Learn Hardcore German: Die Benachrichtigung kommt, sobald der Termin bestätigt ist. - The notification arrives as soon as the appointment is confirmed.

German often uses the present tense for near‑future or scheduled events when the time is clear from context. Here, sobald (“as soon as”) makes the future reference obvious. You could also say wird kommen, but the simple present kommt is the most natural choice.

Why does the verb go to the end in sobald der Termin bestätigt ist?

Because sobald is a subordinating conjunction. In subordinate clauses, the conjugated verb goes to the end. Compare:

Main clause (V2): Der Termin ist bestätigt.
Sub clause (verb-final): … sobald der Termin bestätigt ist.

What exactly does sobald mean, and how is it different from wenn or als?

sobald = “as soon as,” emphasizing immediate succession.
wenn = “when/if.” It’s more general; it can mean “if” or “whenever.” It’s fine here but less precise than sobald.
als = “when” for one-time events in the past only. Not suitable here.

Why is it ist bestätigt and not wird bestätigt?

ist bestätigt is the state passive (Zustandspassiv): it focuses on the resulting state “is confirmed.”
wird bestätigt is the event/process passive (Vorgangspassiv): it focuses on the act “is being/gets confirmed.” With sobald, the state passive fits well because the notification is sent once the confirmed state has been reached.

Could I say … sobald der Termin bestätigt wurde or … sobald der Termin bestätigt worden ist?

Yes. Both are grammatical:

… bestätigt wurde (preterite passive) is common in writing and colloquial speech for “once it has been confirmed.”
… bestätigt worden ist (present perfect passive) is more explicit but heavier. All three—ist bestätigt, wurde bestätigt, bestätigt worden ist—are acceptable; choose by nuance and style.

Can I start the sentence with the sobald clause?

Yes: Sobald der Termin bestätigt ist, kommt die Benachrichtigung. Remember to keep verb-second in the following main clause: kommt die Benachrichtigung (not “die Benachrichtigung kommt” before the verb).

Is the comma before sobald required?

Yes. A comma is mandatory before a subordinate clause: … kommt, sobald …. If the subordinate clause comes first, you also use a comma: Sobald …, kommt …

Why is it der Termin (nominative) and not den Termin?

In the subordinate clause, der Termin is the subject of the passive predicate bestätigt ist. Subjects take nominative case, hence der (not den/dem).

Is bestätigt an adjective or a participle here?

It’s the past participle used adjectivally in the state passive construction sein + Partizip II. Functionally it behaves like a predicate adjective: Der Termin ist bestätigt.

What does Termin cover—appointment, meeting, or deadline?

Primarily “appointment/meeting” at a fixed time (doctor’s appointment, client meeting). For a deadline, use Frist or Abgabetermin (the latter can mean due date). Don’t confuse with Datum (calendar date) or a romantic “date” (Date or Verabredung).

What’s the nuance of Benachrichtigung versus Nachricht, Mitteilung, or Erinnerung?

Benachrichtigung: a notification (often automated/system-generated).
Nachricht: a message (content someone sends).
Mitteilung: an announcement/communication (more formal/official).
Erinnerung: a reminder.
In app/IT contexts, Benachrichtigung is the standard term for “notification.”

Would Die Benachrichtigung kommt an work?

It’s understandable but shifts the focus to successful delivery to the recipient (“it arrives”). Die Benachrichtigung kommt simply states that it will be sent/come. Other natural options:

Neutral/formal: Die Benachrichtigung erfolgt …
Colloquial: Die Benachrichtigung geht raus …
Recipient-focused: Du bekommst eine Benachrichtigung …

Why not ist bestätigt → ist before bestätigt?

In a main clause you’d say Der Termin ist bestätigt (verb-second). In a subordinate clause introduced by sobald, the conjugated verb goes to the end, so it becomes … bestätigt ist. Same words, different order because of clause type.

How is capitalization handled here—should sobald be capitalized?

Inside the sentence after a comma, sobald is lowercase (it’s a conjunction).
At the beginning of a sentence, it’s capitalized as the first word: Sobald der Termin bestätigt ist, … Nouns like Benachrichtigung and Termin are always capitalized.

Is there anything to watch out for with umlauts or spelling?

Yes: bestätigt has an umlaut (ä). If you can’t type umlauts, write bestaetigt. Avoid writing bestatigt without the umlaut, which is a spelling error.

Could I replace sobald with wenn here?

You can: Die Benachrichtigung kommt, wenn der Termin bestätigt ist. It’s grammatical but slightly less precise; wenn can sound like a general condition (“if/when”), while sobald highlights immediacy (“as soon as”).

Is sei ever used instead of ist in this clause?

Yes, in reported speech with the subjunctive (Konjunktiv I):
Er sagt, die Benachrichtigung komme, sobald der Termin bestätigt sei.
This marks reported information; in direct statements use ist.

What about so bald vs sobald?

The conjunction is one word: sobald = “as soon as.”
In the phrase “as soon as possible,” you normally write so bald wie möglich (two words after so). You’ll also see sobald wie möglich, but so bald wie möglich is the standard form.

How do you pronounce the tricky parts?

Benachrichtigung: stress on “-na-”; the “ch” after “i” is the soft “ich” sound “be-NAH-kh-rih-ti-goong.”
Termin: stress on the second syllable: “tehr-MEEN.”
bestätigt: stress on “-stä-”; the final “-igt” is often pronounced like “-icht.”