Learn Hardcore German: Wenn ich das Thema nicht verstehe, bitte ich meine Cousine, alles nochmals zu erklären. - If I don’t understand the topic, I ask my female cousin to explain everything once more.

This subordinate clause, introduced by wenn (meaning if), sets up a condition. It tells you that if the speaker does not understand the topic, then the action in the main clause will happen.

Why is there a comma after verstehe and before bitte?

German grammar requires a comma to separate a subordinate clause from the main clause. Since "Wenn ich das Thema nicht verstehe" is a subordinate (conditional) clause, it must be set off by a comma before the main clause begins.

How does the word order in the main clause bitte ich meine Cousine, alles nochmals zu erklären work?

In German, when a subordinate clause comes first, the main clause starts with the finite verb to maintain the required second position. Here, bitte is the finite verb appearing at the beginning of the main clause, followed by the subject ich. Additionally, the sentence uses an infinitive clause (alles nochmals zu erklären) as a complement to show what is being requested.

What is the function of the infinitive clause alles nochmals zu erklären in this sentence?

The infinitive clause acts as an object complement to the verb bitten. It specifies the action that the speaker is asking their cousin to perform—namely, to explain everything again. This construction is common in German when forming a request.

What does nochmals mean and how does it affect the overall meaning?

Nochmals means again or once more. It emphasizes that the explanation should be repeated, implying that the speaker might have needed the explanation before but still did not understand the topic.