Learn Dutch: Nadat we waren omgekeerd, stelden we ons plan bij. - After we had turned around, we adjusted our plan.

The conjunction nadat strictly requires the action in its clause to be fully completed before the main clause happens. Since the main clause (stelden we ons plan bij) is already in the simple past, the nadat clause must shift one step further back in time, requiring the past perfect (waren omgekeerd).

Why does the first clause use waren instead of hadden for 'had'?

The verb omkeren (to turn around) describes a physical change of direction or state. Like many verbs of motion or transformation, it forms its perfect tenses with zijn rather than hebben. Therefore, 'we had turned around' translates to we waren omgekeerd.

Why is the word order stelden we rather than we stelden in the second half?

The entire nadat subordinate clause acts as the first element of the main sentence. Because Dutch uses verb-second (V2) word order in main clauses, the main verb (stelden) must immediately follow the comma, pushing the subject (we) behind it.

How do the separable verbs omkeren and bijstellen behave differently in this sentence?