Breakdown of Wir machen das Lagerfeuer, je nachdem, wer das Holz holt.
machen
to make, to do
wir
we
wer
who
holen
to get / to fetch
Questions & Answers about Wir machen das Lagerfeuer, je nachdem, wer das Holz holt.
Why does the verb holt go at the very end of the sentence?
The phrase je nachdem (depending on) sets up a subordinate clause. In German, subordinate clauses always push the conjugated verb—in this case, holt—to the very end.
Why is the second half of the sentence set up like a question with wer?
je nachdem is usually followed by an indirect question because it expresses that a plan depends on an unknown factor. Since the unknown factor here is who will fetch the wood, we use the question word wer. If the plan depended on a yes/no condition, we would use ob (if/whether) instead.
Why is wer in the nominative case here instead of an object case like wen?
In the subordinate clause (wer das Holz holt), wer is the subject. It represents the person who is actively doing the fetching. Therefore, it has to be in the nominative case.
Why are there commas on both sides of je nachdem?
When je nachdem is used to connect a main clause (Wir machen das Lagerfeuer) directly to a subordinate clause (wer das Holz holt), it acts as a bridging phrase and is typically set off by commas on both sides.