Finding a Home
When looking for a permanent home for an animal, an animal shelter (das Tierheim) wants to make sure it is a good fit.
| We wanted to adopt a cat from the animal shelter because we have a beautiful home. | Wir wollten eine Katze aus dem Tierheim adoptieren, weil wir ein schönes Zuhause haben. |
Setting Strict Conditions with sofern
To express firm rules and requirements, German uses the conditional conjunction sofern (provided that / on the condition that).
As a subordinating conjunction, sofern pushes the conjugated verb to the end of its clause. Always separate the sofern clause from the main clause with a comma.
| You are allowed to adopt the animal, provided that you have sufficient space for the cage. | Sie dürfen das Tier adoptieren, sofern Sie ausreichend Platz für den Käfig haben. |
| I am visiting the animal shelter today, provided that I am allowed to adopt the dog. | Ich besuche das Tierheim heute, sofern ich den Hund adoptieren darf. |
Proving You Are Ready
Shelters have specific rules before they will place (vermitteln) a pet with a new owner. You will often have to prove (nachweisen) that you have consent (die Zustimmung) from your landlord, or that you can provide species-appropriate (artgerecht) care.
| The animal shelter only places the dog, provided that you care for him in a species-appropriate way. | Das Tierheim vermittelt den Hund nur, sofern Sie ihn artgerecht pflegen. |
| You get the cat, provided that you prove the consent of the landlord. | Sie bekommen die Katze, sofern Sie die Zustimmung des Vermieters nachweisen. |
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