Ich trinke Wasser, bevor ich Brot esse.

I drink water before I eat bread.

Breakdown of Ich trinke Wasser, bevor ich Brot esse.

• trinken: to drink
• das Wasser: the water
• essen: to eat
• das Brot: the bread
• ich: I
• bevor: before

Questions & Answers about Ich trinke Wasser, bevor ich Brot esse.

What does "bevor" mean in this sentence?

"Bevor" translates to "before" in English. It is used to introduce a subordinate clause that indicates the timing of events—in this case, showing that drinking water happens prior to eating bread.

Why is the verb "esse" placed at the end of the subordinate clause?

In German subordinate clauses introduced by conjunctions like "bevor," the conjugated verb is moved to the end of the clause. This is a common rule in German grammar that helps distinguish subordinate clauses from main clauses.

What role does the comma play in this sentence?

The comma separates the main clause ("Ich trinke Wasser") from the subordinate clause ("bevor ich Brot esse"). This punctuation clarifies the structure of the sentence by signaling the start of the subordinate clause.

Is it acceptable to rearrange the order of the clauses, and if so, what changes in the word order should I expect?

Yes, you can rearrange the clauses without changing the meaning. For example, you could write "Bevor ich Brot esse, trinke ich Wasser." However, remember that within the subordinate clause introduced by "bevor," the verb still goes to the end.

Why is the subject "ich" repeated in both the main and subordinate clauses?

In German, clarity is essential, so the subject is explicitly stated in both clauses. Even though the actions are performed by the same person, repeating "ich" ensures that the sentence is unambiguous and clearly structured.

Why is the verb "essen" conjugated as "esse" instead of "isst" in this sentence?

The conjugation of "essen" depends on its subject. Since the subject in the subordinate clause is "ich" (I), the correct conjugation is "esse." The form "isst" would be used with the third-person singular (er/sie/es), which is not applicable here.