Wenn die Sonne verschwindet, ist alles still.

to be

Breakdown of Wenn die Sonne verschwindet, ist alles still.

• die Sonne: the sun
• alles: everything
• wenn: when

Questions & Answers about Wenn die Sonne verschwindet, ist alles still.

Why is the verb verschwindet placed at the end of the clause?

In German subordinate clauses (introduced by conjunctions like wenn, weil, etc.), the finite verb moves to the very end. Since Wenn die Sonne verschwindet is a subordinate clause, verschwindet must appear last.

Why is there a comma after verschwindet?

German grammar requires you to set off any subordinate clause with a comma. Because Wenn die Sonne verschwindet is a subordinate clause, you place a comma before the main clause ist alles still.

What case and gender is die Sonne, and how can I recognize it?

Sonne is a feminine noun. As the subject of the subordinate clause, it appears in the nominative case, which for feminine singular nouns uses the article die.

Why is ist used here, and what tense is it?

Ist is the third-person singular present tense of sein (to be). The sentence describes a general or habitual fact, so the simple present tense is appropriate.

What part of speech is still in this sentence, and why doesn’t it take an ending?