Breakdown of Die Tiere bleiben dauerhaft gesund, sofern Sie sie artgerecht füttern.
Sie
you (formal)
sie
they
bleiben
to stay
das Tier
the animal
Questions & Answers about Die Tiere bleiben dauerhaft gesund, sofern Sie sie artgerecht füttern.
How is sofern different from wenn or falls?
While wenn (if) is a general conditional and falls (in case) suggests a possibility, sofern strongly translates to "provided that" or "as long as." It emphasizes a strict requirement: the animals will stay healthy only if this specific feeding condition is met.
Does sofern change the word order of the sentence?
Yes. sofern is a subordinating conjunction. Just like dass or weil, it introduces a dependent clause and forces the conjugated verb (füttern) to the very end of that clause.
Why are there two forms of sie right next to each other in sofern Sie sie?
The first one is capitalized (Sie), which marks the formal "you" acting as the subject. The second one is lowercase (sie), which is the accusative pronoun for "them," referring back to die Tiere (the animals). German often stacks pronouns right after the conjunction.
How is the word artgerecht constructed?
It is a combination of die Art (the species or type) and gerecht (fair, just, or suitable). In German, this is the standard term used for animal welfare, meaning "species-appropriate" or keeping animals in a way that suits their natural needs.