Breakdown of Die Schneeflocken wurden größer, umso behaglicher fühlten wir uns.
groß
big / tall
wir
we
werden
to become / to get (change of state)
sich fühlen
to feel (a certain way)
umso
the (alternative second part)
die Schneeflocke
the snowflake
behaglich
snug
Questions & Answers about Die Schneeflocken wurden größer, umso behaglicher fühlten wir uns.
Why does the second clause start with umso behaglicher?
The word umso acts as a consecutive connector here, showing a consequence that increases in intensity. Combined with the comparative adjective behaglicher (more snug), it translates to 'all the more snug'. Because it acts as the first element of this independent clause, it pushes the conjugated verb fühlten into the second position.
Is this the same as the je..., desto/umso... (the more..., the more...) structure?
They are related but grammatically different. A je..., umso... construction pairs a subordinate clause (where the verb goes to the end) with a main clause. In this sentence, we just have two independent main clauses. The first sets up a fact, and the second uses umso to say 'therefore, all the more...'.
Why is the subject wir placed after the verb fühlten?
Because the phrase umso behaglicher takes up position 1 in the second clause. German requires the conjugated verb in position 2 for main clauses, so fühlten comes next. That forces the subject wir into position 3.
Why do we need the word uns in the second clause?
It is the reflexive pronoun for wir. In German, expressing your own physical or emotional state usually requires the reflexive verb sich fühlen (to feel), whereas English just uses 'to feel' without a reflexive pronoun.
Is wurden being used to form a passive sentence here?
No, here wurden is acting as a standalone main verb. It is the simple past (Präteritum) of werden meaning 'to become' or 'to get'. So wurden größer simply translates to 'got bigger' or 'became bigger'.
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