Breakdown of Nachdem der Mann den Anhang weitergeleitet hatte, löschte er die Datei.
der Mann
the man
er
he
haben
to have
löschen
to delete
Questions & Answers about Nachdem der Mann den Anhang weitergeleitet hatte, löschte er die Datei.
Why does the first part of the sentence use hatte while the second part uses löschte?
The conjunction nachdem (after) requires a specific sequence of tenses to show that one action was completely finished before the next one started. Since the main action (löschte - deleted) is in the simple past tense, the earlier action in the nachdem clause must be pushed one step further back into the past perfect tense (weitergeleitet hatte - had forwarded).
Why is hatte at the very end of the first clause?
Nachdem is a subordinating conjunction. This means it kicks the conjugated verb to the end of its clause. Because the clause uses the past perfect tense, the conjugated helping verb hatte goes to the very end, right before the comma.
Why does the main clause start with the verb löschte instead of er löschte?
In German, the conjugated verb in a main clause must sit in the second position. The entire nachdem clause counts as the first position of the whole sentence. Therefore, the verb löschte must come immediately after the comma to claim position two, pushing the subject er directly after it.
How is the past participle weitergeleitet formed?