Wir wiederholen die Regel, damit jeder sie versteht.

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Breakdown of Wir wiederholen die Regel, damit jeder sie versteht.

• damit: so that
• verstehen: to understand
• wiederholen: to repeat
• jeder: everyone
• sie: it
• die Regel: the rule

Questions & Answers about Wir wiederholen die Regel, damit jeder sie versteht.

What does damit mean here and what role does it play?

damit is a subordinating conjunction meaning so that or in order that. It introduces a purpose clause, explaining the intention behind the action in the main clause.

Why is the verb versteht placed at the end of the second clause?

Because damit introduces a subordinate clause. In German, subordinate clauses push the finite verb to the very end.

Could I use um … zu instead of damit to express the same idea?

No. um … zu also expresses purpose but only works if the subject in both clauses is the same. Here the main clause subject is wir, while the subordinate clause subject is jeder, so you must use damit.

Why is the pronoun sie used to refer to die Regel? Could I use es?

Regel is a feminine noun (die Regel). In German, you replace feminine singular nouns with sie, not es (which is for neuter nouns).

Why is there a comma before damit?

German grammar requires a comma before any subordinate clause. Since damit introduces the subordinate clause, you place a comma right before it.

What kind of word is jeder here, and why doesn’t it take an article?

Here jeder is an indefinite pronoun meaning “everyone” or “each one.” Indefinite pronouns stand alone and do not need an article.

Why is wiederholen in the second position in the main clause?

German main clauses follow the verb-second (V2) rule: the finite verb must be the second element. Wir is first, so wiederholen comes next.

How would I say this sentence if I wanted to express that we have already repeated the rule?

Use the present perfect for the main clause and keep the subordinate clause the same:
Wir haben die Regel wiederholt, damit jeder sie versteht.