Breakdown of Wir überprüfen das Format, bevor wir die Version speichern.
wir
we
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
bevor
before
speichern
to save (data, files)
das Format
the format
überprüfen
to check
die Version
the version
Questions & Answers about Wir überprüfen das Format, bevor wir die Version speichern.
Why does the verb speichern go to the very end of the sentence?
The word bevor (before) is a subordinating conjunction. This means it introduces a dependent clause and forces the conjugated verb in that clause (speichern) to move to the very end.
I thought über was a separable prefix. Why isn't it "Wir prüfen das Format über"?
The prefix über- is a "two-way" prefix: it can be separable or inseparable depending on the verb. With überprüfen (to check or verify), it is always inseparable. A good trick is to listen to the spoken pronunciation: if the stress is on the prefix, it is separable, but in überprüfen, the stress is on -prüf-, so the prefix stays attached.
Can I use speichern to talk about saving money or saving a life?
No, speichern is specifically used for saving data, documents, or energy. To save money or time, you use sparen, and to save someone from danger, you use retten.
How would I rewrite the first half of this sentence using the sich lassen structure we're currently learning?
To say "The format can be checked" using this passive alternative, you would say: Das Format lässt sich überprüfen. This literally means "The format lets itself be checked," and it's a very common way in German to express that something is able to be done without having to use the more complicated passive voice.
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