Word
Bevor das Problem zu groß wird, ergreifen wir Maßnahmen.
Meaning
Before the problem becomes too big, we take measures.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Bevor das Problem zu groß wird, ergreifen wir Maßnahmen.
groß
big / tall
das Problem
the problem
wir
we
zu
too (e.g., too big)
Questions & Answers about Bevor das Problem zu groß wird, ergreifen wir Maßnahmen.
Why do we use ergreifen here instead of nehmen for 'take'?
Maßnahmen ergreifen is a fixed Noun-Verb combination (Nomen-Verb-Verbindung). While nehmen translates to 'take' in everyday situations, German doesn't use it with Maßnahmen (measures). You simply have to memorize ergreifen—which literally means 'to grasp' or 'to seize'—as the specific partner verb for this noun.
Could we replace Maßnahmen ergreifen with a single verb, the way we can replace eine Entscheidung treffen with entscheiden?
Not really. Many Noun-Verb combinations do have a single-verb equivalent, but there is no common, single verb in German that means 'to measure-take' or 'to take action' in this exact sense. You have to use the full phrase.
Why is the word order ergreifen wir instead of wir ergreifen in the second half?
The sentence begins with a subordinate clause (Bevor das Problem zu groß wird). In German grammar, this entire introductory clause takes up position 1. Since the conjugated verb in a main clause must sit in position 2, the verb ergreifen comes right after the comma, pushing the subject (wir) to position 3.
Could I use Vor instead of Bevor at the beginning of the sentence?