Indem, dadurch dass, dadurch, durch

[bitter gorge]

I need some clarification on this topic. I know that all of the words describe the means (or method) with which a goal, expressed in the main clause, can be achieved.

To begin with, indem and dadurch dass are both variants of each other. However, dadurch dass emphasises the goal more.

Dadurch dass (without a comma) is a subordinating conjunction, with a comma between dadurch and dass it becomes a pronominal adverb (not too sure about what that is).

When using dadurch dass, you can sometimes put dadurch in the main clause for emphasis on the goal, for example:

• Der Autor bekommt mehr Leser, dadurch dass er Werbung für sein Buch macht.
• Der Autor bekommt dadurch mehr Leser, dass er Werbung für sein Buch macht.

Question: What is the difference between saying:

• Der Autor bekommt mehr Leser, dadurch dass er Werbung für sein Buch macht.
• Dadurch, dass er Werbung für sein Buch macht, bekommt der Autor mehr Leser.

Then we have durch, which is a simple way of saying all this without using main clauses and subordinate clauses. This is done by Nominalisierung des Verbs.

But what is the difference between using dadurch and durch?

[narrow dawn]

Ugh. This is indeed difficult. So, let's start with the easiest, i.e. clearing up what a Pronominaladverb is, and let me explain it by using "mit", which is easier: Das ist mein Lieblingsmesser. Mit meinem Lieblingsmesser schneide ich Zwiebeln. I,e, This is my favourite knife. I cut onions with my favourite knife. Now, that's awkward, right? You'd rather go for sth like "That's what I cut onions with", right? So, German goes for "Damit (that-with; there-with) schneide ich Zwiebeln. And that's what a Pronominaladverb is: it replaces "preposition + noun"

Yeah, I know! I'm thinking. I'm thinking so hard, I feel my head is going to explode, actually! 🥹

[bitter gorge]

Ohh noo, take your time. It's complicated I know. 😅

[bitter gorge]

Okay, so when you say, for example: Wenn Sie Ihren Hund richtig füttern, können Sie dadurch seine Lebenserwartung steigern. You are saying: If you feed your dog properly, you can increase his lifespan (through it, by it, or by this mean). Right?

[narrow dawn]

But you're now at least clear on what Pronominaladverb means, right? Right?

[bitter gorge]

Yes

Words with damit, davon, etc.

[narrow dawn]

Yeah! Exactly! And as you can see, in this case, you haven't really got a Pronominaladverb, because there is no "durch + noun" in the wenn-clause. So, in this case, i.e. when referring to the action contained in a clause/sentence, "dadurch" works as what's called a Konjunktionaladverb/Konnektoradverb (those are words like "deshalb" or "trotzdem").

Now, you use "dadurch" (as a Konjunktionaladverb) with a main clause:

Ich füttere meinen Hund richtig. Dadurch lebt er länger. (It doesn't matter whether you connect those 2 sentences with a comma or if you separate them.)

If you use this same "dadurch" in a subordinate clause, it becomes "dadurch dass": Dadurch dass ich meinen Hund richtig füttere, lebt er länger.

[bitter gorge]

So this is something related to for example when we say 'damit' means with it, but then 'damit' as a conjunction means 'so that' or 'in order to'. Except in this cause its a conjunctive adverb and not a subordinating conjunction

[narrow dawn]

Yeah. 😅

[bitter gorge]

And should we want to turn it into a subordinating conjunction, it becomes 'dadurch dass', right..?

[narrow dawn]

Yesssss!

[bitter gorge]

Okayyy!

[narrow dawn]

God, I think I need an XL pizza or sth, I must have burnt that many calories thinking this through - because I'd thought I'd have to explain all the rest of it, too, which you oh so fortunately worked out for yourself! 😄

💐

[bitter gorge]

😂 😂 😅 I've been at this for 2 days.

I'll just review it once more by myself.