Breakdown of Der Chef bestimmt, wann wir anfangen.
wir
we
der Chef
the boss (male)
wann
when
anfangen
to start
bestimmen
to determine, to decide
Questions & Answers about Der Chef bestimmt, wann wir anfangen.
Why is it wann here instead of wenn?
wann is used for questions about time, including indirect questions like this one (where it means 'at what time'). wenn is used for conditions (meaning 'if' or 'whenever'). Since the boss is deciding a specific time, we use wann.
Why isn't the separable verb anfangen split up here?
In a normal main clause, a separable verb splits (for example, Wir fangen an). But wann introduces a subordinate clause, which pushes the conjugated verb to the very end. When a separable verb gets pushed to the end of a clause, the prefix and the verb stick together as one word: wann wir anfangen.
Is the comma before wann required?
Yes! In German, you must always use a comma to separate a main clause (Der Chef bestimmt) from a subordinate clause (wann wir anfangen).
How could we rewrite this to use the sich lassen passive alternative from this lesson?
This sentence is currently in the active voice. To say 'It can be determined by the boss when we start,' you could use: Es lässt sich vom Chef bestimmen, wann wir anfangen. This uses sich lassen plus the infinitive bestimmen to express that an action is possible.
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