Breakdown of Danach ändert sich das Bewusstsein.
danach
after that
sich
oneself / himself / herself / themselves (reflexive pronoun)
ändern
to change (modify, alter)
das Bewusstsein
the consciousness
Questions & Answers about Danach ändert sich das Bewusstsein.
Why does sich come before the subject das Bewusstsein in this sentence?
In German word order, pronouns like sich generally want to come before nouns. Because the subject das Bewusstsein is a full noun phrase (a nominal subject) rather than a pronoun, the reflexive pronoun sich slides in front of it, directly after the verb.
How would the word order change if we replaced das Bewusstsein with the pronoun es?
The sentence would become: Danach ändert es sich. Subject pronouns always claim the spot immediately after the verb in an inverted sentence. They outrank object and reflexive pronouns, so es forces sich further back.
Why do we need the reflexive pronoun sich here when the English translation just says changes?
In English, the verb to change can be transitive (I change the plan) or intransitive (The plan changes). German distinguishes these. The verb ändern requires an object. When something changes on its own without an external force acting on it, German uses the reflexive form sich ändern (literally: to change itself).
Das Bewusstsein looks like a compound word. What are its parts?
It is made up of the adjective bewusst (conscious or aware) and the nominalized verb sein (to be or being). Together, they form das Bewusstsein, literally meaning conscious-being or awareness.