Breakdown of Es fällt kein Niederschlag, demzufolge sterben viele Bäume.
es
it
kein
no, not any
viel
much / a lot
der Baum
the tree
sterben
to die
fallen
to fall
der Niederschlag
the precipitation
demzufolge
as a result
Questions & Answers about Es fällt kein Niederschlag, demzufolge sterben viele Bäume.
How does demzufolge affect the word order in the second clause?
As an adverbial connector, demzufolge occupies the first position (Position 1) in its clause. Because German main clauses strictly require the verb in Position 2, the verb sterben must come immediately after it. This pushes the subject viele Bäume to the other side of the verb.
Could I use folglich or infolgedessen in this sentence instead?
Absolutely. demzufolge, folglich, and infolgedessen are interchangeable here. They all express a consequence ("consequently" or "as a result") and act as adverbs, meaning they all trigger the exact same word order: connector + verb + subject.
Why does the first part use Es? Couldn't I just say Kein Niederschlag fällt?
You could, and it would be grammatically correct. However, German frequently uses es as a "dummy subject" in Position 1 to introduce a general state, event, or weather phenomenon. This allows the real subject (kein Niederschlag) to drop behind the verb, which sounds much more natural and less abrupt.
Why are these clauses separated by a comma? Can I use a period instead?
You can definitely use a period! Because demzufolge connects two independent main clauses, you can write: Es fällt kein Niederschlag. Demzufolge sterben viele Bäume. Using a comma is just a stylistic choice to link the cause and effect more tightly together. Just remember not to confuse demzufolge with a subordinating conjunction (like weil) — it always keeps main clause V2 word order, whether after a comma or a period.
Learn Es fällt kein Niederschlag, demzufolge sterben viele Bäume and more in German
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free