In 15 Seconds
- Used to link a cause to its logical result.
- Common in professional, academic, and serious daily contexts.
- Equivalent to 'to result in' or 'to entail' in English.
Meaning
This phrase is used to describe a cause-and-effect relationship. It explains how one action or event logically leads to a specific result or consequence.
Key Examples
3 of 6Explaining a work delay
Der Streik hatte eine Verspätung der Züge zur Folge.
The strike resulted in a delay of the trains.
Talking about health
Wenig Schlaf kann Konzentrationsprobleme zur Folge haben.
Little sleep can result in concentration problems.
Texting about a dead phone
Mein leerer Akku hatte zur Folge, dass ich nicht anrufen konnte.
My empty battery resulted in me not being able to call.
Cultural Background
In German meetings, using this phrase shows you are focused on facts and outcomes.
Focus on the Accusative
Always remember the object following 'zur Folge' must be in the accusative case.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to link a cause to its logical result.
- Common in professional, academic, and serious daily contexts.
- Equivalent to 'to result in' or 'to entail' in English.
What It Means
Imagine you are standing in front of a row of dominoes. You push the first one. The rest fall down. That chain reaction is exactly what zur Folge haben describes. It is a way to link a cause to its inevitable result. In English, we often say "to result in" or "to lead to." It sounds a bit more structured than just saying "and then." It implies that the second thing happened because of the first thing. It is the language of logic and consequences.
How To Use It
You treat this phrase like a standard verb construction. The word haben is the part you change. You conjugate it to match your subject. The part zur and Folge stays exactly as it is. It usually follows the pattern: [Subject] + [haben] + [Result] + [zur Folge]. For example: "The rain has a flood as a consequence." In German: Der Regen hatte eine Überschwemmung zur Folge. It is a very clean way to build a sentence. You can use it in the past, present, or future. Just remember to keep zur and Folge together like best friends.
When To Use It
This phrase is your best friend in professional settings. Use it when writing emails about project delays. Use it when explaining why a certain decision was made. It also works great in daily life for logical outcomes. If you forget to water your plants, it will zur Folge haben that they die. If you stay up too late, it will zur Folge haben that you are tired. It adds a touch of "adulting" to your German. It makes you sound like you understand how the world works. It is very common in news reports and scientific explanations too.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this for very small, personal preferences. If you say "I like pizza, which results in me eating pizza," it sounds weird. It is too heavy for that. It is also not for simple sequences of time. If you go to the bakery and then the park, that is not a "consequence." Only use it when the first event actually forces the second one to happen. Avoid it in very casual slang-heavy chats with teenagers. They might think you sound like a textbook or a lawyer. It is a bit too formal for a wild party.
Cultural Background
Germans are famous for their love of order and logic. This phrase is a linguistic reflection of that mindset. It focuses on the "Ursache-Wirkungs-Prinzip" (cause-and-effect principle). In German culture, being clear about consequences is seen as being responsible. It is not just about what happened. It is about why it happened and what comes next. Using this phrase shows you value clarity and logical connections. It is a very "reliable" way to speak. It shows you have thought the situation through to the end.
Common Variations
You will often see schwerwiegende Folgen haben. This means "to have serious consequences." It is a favorite of news anchors. Another one is keine Folgen haben. This is a relief! It means "to have no consequences." You might also hear Folgen nach sich ziehen. This is a bit more formal and poetic. It literally means "to pull consequences after itself." Stick to zur Folge haben first, as it is the most versatile. It works in almost every situation from a broken coffee machine to a global economic shift.
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral to formal. It is highly effective in written reports, news, and academic papers, but can be used in daily speech to sound precise.
Focus on the Accusative
Always remember the object following 'zur Folge' must be in the accusative case.
Examples
6Der Streik hatte eine Verspätung der Züge zur Folge.
The strike resulted in a delay of the trains.
A classic use in public announcements or news.
Wenig Schlaf kann Konzentrationsprobleme zur Folge haben.
Little sleep can result in concentration problems.
Used here to explain a biological cause and effect.
Mein leerer Akku hatte zur Folge, dass ich nicht anrufen konnte.
My empty battery resulted in me not being able to call.
A bit dramatic for a text, but very clear.
Fünf Pizzas zu essen wird Bauchschmerzen zur Folge haben!
Eating five pizzas will result in a stomachache!
Using a formal structure for a silly situation creates a funny effect.
Der Streit hatte leider die Trennung zur Folge.
The argument unfortunately resulted in the breakup.
Used for serious life events with logical outcomes.
Die neue Strategie wird eine Umsatzsteigerung zur Folge haben.
The new strategy will result in an increase in sales.
Very standard in business presentations.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form.
Die Entscheidung ____ zur Folge, dass wir umziehen.
The subject is singular (die Entscheidung), so 'hat' is correct.
🎉 Score: /1
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
1 exercisesDie Entscheidung ____ zur Folge, dass wir umziehen.
The subject is singular (die Entscheidung), so 'hat' is correct.
🎉 Score: /1
Frequently Asked Questions
1 questionsIt is better to avoid it; it sounds too formal.
Related Phrases
nach sich ziehen
synonymto entail
