Time clauses · als, wenn, bevor, nachdem
als for one event in the past, wenn for every time (and for now or later). bevor = before, nachdem = after. The verb goes last.
Examples
- Als ich ein Kind war, wohnte ich in Hamburg.When I was a child, I lived in Hamburg.
- Wenn ich müde bin, trinke ich Kaffee.Whenever I'm tired, I drink coffee.
How it works
English "when" is two words in German. Like weil and dass, all of these send the verb to the end of their clause; if the clause comes first, the main clause starts with its verb.
Als
one event or one period in the past
When I was a child, I lived in Hamburg.
When we arrived, it was raining.
Wenn
every time (past, present) and the future
Whenever I'm tired, I drink coffee.
Every time my grandma visited, she brought cake.
When you come to Berlin, call me!
Bevor
before (something happens)
Before I go to bed, I read.
Nachdem
after (something has happened)
After I had eaten, I went for a walk.
After we had arrived, we ate.
Common mistakes
one period in the past
als is only for the past
main clause starts with the verb
verb last
nachdem needs a clause
What you'll practise
1. als: one time in the past
als for a single event or period in the past, verb last: Als wir ankamen, regnete es.
- Als ich ihn gestern sah, war er glücklich.When I saw him yesterday, he was happy.
2. wenn: every time, now, later
wenn for something that happens every time (past or present) or in the future: Wenn ich müde bin, trinke ich Kaffee.
- Wenn du nach Berlin kommst, ruf mich an!When you come to Berlin, call me!
3. bevor and nachdem
bevor = before, nachdem = after; with a past main clause, nachdem takes hatte / war + the past participle (usually a ge- form: gegessen).
- Nachdem ich gegessen hatte, ging ich spazieren.After I had eaten, I went for a walk.
Practise it until it sticks
Short drills built on these 3 skills, with instant feedback on every answer. Free to start.