Breakdown of Der Weg aus der Höhle ist umso schwieriger, als wir den Sauerstoff aufbrauchen.
sein
to be
aus
from / out of (made of)
wir
we
der Weg
the way
als
when (past single event)
schwierig
difficult
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
die Höhle
the cave
umso
the (alternative second part)
der Sauerstoff
the oxygen
aufbrauchen
to use up
Questions & Answers about Der Weg aus der Höhle ist umso schwieriger, als wir den Sauerstoff aufbrauchen.
Why do we use als here instead of weil to mean "because"?
The structure umso + [comparative] + als is a fixed phrase. It translates to "all the more [comparative] because...". While weil just states a plain reason, als paired with umso specifically links the reason to the increase in difficulty. Note that just like weil, this als acts as a subordinating conjunction and kicks the conjugated verb (aufbrauchen) to the end of the clause.
Can I use desto instead of umso in this sentence?
No. While you might be used to swapping them in je ... umso/desto (the more... the more) sentences, this specific "all the more... because" construction only works with umso. You will always see it as umso ... als.
What is the difference between aufbrauchen and verbrauchen?
Both mean to consume or use something, but the prefix auf- in aufbrauchen adds the meaning of using something up completely until nothing is left. Verbrauchen just means to consume a resource, but aufbrauchen emphasizes the total depletion of the supply, which makes the cave situation so urgent here!
Is Sauerstoff a compound word? How do I remember it?
Yes, it combines sauer (sour or acidic) and der Stoff (substance or material). Historically, oxygen was believed to be the essential "sour substance" that created all acids, hence the name. As you learn more advanced vocabulary, you will notice many German chemical elements end in -stoff, like Wasserstoff (hydrogen) or Kohlenstoff (carbon).
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