Die Aufgabe ist einfach, solange du ruhig bleibst.

The task is simple as long as you stay calm.

Breakdown of Die Aufgabe ist einfach, solange du ruhig bleibst.

• sein: to be
• du: you
• bleiben: to stay
• ruhig: calm
• die Aufgabe: the task
• solange: as long as
• einfach: just / simply

Questions & Answers about Die Aufgabe ist einfach, solange du ruhig bleibst.

Why is it Die Aufgabe and not Der Aufgabe or Das Aufgabe?

Aufgabe is a feminine noun in German, so its nominative singular article is die. In this sentence, Die Aufgabe is the subject, so you use nominative: Die Aufgabe ist ….

• die Aufgabe (nom.) = the task
• der Aufgabe (dat.) would appear after certain prepositions or verbs, e.g. bei der Aufgabe, mit der Aufgabe.

Why is the verb ist in second position, and why is the comma there?

German main clauses follow the V2 rule: the finite verb is in position 2.

• Die Aufgabe (position 1) ist (position 2) einfach (rest)

The comma is required because solange du ruhig bleibst is a subordinate clause (introduced by solange), and German uses a comma to separate subordinate clauses from the main clause.

What does solange do grammatically?

Solange is a subordinating conjunction meaning as long as / so long as. It introduces a subordinate clause, which triggers two key things:

1. A comma before the clause.
2. The finite verb goes to the end of the subordinate clause: … solange du ruhig bleibst.

Why is it du ruhig bleibst and not du bleibst ruhig?

Because solange starts a subordinate clause. In subordinate clauses, German typically places the finite verb at the end:

• Main clause word order: Du bleibst ruhig.
• Subordinate clause word order: …, solange du ruhig bleibst.

Both contain the same parts; the difference is the clause type.

Is ruhig an adjective or an adverb here?

Functionally it’s used adverbially: it describes how you stay—calmly / calm. German often uses adjectives in an adverb-like way without changing the form:

• ruhig can mean calm (adjective) or calmly (adverbial use), but the form stays ruhig.

What’s the difference between bleiben and sein here?

sein = to be (a state)
bleiben = to stay / remain (continuing a state)

So du ruhig bleibst means you remain calm (you keep that calm state), not just that you are calm at one moment.

Can I also say wenn du ruhig bleibst instead of solange du ruhig bleibst?

You can, but the meaning shifts:

• solange du ruhig bleibst = the task is easy for the entire duration that you stay calm (ongoing condition).
• wenn du ruhig bleibst = the task is easy if you stay calm (more like a general conditional).

Both are grammatical; solange emphasizes duration.

Why is it einfach and not einfache?

Because einfach is a predicate adjective after sein:

• Die Aufgabe ist einfach. = The task is easy.

Predicate adjectives in German do not take endings. Endings appear when the adjective comes before a noun:

• eine einfache Aufgabe (adjective ending because it modifies Aufgabe directly)

Could the sentence start with the subordinate clause?

Yes. You can front the subordinate clause for emphasis, but then the main clause verb still must be in position 2 (V2), so the subject comes after the verb:

• Solange du ruhig bleibst, ist die Aufgabe einfach.

Notice: subordinate clause + comma + ist + subject.

Why is du included? Can it be omitted?

In standard German, the subject pronoun generally cannot be dropped the way it can in some other languages. So you normally must say du bleibst / du … bleibst. Dropping it would sound incomplete or poetic/dialectal.

Is bleibst the right form for du?

Yes. It’s the present tense conjugation of bleiben:

• ich bleibe
• du bleibst
• er/sie/es bleibt
• wir bleiben
• ihr bleibt
• sie/Sie bleiben

So du ruhig bleibst is correct.

Does the comma always have to be there, or is it optional like in English?

It’s not optional in standard German. A subordinate clause introduced by solange must be separated with a comma:

• Die Aufgabe ist einfach, solange du ruhig bleibst. German comma rules are stricter than English in this area.