Breakdown of Ich möchte den Text üben, bevor wir anfangen.
ich
I
wir
we
möchten
would like
anfangen
to start
üben
to practice
bevor
before
der Text
the lines / the text
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"?
In German, der Text literally means "the text," but it is also the standard way to refer to the lyrics of a song or an actor's lines in a play or script.
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