Breakdown of Ich rufe die Berater an, denen ich vertraue, damit sie mir helfen können.
ich
I
sie
they
können
can / to be able to
anrufen
to call (by phone)
helfen
to help
vertrauen
to trust
mir
me / to me (dative)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
damit
so that
der Berater
the consultant, advisor
dem
whom / which (dative relative pronoun)
Questions & Answers about Ich rufe die Berater an, denen ich vertraue, damit sie mir helfen können.
Why is the relative pronoun denen used here instead of die?
The relative pronoun refers back to the plural noun die Berater (the consultants). However, in the relative clause, the verb is vertrauen (to trust), which always requires a dative object. The dative plural form of the relative pronoun is denen.
Why is an placed before the first comma instead of at the very end of the sentence?
The verb in the main clause is the separable verb anrufen (to call). The prefix an goes to the end of its own clause (Ich rufe die Berater an). It does not go to the very end of the entire sentence because the relative clause and the damit clause are separate units with their own structure.
Why are both verbs at the end of the sentence in helfen können?
The word damit (so that) introduces a subordinate clause, which forces the conjugated verb (können) to the very end. The infinitive verb (helfen) gets pushed right next to it, just before the conjugated verb.
Why is it mir instead of mich in the last clause?
The verb helfen (to help) always takes a dative object in German. Therefore, you must use the dative pronoun mir rather than the accusative mich.
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