……
Breakdown of Es kommt darauf an, wann der Lieferant ankommt; ansonsten verschieben wir den Termin.
wir
we
es
it
den
the; (masculine, accusative)
ankommen
to arrive
wann
when
der Termin
the appointment
verschieben
to postpone
darauf ankommen
to depend on
der Lieferant
the delivery person
ansonsten
otherwise
Questions & Answers about Es kommt darauf an, wann der Lieferant ankommt; ansonsten verschieben wir den Termin.
Why does the sentence start with Es? Is it a “dummy it”?
Yes. In Es kommt darauf an the es is an impersonal “dummy” subject that fills the verb-first slot. English often drops this “it,” but German needs something in subject position. Think of it as: “It depends (on …).”
What exactly is the structure Es kommt darauf an?
It’s a fixed idiom meaning “it depends.” Grammatically, it’s the verb ankommen used with the preposition auf: auf etwas ankommen = “to depend on something.” With a clause, Germans usually use the pronominal form darauf:
- Es kommt darauf an, wann …
With a noun, you say: - Es kommt auf den Preis an.
Why is it darauf and not davon or daran?
Because the verb is ankommen auf (depend on), so the matching da-compound is darauf.
- If the governing preposition were von, you’d use davon; if it were an, you’d use daran.
- To ask about it: Worauf kommt es an? — “What does it depend on?”
Why is there a comma before wann?
Because wann der Lieferant ankommt is a subordinate clause (an indirect question). Subordinate clauses in German must be set off by a comma.
Why is it wann der Lieferant ankommt and not wann kommt der Lieferant an?
In indirect questions (subordinate clauses), German puts the conjugated verb at the end: … wann der Lieferant ankommt.
The version wann kommt der Lieferant an is a direct question and doesn’t fit after a comma in this structure.
Why is the verb form ankommt (together) instead of kommt … an (split)?
Ankommen is a separable verb.
- In main clauses: Der Lieferant kommt um 10 Uhr an. (prefix goes to the end)
- In subordinate clauses: the finite verb goes to the end and the prefix reattaches: … wann der Lieferant ankommt.
Is it a problem that ankommen appears with two different meanings here?
It’s fine and idiomatic.
- Es kommt darauf an uses ankommen (auf) = “to depend on.”
- … wann der Lieferant ankommt uses ankommen = “to arrive.”
Context makes the meanings clear.
Could I say Es hängt davon ab, wann der Lieferant ankommt instead?
Yes. Es hängt davon ab is a natural synonym of Es kommt darauf an. Slight nuance: many speakers find ankommen (darauf) a bit punchier/colloquial in tone, but both are standard.
Can I shorten it to Kommt drauf an?
Yes, in informal speech or writing. It’s a very common clipped version. In careful writing, keep the full Es kommt darauf an.
Why is there a semicolon before ansonsten? Could I use a comma or a period?
All three are acceptable:
- Semicolon: …; ansonsten … (slightly stronger break than a comma)
- Comma: …, ansonsten … (very common)
- Period: …. Ansonsten … (two separate sentences)
In all cases, ansonsten starts a new main clause.
Why is it ansonsten verschieben wir … and not ansonsten wir verschieben …?
Because ansonsten is in first position, the finite verb must be in second position (V2 rule): Ansonsten verschieben wir …
If you drop ansonsten, you’d say: Sonst verschieben wir … or simply Wir verschieben …
What’s the difference between ansonsten, sonst, and andernfalls/anderenfalls?
- sonst = otherwise (very common, neutral): Beeil dich, sonst …
- ansonsten = otherwise; also “apart from that” depending on context. Slightly more formal than sonst, but still neutral.
- andernfalls/anderenfalls = otherwise; a bit more formal/legalistic.
In this sentence, all three could work stylistically: …, sonst/ansonsten/andernfalls verschieben wir den Termin.
Why is it den Termin and not der Termin?
Because verschieben takes a direct object in the accusative. Termin is masculine, so accusative singular is den: wir verschieben den Termin.
Does Termin mean “deadline,” “appointment,” or “date”?
Primarily “appointment/meeting/time slot.” It can mean a “deadline” in some business/legal contexts, but for deadlines Frist is the unambiguous word. So here: “we’ll reschedule the appointment/meeting.”
Anything special about der Lieferant grammatically?
Yes. Lieferant is an n-declension (weak) masculine noun. Outside the nominative singular, it takes an extra -en:
- Nom. sg.: der Lieferant
- Acc./Dat./Gen. sg.: den/dem/des Lieferanten
- Nom./Acc. pl.: die Lieferanten
In the sentence, it’s nominative (subject of the subclause), so der Lieferant is correct.
Could I say Es kommt an, wann … without darauf?
No. For the “depend on” meaning, ankommen needs the preposition auf: Es kommt auf X an or with a clause Es kommt darauf an, …. Without darauf/auf, ankommen is just “to arrive.”
Why not just use kommen instead of ankommen in the subclause?
You can say … wann der Lieferant kommt, and it can be understood as “when the supplier comes/arrives.” But ankommt is the standard, precise verb for physically arriving at a place. Use ankommen when arrival at a destination is the point.
Can I use other clause types after Es kommt darauf an?
Yes. Commonly with indirect questions or ob:
- Es kommt darauf an, ob er Zeit hat.
- Es kommt darauf an, wie teuer es wird.
- Es kommt darauf an, wer entscheidet.
- Es kommt darauf an, wann/wo …
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