Breakdown of Nachdem der Chef die Präsentation weitergeleitet hatte, las ich sie.
ich
I
sie
she
haben
to have
lesen
to read
der Chef
the boss (male)
nachdem
after
die Präsentation
the presentation
weiterleiten
to forward
Questions & Answers about Nachdem der Chef die Präsentation weitergeleitet hatte, las ich sie.
Why is the first part of the sentence in the past perfect (hatte weitergeleitet) and the second part in the simple past (las)?
This is the strict rule for using nachdem (after) in the past. Because forwarding the presentation happened before reading it, the earlier action must be in the past perfect (Plusquamperfekt) and the later action must follow in the simple past (Präteritum) or present perfect (Perfekt).
Why does the second part of the sentence start with the verb las instead of the subject ich?
In German, the verb in a main clause must always be in the second position. The entire nachdem clause counts as the first block of information (Position 1). To keep the main verb in Position 2, las must come right after the comma, pushing the subject ich to Position 3.
How is the past participle weitergeleitet formed?
The base verb is weiterleiten (to forward), which is a separable verb. To form the past participle of a separable verb, the -ge- is inserted between the separable prefix (weiter-) and the verb stem (-leitet), giving us weitergeleitet.
Could I use nach instead of nachdem here?
No. Nach is a preposition used directly before nouns (like nach der Arbeit, meaning after work). Nachdem is a subordinating conjunction, which you must use when you are introducing a full clause that contains its own subject and conjugated verb.
Why do we use the word sie at the very end of the sentence?
The pronoun sie refers back to die Präsentation. Because Präsentation is a feminine noun, you must use the feminine pronoun sie to say 'it' in this context.
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