obwohl, damit and um…zu: although, so that and in order to
CEFR B1 · part 2
edumaterial's parts within the level. The European framework does not subdivide them.
The future with werden, and why it is hardly ever usedBuilding the future with werden conjugated and the infinitive at the end, and —what…entweder…oder, nicht nur…sondern auch: two-part connectorsLinking two ideas with the five commonest pairs —entweder…oder, sowohl…als auch…warten auf, denken an: verbs with a fixed preposition, and the da- and wo- that go with themLearning the verb with its preposition attached, as one word —warten AUF, denken AN…der Deutsche, etwas Gutes: adjectives turned into nounsTurning an adjective into a noun, which German does every day: der Alte, die Kleine, das…Indirect questions: ob and the seven W-words, with the verb at the endAsking politely rather than bluntly, which is what they are really for: Wissen Sie, wo…könnten Sie, ich hätte gern: polite requests and wishesAsking for things without sounding blunt, which matters more in Germany than you would…The rule, in three lines
Three connectors that give an argument its shape. um … zu says what for, and only works when both halves share the SAME subject: Ich lerne, um die Prüfung zu bestehen. damit says what for when the subject CHANGES: Ich erkläre es, damit du es verstehst. And obwohl says although, sending the verb to the end.
The usual slip. Using um … zu when the subject changes, which is the big one and sounds plainly wrong. And the word-order slip: obwohl is subordinating and sends the verb to the end, while trotzdem, which means almost the same, fills the first slot and leaves the verb second.
Why it catches you out. English has «in order to» and «so that», the same split, but it lets you be lazy: «I'm explaining it so you understand» marks nothing at all. German has no lazy version. If the subject changes you must say damit, and the verb goes to the end.