Breakdown of Ich möchte den Text üben, bevor wir anfangen.
ich
I
wir
we
möchten
would like
anfangen
to start
Questions & Answers about Ich möchte den Text üben, bevor wir anfangen.
Why is anfangen at the very end of the sentence?
bevor (before) is a subordinating conjunction. This means it introduces a dependent clause and forces the conjugated verb in that part of the sentence (anfangen) to the very end.
I thought anfangen was a separable verb. Why isn't it split up here?
You are right, anfangen is separable (normally you would say wir fangen an). However, when a word like bevor pushes the verb to the end of the clause, the prefix and the main verb stick together as a single word: ... bevor wir anfangen.
Is the comma before bevor required?
Yes! In German, you must always use a comma to separate the main clause (Ich möchte den Text üben) from a subordinate clause that starts with a word like bevor.
Why is it den Text and not der Text?
Text is the direct object of the verb üben (to practice). Because it is a masculine noun receiving the action, it takes the accusative case, which changes der to den.
Why is Text translated as "lines" instead of "text"?