18 communicative intents · 9 reasoning moves
Find a pattern by what you want to do
Start from a communicative intent such as disagreeing politely, correcting an assumption, comparing alternatives, or drawing a conclusion, then move to reusable English and German sentence frames.
You do not need to know the grammar label first. Start with the job the sentence has to perform.
Editorial evaluation
Reasoning routing is regression-tested
A 54-case editorial benchmark checks intent routing, reasoning-move routing, and acceptable frame retrieval in English and Russian.
This is an internal quality signal, not evidence that the method improves learning outcomes.
Browse by operation
Reasoning move · Challenge
Disagree politely
Push back on a claim without turning the sentence into a confrontation.
You might think: disagree politely · push back · challenge a claim
CLF058This explains [X], but it doesn't explain [Y].DE · Das erklärt [X], aber nicht [Y].CLF055We cannot rule out [X].DE · Wir können [X] nicht ausschließen.CLF066That assumes that [X], which may not hold.DE · Das setzt voraus, dass [X], was möglicherweise nicht zutrifft.
From the reviewed public corpus
ENParticipate in MeetingsI agree with your point, but have we considered the potential risks?DEIch verstehe deinen Punkt, aber + Subjekt + VerbIch verstehe deinen Punkt, aber das Risiko ist zu hoch.DEIch verstehe deinen Punkt, aber + Subjekt + VerbIch verstehe deinen Punkt, aber es gibt andere Faktoren, die wir beachten müssen.
Reasoning move · Challenge
Question an assumption
Make the hidden assumption explicit and challenge whether it is justified.
You might think: question an assumption · challenge an assumption · hidden assumption
Reasoning move · Reframe
Correct an assumption
Replace a mistaken interpretation with the distinction you actually want to make.
You might think: correct an assumption · reframe · it is not that
Reasoning move · Reframe
Clarify what you really mean
Narrow or redirect an interpretation before continuing the argument.
You might think: clarify what I mean · restate · reframe an idea
Reasoning move · Condition
Set a condition
State what has to be true before a result, decision, or action can follow.
You might think: set a condition · only if · provided that
CLF044Only if [X] can [Y].DE · Nur wenn [X], kann [Y].CLF045Before we can [X], we need to [Y].DE · Bevor wir [X] können, müssen wir [Y].CLF043Without [X], [Y] cannot [V].DE · Ohne [X] kann [Y] nicht [V].
From the reviewed public corpus
DEHauptsatz + , + es sei denn, dass + Subjekt + Verb am EndeEr fährt mit dem Fahrrad, es sei denn, dass es zu kalt ist.DEHauptsatz + , + es sei denn, dass + Subjekt + Verb am EndeEr nimmt den Job an, es sei denn, dass er ein besseres Angebot bekommt.DEHauptsatz + , + es sei denn, dass + Subjekt + Verb am EndeEr wird das Projekt abschließen, es sei denn, dass er keine Zeit findet.
Reasoning move · Condition
State a prerequisite
Explain what must happen first or what is necessary before something else becomes possible.
You might think: prerequisite · must happen first · necessary condition
Reasoning move · Cause
Explain a cause
Connect an outcome to the factor that produced or enabled it.
You might think: explain a cause · because of · due to
CLF060[X] results from a combination of [Y] and [Z].DE · [X] ergibt sich aus einer Kombination von [Y] und [Z].CLF068[X] may have contributed to [Y], but it was not the only cause.DE · [X] mag zu [Y] beigetragen haben, war aber nicht die einzige Ursache.CLF059[X] leads to [Y], which in turn leads to [Z].DE · [X] führt zu [Y], was wiederum zu [Z] führt.XTHCDG001[X] may have triggered [Y], but that does not make it the underlying cause.DE · [X] kann [Y] ausgelöst haben, ist damit aber nicht automatisch die zugrunde liegende Ursache.
Reasoning move · Cause
Connect cause and effect
Show how one factor changes what follows instead of merely listing two events.
You might think: cause and effect · leads to · results in
CLF059[X] leads to [Y], which in turn leads to [Z].DE · [X] führt zu [Y], was wiederum zu [Z] führt.CLF068[X] may have contributed to [Y], but it was not the only cause.DE · [X] mag zu [Y] beigetragen haben, war aber nicht die einzige Ursache.CLF060[X] results from a combination of [Y] and [Z].DE · [X] ergibt sich aus einer Kombination von [Y] und [Z].XTHCDG003The link from [X] to [Y] only makes sense if [Z] happens in between.DE · Der Zusammenhang zwischen [X] und [Y] ergibt nur Sinn, wenn dazwischen [Z] passiert.
Reasoning move · Infer
Draw a conclusion
Move from evidence or observations to a conclusion without presenting it as a raw fact.
You might think: draw a conclusion · infer · this suggests
CLF051[X] suggests that [Y], but it doesn't prove it.DE · [X] deutet darauf hin, dass [Y], beweist es aber nicht.CLF052[X] is consistent with [Y], but it could also mean [Z].DE · [X] passt zu [Y], könnte aber auch [Z] bedeuten.CLF053The most likely explanation is that [X].DE · Die wahrscheinlichste Erklärung ist, dass [X].
