Breakdown of Ich werde meine Hausaufgaben wiederholen, damit ich die Prüfung gut bestehe.
ich
I
mein
my
werden
will
damit
so that
die Prüfung
the exam
die Hausaufgabe
the homework
wiederholen
to review
gut
well
bestehen
to pass
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Questions & Answers about Ich werde meine Hausaufgaben wiederholen, damit ich die Prüfung gut bestehe.
What is the function of the subordinate clause introduced by damit?
The clause "damit ich die Prüfung gut bestehe" expresses purpose. It tells us why the action in the main clause is being done—in this case, repeating homework in order to pass the exam well. In English, it roughly translates to "so that I pass the exam well."
Why is the conjugated verb bestehe placed at the end of the clause?
In German subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions like damit, the finite (conjugated) verb is required to come at the end. Thus, in "damit ich die Prüfung gut bestehe," the verb bestehe appears at the very end according to standard German word order rules.
Why does the subordinate clause use the present tense (bestehe) when the main clause is in the future tense?
Although the main clause uses the future tense with "werde" to indicate a future action, German often uses the present tense in subordinate clauses expressing purpose or a goal that is understood as future. So, "ich die Prüfung gut bestehe" is in the present tense, yet it clearly indicates the intended future result of repeating the homework.
What does the verb wiederholen mean in this sentence?
The verb wiederholen means "to repeat" or "to review." In this sentence, it implies going over or revisiting the homework material. Rather than simply doing the homework again, it suggests a thorough review to prepare effectively for the exam.
Why is there a comma before damit?
German punctuation rules require a comma to be placed before a subordinate clause. Since damit introduces the purpose clause "damit ich die Prüfung gut bestehe," a comma is used to clearly separate it from the main clause.
How is the future tense formed in the main clause of this sentence?
The future tense is constructed using the auxiliary verb "werden" followed by the main verb in its infinitive form. In "Ich werde meine Hausaufgaben wiederholen," "werde" indicates the future, while "wiederholen" remains in the infinitive. This structure signals that the action of repeating the homework is intended to occur in the future.