Eers nadat asemhalingsoefeninge klaar is, volg stemgroepe die maatsoort.

Only after the breathing exercises are over do choir sections follow the time signature.

Breakdown of Eers nadat asemhalingsoefeninge klaar is, volg stemgroepe die maatsoort.

• wees: to be
• klaar: finished
• volg: to follow
• eers nadat ...: only after; not until

Questions & Answers about Eers nadat asemhalingsoefeninge klaar is, volg stemgroepe die maatsoort.

What does eers nadat mean, and why are both words needed?

Eers nadat means only after.

• nadat = after
• eers nadat = only after / not until after

So eers adds the idea of limitation or sequence: something happens only then, not before that point.

In this sentence, it emphasizes that the next action happens only after the breathing exercises are finished.

Why is klaar is at the end of nadat asemhalingsoefeninge klaar is?

Because nadat introduces a subordinate clause, and in Afrikaans, subordinate clauses normally send the finite verb to the end.

So:

• main clause word order is usually more like verb in second position
• subordinate clause word order usually puts the verb at the end

That is why you get:

• nadat asemhalingsoefeninge klaar is

and not:

• nadat asemhalingsoefeninge is klaar

Here, is is the finite verb, and klaar goes with it as part of the predicate klaar is = is finished / are finished.

Why does volg come before stemgroepe? Shouldn’t the subject come first?