Before the Show: bevor
When you want to say that something happens before something else, use the conjunction bevor.
Bevor introduces a subordinate clause, which forces its conjugated verb to the very end. Always separate the main clause and the bevor clause with a comma.
| We practice before the play begins. | Wir üben, bevor das Stück anfängt. |
| The director is nervous before the play begins. | Der Regisseur ist nervös, bevor das Stück anfängt. |
| You must put on the costume before you act. | Du musst das Kostüm anziehen, bevor du spielst. |
| I would like to practice the lines before we begin. | Ich möchte den Text üben, bevor wir anfangen. |
Starting with bevor
You can also start the sentence with the bevor clause. The conjugated verb of the bevor clause stays at the end of its section, right before the comma.
Because the entire subordinate clause takes up the first position of the sentence, the main clause immediately after the comma must start with its verb. This creates a pattern where two verbs sit right next to each other, separated by the comma.
| Before we begin, I always forget the lines for my role. | Bevor wir anfangen, vergesse ich immer den Text für meine Rolle. |
Before the audience arrives, the crew also has to test (testen) the microphone (das Mikrofon) and the light (das Licht).
| We have to test the microphone before the audience comes. | Wir müssen das Mikrofon testen, bevor das Publikum kommt. |
| I cannot read the lines before you turn on the light. | Ich kann den Text nicht lesen, bevor du das Licht einschaltest. |