Breakdown of Auch wenn du dich schnell einlebst, vermisst du deine Freunde.
du
you (informal singular)
schnell
fast, quickly
der Freund
the friend
dein
your (informal)
auch wenn
even if
vermissen
to miss (someone or something emotionally)
sich einleben
to settle in
Questions & Answers about Auch wenn du dich schnell einlebst, vermisst du deine Freunde.
Why does the second part of the sentence start with the verb vermisst?
The phrase auch wenn (even if) creates a subordinate clause, which acts as the entire first "position" of the overall sentence. Because German requires the main conjugated verb to take the second position, the main clause must start with its verb, vermisst, right after the comma.
Isn't einleben a separable verb? Why is it written as one word (einlebst) here?
Yes, sich einleben (to settle in) is a separable verb! In a standard main clause, the prefix splits off and goes to the end (for example: Du lebst dich schnell ein). However, because auch wenn pushes the conjugated verb to the very end of its clause, the prefix and the verb meet up and are written together as a single word: einlebst.
Why do we need the word dich in the first clause?
The verb for "to settle in" is sich einleben, which is a reflexive verb in German. It always needs a reflexive pronoun that matches the subject. Since the subject is du, we use the accusative reflexive pronoun dich (literally, "you live yourself in").
Could I just use obwohl (although) instead of auch wenn (even if)?
They trigger the exact same verb-final word order, but they have slightly different meanings. Auch wenn is used for a hypothetical or conditional situation ("even if you happen to settle in"). Obwohl is used for a stated fact ("although you are definitely settling in"). If the settling in is just a possibility or future condition, you need auch wenn.
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