Breakdown of Der Weg wird umso gefährlicher, als die Felsen nass sind.
sein
to be
der Weg
the way
werden
to become / to get (change of state)
gefährlich
dangerous
nass
wet
umso
the (alternative second part)
als
as (in "insofar as")
der Felsen
the rock (boulder, cliff)
Questions & Answers about Der Weg wird umso gefährlicher, als die Felsen nass sind.
Why does als mean "because" in this sentence instead of "when" or "than"?
When paired with umso + a comparative adjective (like umso gefährlicher), als acts as a causal conjunction. This specific umso ... als structure translates to "all the more [adjective] because". It explains the specific reason behind the increased intensity mentioned in the main clause.
How is this different from the je ..., umso ... ("the more..., the more...") structure?
While both structures use umso, they express different ideas. The je ..., umso ... pattern shows two things changing proportionally at the same time (e.g., "The wetter the rocks, the more dangerous the path"). The umso ... als pattern gives a static reason for an intensified state ("all the more dangerous because the rocks are wet").
Why is the verb sind pushed to the very end of the sentence?
Because als functions as a subordinating conjunction here, exactly like weil or obwohl. It introduces a subordinate clause, which forces the conjugated verb (sind) to the very end of that clause.
Could I just use weil instead of als here?
Yes, you could absolutely say Der Weg wird umso gefährlicher, weil die Felsen nass sind. However, using als right after an umso clause is a highly idiomatic, B2/C1-level way to elegantly tie the cause directly to the comparison.
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