Breakdown of Wenn wir den Motor einbauen, glänzt der Lack schon.
wir
we
schon
already
wenn
if / when (conditional, not a question word)
der
who, which, that (relative pronoun; die, das)
der Motor
the engine
der Lack
the paintwork
glänzen
to shine (reflect light)
einbauen
to install (build in)
Questions & Answers about Wenn wir den Motor einbauen, glänzt der Lack schon.
Why does the main clause start with the verb glänzt?
Because the entire dependent clause (Wenn wir den Motor einbauen) acts as the first position in the overall sentence. To satisfy the German verb-second rule, the conjugated verb of the main clause, glänzt, must immediately follow the comma. The subject, der Lack, then comes right after it.
Why use Wenn for "When" instead of Als or Wann?
Wann is only used for questions (direct or indirect) about time. Als is used for a single, specific event in the past. Because this sentence describes a present or future condition, you must use Wenn.
einbauen is a separable verb. Why aren't its parts separated here?
If this were a standard main clause, the prefix ein would be pushed to the very end: Wir bauen den Motor ein. But because Wenn introduces a dependent clause, the conjugated verb is pushed to the end. When a separable verb is pushed to the end, its prefix and main verb reconnect into a single word (einbauen).
What does schon add to this sentence?
It translates simply as "already." It emphasizes the timeline of the process: by the time the engine installation is happening, the paint is schon (already) dry and shiny. It is functioning as a regular adverb of time here, not as a modal particle.
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