Breakdown of Wir beenden die Besprechung pünktlich, damit alle zur Bahn kommen.
Questions & Answers about Wir beenden die Besprechung pünktlich, damit alle zur Bahn kommen.
Because beenden is transitive (you end something), while enden is intransitive (something ends by itself).
- Wir beenden die Besprechung. = We end the meeting.
- Die Besprechung endet. = The meeting ends. The prefix be- often makes verbs transitive (compare enden → beenden, antworten → beantworten).
Yes. That shifts the subject from “we” to “the meeting”:
- Wir beenden die Besprechung pünktlich … (we actively end it)
- Die Besprechung endet pünktlich … (it ends on its own, or as scheduled) Both are correct; choose based on focus and agency.
- pünktlich = on the dot, at the scheduled time.
- rechtzeitig = in time/early enough for something. In your sentence, “pünktlich” implies the planned end time already allows catching the train. If you want to emphasize “early enough,” use rechtzeitig: Wir beenden … rechtzeitig, damit …
damit introduces a purpose clause (so that/in order that) and is used when the subject of the purpose is different from the main clause’s subject. Here, main clause subject = wir, purpose clause subject = alle, so damit is right. Use um … zu only when the subject is the same: Wir beenden …, um pünktlich zur Bahn zu kommen. (i.e., we ourselves)
Literally “to the railway/train service.” In everyday speech it can mean “to where you catch the train.” More precise options:
- zum Bahnhof = to the train station (location)
- zum Zug = to the (specific) train If the idea is “catch the train,” many prefer: … damit alle ihren Zug erreichen/erwischen.
Not required. damit already expresses purpose. Adding können stresses ability/possibility: “… so that everyone can manage to get to the train.” Both are correct:
- … damit alle zur Bahn kommen.
- … damit alle zur Bahn kommen können. (slightly more explicit)
- sodass (so dass) = so that/as a result (consequence), not purpose. It would mean the punctual ending results in everyone making the train, not that this is the intention.
- weil = because (reason), not suitable for expressing purpose. For intention, stick with damit (or um … zu with same subject).
Common, precise options:
- … damit alle ihren Zug rechtzeitig erreichen/erwischen.
- … damit alle rechtzeitig zum Bahnhof kommen. These make the goal (catching a specific train or getting to the station) explicit.
- beenden: neutral/official “to end/finish” something (transitive).
- aufhören (mit etwas): “to stop (doing something),” more colloquial.
- abschließen: “to conclude/wrap up,” often used for formal processes.