Breakdown of Seitdem wir in Rente sind, haben wir oft zusammen gelacht.
sein
to be
lachen
to laugh
oft
often
in
in
haben
to have
wir
we
zusammen
together
seitdem
since
die Rente
the pension / the retirement
Questions & Answers about Seitdem wir in Rente sind, haben wir oft zusammen gelacht.
Why does the verb sind go at the very end of the first part?
The word seitdem (ever since) is a subordinating conjunction. This kind of linking word introduces a dependent clause and always kicks the conjugated verb to the very end of its clause.
Why are the two verbs sind and haben right next to each other separated by a comma?
This happens because the sentence starts with a dependent clause (Seitdem wir in Rente sind). In German, this entire clause counts as the first block or position of the overall sentence. Since the main verb of a regular German sentence must always be in the second position, the verb haben has to come immediately after the comma.
Could I use seit instead of seitdem in this sentence?
Yes, you can. When connecting two full clauses like this, seit and seitdem mean the exact same thing and follow the same word order rules. Seitdem just sounds a little bit more emphatic, like saying 'ever since' instead of just 'since' in English.
How do you translate 'to be retired' in this sentence?
German normally does not use a single adjective for 'retired'. Instead, it uses the phrase in Rente sein, which literally translates to 'to be in pension' or 'to be in retirement'.
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