soubal
As Soon as: Soubal
Soubal means as soon as. It starts a subordinate clause, so the verb goes to the end: Ech ruffen dech un, soubal ech doheem sinn.
How It Works
1. Meaning and word order
Soubal means as soon as. Like wann and ier, it introduces a subordinate clause, so the conjugated verb goes to the very end of that clause. A comma always separates the two clauses.
- Ech ruffen dech un, soubal ech doheem sinn. (I will call you as soon as I am home.)
- Schreif mer, soubal s de ukomm bass. (Text me as soon as you have arrived.)
2. Soubal clause first
The soubal clause can open the sentence. It then fills the first place, and the main verb comes right after the comma, before its subject:
- Soubal et méi waarm gëtt, gi mer schwammen. (As soon as it gets warmer, we will go swimming.)
3. Present for the future
For future events, both clauses normally stay in the present: soubal ech doheem sinn already means as soon as I am home. See The Present for the Future. For the past, use the perfect or the simple past as usual: Soubal de Film eriwwer war, si mer heemgefuer.
4. Esoubal and ewéi
The dictionary headword is esoubal, and soubal is its shorter variant. Both can be followed by ewéi without any change in meaning: Esoubal ewéi mir d'Resultater hunn, ruffe mer Iech un.
5. With du
When du or de follows soubal, write the linking s: soubal s de ukomm bass. See The S After Conjunctions With Du.
6. Soubal or wann?
Wann can also mean when for a future event. Soubal adds that there is no waiting in between: the second action follows immediately.
Examples (6)
- Ech ruffen dech un, soubal ech doheem sinn.
I'll call you as soon as I'm home.
The verb sinn stands at the end of the soubal clause.
- Soubal et méi waarm gëtt, gi mer schwammen.
As soon as it gets warmer, we'll go swimming.
The soubal clause comes first, so the main verb gi follows the comma directly. Ginn loses its n before m.
- Schreif mer, soubal s de ukomm bass.
Text me as soon as you have arrived.
With du, an s is written after soubal: soubal s de.
- Esoubal ewéi mir d'Resultater hunn, ruffe mer Iech un.
As soon as we have the results, we'll call you.
The full form esoubal with the optional ewéi. Iech is the polite you.
- Soubal de Film eriwwer war, si mer heemgefuer.
As soon as the film was over, we drove home.
In the past, the clauses use past forms: war and the perfect si ... heemgefuer.
- Ech schreiwen dir, soubal ech ukommen.
I'll write to you as soon as I arrive.
The separable verb ukommen is written as one word at the end of the clause.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the verb in second place after soubal.
Ech ruffen dech un, soubal ech sinn doheem.Ech ruffen dech un, soubal ech doheem sinn.Soubal starts a subordinate clause, so the conjugated verb sinn must go to the end.
Putting the subject first in the main clause after a soubal clause.
Soubal ech Zäit hunn, ech ruffen dech un.Soubal ech Zäit hunn, ruffen ech dech un.The whole soubal clause fills the first place, so the main verb comes right after the comma and the subject follows it.
Splitting a separable verb inside the soubal clause.
Ech schreiwen dir, soubal ech kommen un.Ech schreiwen dir, soubal ech ukommen.At the end of a subordinate clause the prefix joins the verb again: ukommen. Un becomes u before k by the n-rule.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before As Soon As: Soubal, learn If and When: Wann.
Related Patterns
- The Verb at the End of Subordinate Clauses
Soubal follows the general rule that sends the verb to the end.
Level 2 - Starting With a Subordinate Clause
Explains why the main verb follows the comma when soubal comes first.
Level 3 - ierBefore: Ier
Ier (before) is another time conjunction with the verb at the end.
Level 3 - bisUntil: Bis
Bis (until) marks the end point, while soubal marks the starting point.
Level 3 - wann s deThe S After Conjunctions with Du
Explains the s in soubal s de.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice soubal in Bubblegum
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