Breakdown of Die Temperatur steigt, infolgedessen schmilzt der Schnee und verursacht ein Hochwasser.
ein
a, an (eine)
und
and
der Schnee
the snow
verursachen
to cause
steigen
to rise (go up, increase)
schmelzen
to melt
die Temperatur
the temperature
infolgedessen
consequently
das Hochwasser
the flood
Questions & Answers about Die Temperatur steigt, infolgedessen schmilzt der Schnee und verursacht ein Hochwasser.
Why is the verb schmilzt placed immediately after infolgedessen?
infolgedessen is an adverbial connector, meaning it acts as an adverb taking up Position 1 in its clause. In German main clauses, the conjugated verb must always be in Position 2. Therefore, schmilzt comes right after the connector, pushing the subject der Schnee to Position 3.
Can I separate this into two distinct sentences with a period instead of a comma?
Yes, absolutely. Because infolgedessen connects two independent main clauses, you can perfectly well write: Die Temperatur steigt. Infolgedessen schmilzt der Schnee... Using a comma here is just a stylistic choice to connect the cause and effect more fluidly.
Why doesn't the subject der Schnee need to be repeated before the verb verursacht?
When two verbs share the exact same subject in a main clause, you can connect them with und and drop the second subject. The sentence behaves as if it says: ...infolgedessen schmilzt der Schnee und [der Schnee] verursacht ein Hochwasser.
What is the difference between Hochwasser and Überschwemmung for a flood?
While Überschwemmung is the general word for a flood where dry land gets covered in water, Hochwasser literally means high water. It is the specific and most common term used in German for rivers, streams, or lakes overflowing their banks, which is exactly what happens during the seasonal melting of snow.
Learn Die Temperatur steigt, infolgedessen schmilzt der Schnee und verursacht ein Hochwasser 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