Wir können die Kosten weiter senken, indem wir Energie sparen.

We can reduce the costs further by saving energy.

Breakdown of Wir können die Kosten weiter senken, indem wir Energie sparen.

• wir: we
• können: can
• sparen: to save
• die Energie: the energy
• indem: by
• die Kosten: the cost
• weiter: further
• senken: to reduce

Questions & Answers about Wir können die Kosten weiter senken, indem wir Energie sparen.

What is the function of weiter in this sentence?

weiter is an adverb meaning “further” or “additional.” Here it modifies the verb senken, so weiter senken means “to reduce further” (i.e. make additional cuts). It is not part of a separable verb; it simply intensifies the reduction.

How do I know when to use senken versus sinken?

• senken is a transitive verb (takes a direct object): you senken something (e.g. Kosten, Preise).
• sinken is intransitive (no direct object): something sinkt on its own (e.g. Wasserpegel, Temperaturen).
  Since we actively reduce the costs, we need senken and say die Kosten senken.

Why is there a comma before indem?

indem introduces a subordinate clause that explains the means (“by doing X”). In German, every subordinate clause is separated from the main clause by a comma. Thus:
Wir können die Kosten weiter senken, indem wir Energie sparen.

What does indem do to the word order of the following clause?

Subordinate clauses in German move the conjugated verb to the end. After indem, the order is:

1. indem (subjunctive conjunction)
2. subject (wir)
3. object / adverbial (here Energie)
4. verb (sparen)

So you get indem wir Energie sparen with sparen at the very end.

Why is Energie used without an article here?

When talking about saving energy in general (an uncountable concept), German often drops the article. If you said die Energie, it might refer to a specific type or instance of energy. But in general advice or broad statements, no article is common: Energie sparen = “save energy.”

Why are Kosten in the plural, and what case is die Kosten?

• Kosten (“costs”) is always used in the plural in German.
• Here it is the direct object of senken, so it stands in the accusative plural.
• The plural article for feminine nouns in accusative is die, so die Kosten remains unchanged from nominative.

Why do we repeat wir in the indem-clause?

German clauses always need their own explicit subject. Even though it’s the same “we,” the subordinate clause introduced by indem must have its subject wir to remain a grammatically complete clause.

Could I use um … zu instead of indem here? What’s the difference?

Yes, you can express purpose with um … zu:
Wir können die Kosten weiter senken, um Energie zu sparen.
Difference:

• indem describes how something is done (the means): “by saving energy.”
• um … zu expresses purpose or intention: “in order to save energy.”
  Semantically they’re very close, but indem focuses on the method, um … zu on the goal.