When should I use "um...zu" and when "damit" when introducing a final subordinate sentence?

Both the conjunctions "um" and "damit" introduce a final subordinate sentence. The only difference between the two lies in the subject of the sentence. When using the conjunction "um..zu"  the subject of the subordinate clause must be the same subject of the main clause, whereas when using "damit" the main and the subordinate clause can have two different subjects. 

For example: Ich höre Musik nicht, damit meine Mutter schlafen kann.

The subject of the first clause is "ich", whereas the subject of the subordinate clause is "meine Mutter". For this reason I have used the conjunction "damit" instead of "um...zu".

AB
Answered by Alice B. German tutor

40625 Views

See similar German A Level tutors

Related German A Level answers

All answers ▸

What is the „Plusquamperfekt, how do you use it and how can you tell it apart from the „Perfekt“?


How to score highly in grammar when writing an essay in an exam


How do you combine casus and articles?


Großeltern, Eltern und Kinder, vielleicht noch die Urgroßeltern unter einem Dach – das war früher normal, ist aber heute eine Ausnahme. Ist es Ihrer Meinung nach gut, wenn mehrere Generationen zusammenleben? Warum (nicht)?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

© MyTutorWeb Ltd 2013–2025

Terms & Conditions|Privacy Policy
Cookie Preferences