Breakdown of Der Aufwand ist groß, damit die Masse friedlich bleibt.
sein
to be
groß
big / tall
bleiben
to stay
damit
so that
der Aufwand
the effort (expenditure, resources)
die Masse
the crowd (mass)
friedlich
peaceful
Questions & Answers about Der Aufwand ist groß, damit die Masse friedlich bleibt.
Why do we use damit here instead of um ... zu?
Both express purpose ("so that" or "in order to"). You must use damit here because the subject of the main clause (der Aufwand) is different from the subject of the second clause (die Masse). You can only use um ... zu when both clauses share the exact same subject.
Why is the verb bleibt at the very end of the sentence?
The word damit is a subordinating conjunction. It introduces a subordinate clause, which requires the conjugated verb (bleibt) to be pushed to the very end of that clause. This is a good reminder of basic subordinate word order before tackling trickier exceptions like double infinitives!
Does die Masse always mean "the crowd"?
It can refer to "the crowd" of people, but it also translates to "the mass" (in physics or general volume) or "the bulk". Here, in the context of keeping people peaceful, "the crowd" makes the most sense.
What exactly does der Aufwand mean?
Der Aufwand refers to the effort, expense, or trouble it takes to achieve something. A very common phrase you might hear is Es ist den Aufwand wert, meaning "It is worth the effort."
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