Breakdown of Du kannst das Paket verfolgen, sobald du die Sendungsnummer hast.
du
you (informal singular)
haben
to have
können
can / to be able to
das Paket
the package
Questions & Answers about Du kannst das Paket verfolgen, sobald du die Sendungsnummer hast.
Why is the verb hast at the very end of the sentence?
Because sobald (as soon as) is a subordinating conjunction. This means it introduces a dependent clause and forces the conjugated verb (hast) to the very end of that clause.
Why are kannst and verfolgen separated in the first part of the sentence?
The first part of the sentence is a main clause using the modal verb können (can). The conjugated modal verb (kannst) takes the second position, and the main action verb (verfolgen) is pushed to the end of the clause, just before the comma.
How is the word Sendungsnummer formed?
It is a compound noun made of die Sendung (the shipment or broadcast) and die Nummer (the number), joined by a connecting s. In German, compound nouns always take the gender of the last word, which is why it uses die.
I thought verfolgen meant to pursue or to follow. Does it also mean to track?
Yes! While verfolgen is often used for pursuing a suspect or following a conversation, in the context of mail and packages, it is the standard word for tracking a delivery.