sowohl...als auch
Both...And
sowohl... als auch is a correlative conjunction used to connect two nouns, adjectives, or verbs. It emphasizes that both parts are equally important and true.
How It Works
The conjunction sowohl... als auch is a 'coordinating' connector, meaning it links elements of the same grammatical rank.
1. Grammatical Parallelism and Placement:
The elements you connect must match. If you use a noun in the accusative case after sowohl, the noun after als auch must also be in the accusative. Note that sowohl must immediately precede the first element being linked.
2. Verb Agreement:
When connecting two singular subjects, the verb can technically be singular or plural. In modern German, the plural is very common (e.g., Sowohl der Hund als auch die Katze schlafen), but the singular is also correct if the subjects are viewed individually.
3. Punctuation:
You generally do not use a comma before als auch when connecting simple words or phrases. However, a comma is mandatory if you are connecting dependent clauses, such as dass-clauses (e.g., Ich weiß sowohl, dass er kommt, als auch, dass sie geht.).
4. Variants and Nuance:
A common and correct alternative to als auch is wie auch. This pattern is more neutral than nicht nur... sondern auch. While the latter suggests the second part is a surprise, sowohl... als auch treats both as equal. Note that for negative 'both' (neither... nor), you must use weder... noch instead.
Examples (4)
- Ich spreche sowohl Deutsch als auch Englisch.
I speak both German and English.
Word by Word: I speak both German as also English.
Here, the conjunction connects two direct objects (languages).
- Das Restaurant ist sowohl gut als auch günstig.
The restaurant is both good and affordable.
Word by Word: The restaurant is both good as also affordable.
This shows the conjunction connecting two adjectives describing the same subject.
- Sowohl mein Vater als auch meine Mutter kommen heute.
Both my father and my mother are coming today.
Word by Word: Both my father as also my mother come today.
When connecting two subjects, the verb 'kommen' is often used in the plural form.
- Er hat sowohl gelacht als auch geweint.
He both laughed and cried.
Word by Word: He has both laughed as also cried.
This demonstrates connecting two past participles in the Perfekt tense.
Common Mistakes
Using a comma before 'als auch' in a simple list.
Ich mag sowohl Tee, als auch Kaffee.Ich mag sowohl Tee als auch Kaffee.In German, coordinating conjunctions like 'und' or 'als auch' do not take a comma when they just connect two nouns or adjectives.
Mixing 'beide' with 'als auch'.
Ich habe beide Tee als auch Kaffee gekauft.Ich habe sowohl Tee als auch Kaffee gekauft.'Beide' is a pronoun meaning 'both (of them)'. 'Sowohl... als auch' is the connector required to link two specific items.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To use 'sowohl... als auch', you first need to understand how basic conjunctions like 'und' work to join elements of equal weight. Since this is a multi-part conjunction, a solid grasp of basic word order and the meaning of the particle 'auch' is necessary to correctly structure the sentence.
- und/oder/aber/dennCoordinating Conjunctions
Understanding basic coordinating conjunctions is essential before learning correlative (two-part) conjunctions that serve a similar grammatical function.
Level 1 - auchAlso/Too
The word 'auch' (also/too) is a core component of this correlative pair and its meaning contributes to the 'both... and' logic.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- nicht nur...sondern auchNot Only...But Also
A similar correlative conjunction that adds emphasis to the second element ('not only... but also').
Level 3 - entweder...oderEither...Or
The 'either... or' counterpart to 'sowohl... als auch'.
Level 3 - weder...nochNeither...Nor
The negative version ('neither... nor') of this pattern.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice sowohl...als auch in Bubblegum
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