FormHauptsatz, wobei + Subjekt … Verb (Ende)
Meaning and usage
wobei attaches something to the statement before it. Most often it is a qualification, close to though: Der Vorschlag ist sinnvoll, wobei die Finanzierung noch offen ist. Ich stimme zu, wobei ich einen Punkt anders sehe. It is the polite way to agree with only part of something, and very common in careful speech.
It can also add something that happened during the same event, and in doing so: Tom fiel auf die Nase, wobei ihm die Brille zu Bruch ging. In both uses the verb goes to the end of the wobei clause, and the clause follows the main clause it comments on.
Examples 4
Der Vorschlag ist sinnvoll, wobei die Finanzierung noch offen ist.
The proposal makes sense, though the funding is still open.
Ich stimme zu, wobei ich einen Punkt anders sehe.
I agree, though I see one point differently.
Tom fiel auf die Nase, wobei ihm die Brille zu Bruch ging.
Tom fell flat on his face and broke his glasses.
Das Hotel war schön, wobei das Frühstück etwas teuer war.
The hotel was nice, though breakfast was a bit expensive.
Test yourself
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1 Sprachbausteine
Das Konzert war toll, die Musik etwas zu laut war.
Show answer
Correct answer: wobei
The second clause limits the praise: wobei = though. The verb war goes to the end.
- weil gives a reason, but loud music is not why the concert was great.
- damit gives a purpose, which does not fit.
- indem gives the means, which does not fit.
In this topic: Advanced connectors
- …, indem man liest indem: by doing something
- dadurch, dass … dadurch, dass: by, through the fact that
- …, wobei … wobei: though, or and in doing so
- …, zumal … zumal: especially as, all the more so because
- insofern …, als … insofern …, als: in that, to the extent that
- Soweit ich weiß, … soweit / soviel ich weiß: as far as I know
- …, geschweige denn … geschweige denn: let alone, much less
- während / wohingegen (Gegensatz) während, wohingegen: whereas, comparing two sides
- zu …, als dass … zu …, als dass: too … for something to happen
Example sentences from Tatoeba, used under CC BY 2.0 FR. See sources.