Nach dem Regen ist die Straße noch nicht trocken, deshalb fahren wir langsam.

to be

Breakdown of Nach dem Regen ist die Straße noch nicht trocken, deshalb fahren wir langsam.

• dem: the
• wir: we
• nicht: not
• langsam: slowly
• fahren: to drive
• die Straße: the street
• der Regen: the rain
• noch: still
• nach: after
• trocken: dry
• deshalb: therefore

Questions & Answers about Nach dem Regen ist die Straße noch nicht trocken, deshalb fahren wir langsam.

Why is nach dem Regen used here instead of a more literal phrase like nach Regen?

In German, using nach dem Regen is more precise. The article dem shows we’re talking about a specific event or moment in time — after the rain. If you just said nach Regen, it might sound more general or slightly incomplete in everyday speech.

What does noch nicht mean, and why is it not just nicht?

Noch nicht literally means not yet. It emphasizes that the street is still not dry at this moment, but there’s an expectation it will be dry later. If you only used nicht, you’d lose that nuance of still pending.

Why does the sentence use deshalb and not some other connector like weil?

Deshalb means that’s why or therefore, indicating a cause-and-effect relationship. The first part of the sentence states the reason (the street is not yet dry), and deshalb introduces the consequence (they drive slowly). Weil would introduce a subordinate clause explaining the reason more directly, but the effect would then follow separately, often in a different sentence structure.

In the phrase deshalb fahren wir langsam, why is the word order not wir fahren deshalb langsam?

German word order can be flexible; both are correct. Deshalb fahren wir langsam places more emphasis on deshalb and the consequence. Wir fahren deshalb langsam is equally possible, but the emphasis shifts slightly, highlighting we as the doers of the action. It’s a stylistic choice rather than a strict rule.

Why use langsam instead of an adverb like langsamly?

German doesn’t form adverbs by adding -ly (like in English with slowly). Instead, adjectives often serve as adverbs without changing form. So langsam works equally well as slow or slowly depending on context.