Breakdown of Nach der Arbeit entspannen wir uns im Garten.
in
in
wir
we
der Garten
the garden
die Arbeit
the work
nach
after
uns
us
entspannen
to relax
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching German grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Nach der Arbeit entspannen wir uns im Garten.
Why is Nach der Arbeit using der before Arbeit instead of just nach Arbeit?
The preposition nach always takes the dative case. Arbeit is a feminine noun, so its dative singular article is der (the nominative die changes to der). That’s why you say nach der Arbeit—and unlike English, German generally keeps the article.
Why does the verb entspannen come before the subject wir in this sentence?
German main clauses follow the “verb-second” rule. When you start with an element other than the subject (here Nach der Arbeit), the finite verb stays in the second position. So you get:
1st position: Nach der Arbeit
2nd position: entspannen (the verb)
3rd position: wir (the subject)
What is the function of uns in entspannen wir uns? English doesn’t use “ourselves” there.
Entspannen in German is a reflexive verb (sich entspannen). Reflexive verbs require a reflexive pronoun matching the subject. For wir, that pronoun is uns. Literally it’s “we relax ourselves,” though in English we just say “we relax.”
Why is im Garten used instead of in dem Garten or just in Garten?
Im is a contraction of in + dem. When in expresses location (“where?”), it governs the dative case. Der Garten (masculine) in dative becomes dem Garten, so in dem Garten contracts to im Garten. You can’t drop the article entirely.
What case is dem Garten in, and why?
It’s in the dative case because in requires dative when showing location. Masculine and neuter nouns in dative use dem, hence in dem Garten = im Garten.
Can you reorder the adverbials? Why is Nach der Arbeit before im Garten?
German tends to order adverbials as Time–Manner–Place. Here Nach der Arbeit (time) comes before im Garten (place). You could flip them for emphasis—e.g. Im Garten entspannen wir uns nach der Arbeit—but the normal sequence is time first, then place.
Could the reflexive pronoun uns appear somewhere else, like before the verb?
No. In a main clause, the finite verb must occupy the second position. Objects (including reflexive pronouns) follow the verb. Also, German generally places pronouns before full noun phrases, so entspannen wir uns im Garten is the correct order.