Breakdown of Danach zieht das Kind die Jacke an.
das Kind
the child
die Jacke
the jacket
danach
after that
anziehen
to put on
Questions & Answers about Danach zieht das Kind die Jacke an.
Why does the verb zieht come before the subject das Kind?
In German, the conjugated verb must take the second position in a regular statement. Because this sentence starts with the time adverb Danach (position 1), the verb zieht must come right after it (position 2). This pushes the subject, das Kind, into the third position.
What is the difference between danach and dann?
They are very similar and often interchangeable. dann simply means "then", while danach literally means "after that". You use danach to strongly emphasize that the first action is completely finished before this new action begins.
Why is the word an at the very end of the sentence?
It is the prefix of the separable verb anziehen (to put on). In a regular present-tense sentence, the main part of the verb (zieht) goes in the second position, and the separable prefix (an) is kicked to the very end of the sentence.
Is die Jacke in the accusative case here? Why didn't die change?
Yes, die Jacke is the direct object receiving the action, so it is in the accusative case. However, for feminine nouns like die Jacke, the word die looks exactly the same in both the nominative and accusative cases. Only masculine nouns change (from der to den).
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