Breakdown of Toen hij stierf, was hij al met pensioen.
zijn
to be
hij
he / it (referring to a 'de'-word)
met
with
al
already
Questions & Answers about Toen hij stierf, was hij al met pensioen.
Why does the verb stierf go at the end of the first part?
The word toen (when) is a subordinating conjunction. This means it introduces a dependent clause and pushes the verb (stierf) to the very end of that clause. That is why it is Toen hij stierf and not Toen stierf hij.
Why does the second part say was hij instead of hij was?
In a standard Dutch sentence, the verb must be the second element in the main clause. The entire first half of the sentence (Toen hij stierf) counts as element number one. To keep the verb in the second spot, the subject and verb in the main clause have to swap places: , was hij.
Could I use wanneer instead of toen in this sentence?
No, you must use toen. In Dutch, toen is used specifically for 'when' describing a single event or a specific period in the past. Wanneer is used for questions ('When are you coming?') or for 'when/whenever' in the present and future.
What does met pensioen literally mean?
It literally means 'with pension'. This is the most common way to say 'retired' in Dutch. You use it with the verb zijn (to be), which is why the sentence says was hij al met pensioen (he was already retired).