Learn Hardcore German: Meine Schwester hat vor, sich online für den Kurs anzumelden, sobald der Zugriff klappt. - My sister plans to register online for the course as soon as access works.

hat vor comes from the separable verb vorhaben and means “plans” or “intends.” Here vor is not the preposition “before,” but the separable prefix of the verb.

Why is it split as hat vor and not written together as vorhat?

In a main clause, separable verbs split: the finite part (hat) goes to position 2, and the prefix (vor) goes to the right edge of the clause. When the verb moves to the clause-final position (e.g., in a subordinate clause), the parts rejoin: … dass sie es vorhat, …

Do I need the comma after hat vor before the zu-infinitive?

With zu-infinitive groups, this comma is optional under current rules but recommended, especially when the group is long. Here it aids clarity, so keeping it is standard.

Where did zu go in anzumelden?

With separable verbs, zu goes between the prefix and the stem:

an + zu + melden → anzumelden The same happens with other separable verbs: auf + zu + räumen → aufzuräumen, etc.

Why is sich used with anmelden?

sich anmelden is reflexive when you register yourself. Without sich, you register someone else: Ich melde meine Schwester für den Kurs an. So the reflexive marks that the subject and the (direct) object are the same person.

Is sich accusative or dative here? How does it change with person?

It’s accusative. Forms:

ich: mich
du: dich
er/sie/es: sich
wir: uns
ihr: euch
sie/Sie: sich

Can I move online or für den Kurs around inside the infinitive?

Yes. Both are natural:

sich online für den Kurs anzumelden
sich für den Kurs online anzumelden Avoid: sich anzumelden online (sounds awkward). Pronoun objects (like sich) tend to come early; adverbs like online are flexible.

Why is it für den Kurs and not für dem Kurs?

für always takes the accusative, hence den Kurs (masc. acc.). Note: with sich anmelden, you can also use zu + Dativ in many contexts: sich zu einem Kurs anmelden. Both are common; institutions may prefer one.

Why is online lowercase?

online is an adverb/adjective here, and adjectives/adverbs are lowercase in German. Nouns (and words used as nouns) are capitalized.

What does sobald do to word order?

sobald introduces a subordinate clause, so the conjugated verb goes to the end: … sobald der Zugriff klappt. You cannot say: … sobald klappt der Zugriff (that would be wrong).

What’s the difference between sobald and wenn here?

sobald means “as soon as” and emphasizes immediacy. wenn means “when/if” and is looser about timing; it’s common in speech but less precise than sobald in this context.

Why is the present tense used even though it refers to the future?

German often uses the present for future events when the time is clear from context or a time clause (here, sobald). There’s no need for werden.

Is klappt too informal? What are neutral alternatives?

klappen is neutral–colloquial and very common. More neutral/formal options:

funktionieren (work/function): sobald der Zugriff funktioniert
gelingen (succeed): sobald der Zugriff gelingt Even more casual: hinhauen.

Is Zugriff the right word? How does it differ from Zugang or Login?

Zugriff: the ability to access/use data or a system (access in the technical sense), often with auf: Zugriff auf das Portal.
Zugang: entry/admission or an account/credentials (e.g., Zugang zum Portal, Zugangsdaten).
Login: borrowed noun for the act/status of logging in. Many would also say: sobald der Zugang funktioniert / sobald der Login klappt. Zugriff klappt is understandable and acceptable, a bit technical-sounding.

Can I put the sobald clause first?

Yes: Sobald der Zugriff klappt, hat meine Schwester vor, sich online für den Kurs anzumelden. This is perfectly normal and keeps the same meaning.

How would it look without the planning verb, as a plain statement?

Meine Schwester meldet sich online für den Kurs an, sobald der Zugriff klappt. This shows the typical separable-verb pattern in a main clause: meldet … an.