Breakdown of Der Schauspieler ist immer müde, bevor das Stück anfängt.
sein
to be
müde
tired
immer
always
anfangen
to start
der Schauspieler
the actor
bevor
before
das Stück
the play
Questions & Answers about Der Schauspieler ist immer müde, bevor das Stück anfängt.
Why does the verb anfängt go at the very end of the sentence?
The word bevor (before) is a subordinating conjunction. This means it introduces a dependent clause and kicks the conjugated verb to the very end of that section.
I learned that anfangen (to begin) is a separable verb. Why isn't it separated here?
You are right, anfangen normally separates in a main clause (like Das Stück fängt an). However, because bevor pushes the verb to the end of the sentence, the prefix (an-) and the main verb (fängt) are forced back together into one single word: anfängt.
Is the comma before bevor required?
Yes! In German, subordinate clauses (like the one starting with bevor) must be separated from the main clause by a comma. This is a strict rule, unlike in English where we usually don't use a comma before "before".
I thought das Stück meant "the piece". Why is it translated as "the play" here?
Das Stück literally translates to "the piece", but it is very commonly used as a short way to say das Theaterstück (the theatrical play). In the context of an actor (der Schauspieler), it is understood as "the play".
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