Reasoning move · Infer
Offer a likely explanation
Present the best-supported interpretation while keeping the inference visible.
You might think: likely explanation · probably means · best explanation
CLF053The most likely explanation is that [X].DE · Die wahrscheinlichste Erklärung ist, dass [X].CLF052[X] is consistent with [Y], but it could also mean [Z].DE · [X] passt zu [Y], könnte aber auch [Z] bedeuten.CLF051[X] suggests that [Y], but it doesn't prove it.DE · [X] deutet darauf hin, dass [Y], beweist es aber nicht.
Reasoning move · Compare
Compare alternatives
Put two options on the same dimension so the contrast becomes useful for a decision.
You might think: compare alternatives · compare options · whereas
Reasoning move · Compare
Show a meaningful difference
Highlight the dimension on which two cases differ rather than saying only that they are different.
You might think: show a difference · contrast · unlike
CLF063[X], whereas [Y].DE · [X], wohingegen [Y].CLF064Compared with [X], [Y] offers [Z].DE · Im Vergleich zu [X] bietet [Y] [Z].CLF054One possibility is that [X]; another is that [Y].DE · Eine Möglichkeit ist, dass [X]; eine andere ist, dass [Y].
From the reviewed public corpus
Reasoning move · Limit
Qualify a claim
Make a statement more precise by showing where it applies and where it does not.
You might think: qualify a claim · limit a claim · not always
CLF065[X] may be true for [Y], but not for [Z].DE · [X] mag für [Y] gelten, aber nicht für [Z].CLF041[X] is necessary but not sufficient for [Y].DE · [X] ist notwendig, aber nicht hinreichend für [Y].CLF042[X] alone is not enough to [V].DE · [X] allein reicht nicht aus, um [V].
From the reviewed public corpus
Reasoning move · Limit
Show that something is not enough
Separate what is necessary from what is sufficient for the result you care about.
You might think: not enough · necessary but not sufficient · insufficient
CLF041[X] is necessary but not sufficient for [Y].DE · [X] ist notwendig, aber nicht hinreichend für [Y].CLF042[X] alone is not enough to [V].DE · [X] allein reicht nicht aus, um [V].CLF065[X] may be true for [Y], but not for [Z].DE · [X] mag für [Y] gelten, aber nicht für [Z].
From the reviewed public corpus
Reasoning move · Decide
Choose between options
Frame alternatives so a decision follows from explicit criteria rather than preference alone.
You might think: choose between options · decide between · trade off
CLF046There is a trade-off between [X] and [Y].DE · Es gibt einen Zielkonflikt zwischen [X] und [Y].CLF047The advantage of [X] is [Y]; the downside is [Z].DE · Der Vorteil von [X] ist [Y]; der Nachteil ist [Z].CLF049The choice comes down to [X] or [Y].DE · Die Entscheidung läuft auf [X] oder [Y] hinaus.CLF048If we prioritize [X], we risk sacrificing [Y].DE · Wenn wir [X] priorisieren, riskieren wir, [Y] zu opfern.
From the reviewed public corpus
Reasoning move · Decide
State a decision and rationale
Say what you decided while keeping the reason or criterion visible.
You might think: state a decision · we decided · decision because
CLF069Given [X], we decided to [Y] because [Z].DE · Angesichts [X] haben wir beschlossen, [Y], weil [Z].CLF049The choice comes down to [X] or [Y].DE · Die Entscheidung läuft auf [X] oder [Y] hinaus.CLF048If we prioritize [X], we risk sacrificing [Y].DE · Wenn wir [X] priorisieren, riskieren wir, [Y] zu opfern.CLF047The advantage of [X] is [Y]; the downside is [Z].DE · Der Vorteil von [X] ist [Y]; der Nachteil ist [Z].
Reasoning move · Test
Test whether an idea holds
Turn a claim into something that can be checked against a case, condition, or counterexample.
You might think: test an idea · check whether · does this hold
CLF056If [X] were true, we would expect [Y].DE · Wenn [X] zuträfe, würden wir [Y] erwarten.CLF067A useful test would be whether [X].DE · Ein sinnvoller Test wäre, ob [X].CLF057For [X] to be true, [Y] would need to be the case.DE · Damit [X] zutrifft, müsste [Y] der Fall sein.XTHHYP001If our hypothesis is right, we should observe [X] when [Y].DE · Wenn unsere Hypothese stimmt, sollten wir [X] beobachten, wenn [Y].
From the reviewed public corpus
Reasoning move · Test
Ask what would change the conclusion
Identify the evidence or condition that would make you revise the current conclusion.
You might think: what would change the conclusion · what evidence would change · falsify
CLF070I would revise [X] if [Y].DE · Ich würde [X] neu bewerten, wenn [Y].CLF057For [X] to be true, [Y] would need to be the case.DE · Damit [X] zutrifft, müsste [Y] der Fall sein.CLF067A useful test would be whether [X].DE · Ein sinnvoller Test wäre, ob [X].CLF056If [X] were true, we would expect [Y].DE · Wenn [X] zuträfe, würden wir [Y] erwarten.