Breakdown of Wenn die Sonne verschwindet, ist alles still.
sein
to be
die Sonne
the sun
alles
everything
wenn
when
still
quiet
verschwinden
to disappear
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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?
Here, still is a predicative adjective linked by the verb sein. Predicative adjectives in German don’t receive adjective endings, so it remains still.
Why is there no article before alles, and what part of speech is it?
Alles is an indefinite pronoun meaning “everything.” As a pronoun subject of the main clause, it stands alone without an article.
Is verschwinden a separable verb, and how does that affect its forms?
No, verschwinden has the inseparable prefix ver-, so it never splits. In all tenses you keep the prefix attached: verschwindet, verschwand, ist verschwunden.
Why is wenn used here instead of als?
Use wenn for general, repeated, or conditional time clauses (“whenever” or “if”). Als is reserved for a single event in the past. Since this describes a recurring situation, wenn is correct.
Can I invert the clauses to say Alles ist still, wenn die Sonne verschwindet? Does it change the meaning?
Yes, you can swap them: Alles ist still, wenn die Sonne verschwindet. You still need the comma before the subordinate clause. The core meaning remains the same, only the emphasis shifts slightly.
How do you pronounce verschwindet, and where is the stress?
Pronounce it approximately as fer-SHWIN-det, with the primary stress on the second syllable (SCHWIN). The v sounds like f, and sch like English “sh.”