverwenden is separable, but in a sofern clause it stays together at the end.
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