Learn Hardcore German: Es kommt darauf an, wann der Lieferant ankommt; ansonsten verschieben wir den Termin. - It depends on when the delivery person arrives; otherwise we will postpone the appointment.

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 …