The Conjunction "ehe"
You are likely familiar with bevor for saying "before". A stylish, slightly more traditional synonym is ehe. It means exactly the same thing and is a great fit for describing time-honored crafts.
Like bevor, ehe is a subordinating conjunction. It kicks the conjugated verb to the very end of its clause.
| The blacksmith lays the metal on the anvil before it cools down. | Der Schmied legt das Metall auf den Amboss, ehe es abkühlt. |
If the ehe clause contains a modal verb (like kann), that conjugated modal verb is pushed to the absolute end, landing after the infinitive verb.
| The metal must glow before one can shape it. | Das Metall muss glühen, ehe man es formen kann. |
Sentences Starting with "ehe"
You can also start a sentence with the ehe clause. The entire subordinate clause occupies the first position, so the main clause's conjugated verb must immediately follow the comma.
| Before we bend the steel, it must glow in the fire. | Ehe wir den Stahl biegen, muss er im Feuer glühen. |
Working Against the Clock
Traditional metalwork is a race against temperature. Use ehe to emphasize that an action must be completed before the material changes state.
| One must hammer quickly before the material becomes hard. | Man muss schnell hämmern, ehe das Material hart wird. |