Breakdown of Wenn ich zu Hause arbeite, mache ich immer Überstunden.
ich
I
machen
to make, to do
arbeiten
to work
immer
always
zu Hause
at home
wenn
if / when (conditional, not a question word)
die Überstunde
the overtime
Questions & Answers about Wenn ich zu Hause arbeite, mache ich immer Überstunden.
Why is arbeite at the end of the first phrase before the comma?
Wenn (when/if) is a subordinating conjunction. Words like this always kick the conjugated verb to the very end of their own clause, which is why arbeite sits right before the comma.
Why does the second half of the sentence start with mache instead of ich?
This is the classic German "verb second" rule in action! The entire first clause (Wenn ich zu Hause arbeite) acts as the first block of information. To keep the main verb in the second position, mache must come immediately after the comma, followed by the subject ich.
The English translation says "work from home", but doesn't zu Hause mean "at home"?
Exactly. In English you say "work from home", but German prefers to say you work "at home" (zu Hause arbeiten).
How does Überstunden machen translate to "work overtime"?
Die Überstunde literally means "over-hour". Notice the verb: while English speakers "work" overtime, German speakers "make" it (Überstunden machen).
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