The conjunction since (seitdem)

The conjunctions "seit" and "seitdem"

To express that a situation has been ongoing since a certain event occurred, use the subordinating conjunctions seitdem or seit (since / ever since). Both words mean exactly the same thing when connecting two clauses.

Because they are subordinating conjunctions, they send the conjugated verb to the very end of their clause. When the seitdem clause comes after the main clause, the main clause uses standard word order.

If you start the sentence with the seitdem clause, that entire clause takes up the sentence's "first position." To keep the main clause's verb in its required second position, the verb must immediately follow the comma.

Using "seit"

While you may already know seit as a preposition, it also works perfectly as a shorter alternative to seitdem for connecting full clauses.

Separable verbs and perfect tense

The verb-final rule has a neat effect on separable verbs in a subordinate clause. Because the conjugated verb gets pushed to the very end of the sentence—exactly where its prefix usually sits—the two parts reunite into a single, continuous word.

If the seit or seitdem clause is in the perfect tense, the conjugated helping verb (like haben or sein) is pushed to the very end, placing it immediately after the past participle.