Learn Hardcore German: Danach sprechen wir miteinander über die Gegend. - After that we talk with each other about the area.

German main clauses follow the verb-second (V2) rule: whatever you put first (here: Danach) takes position 1, and the finite verb must be in position 2. The subject (wir) then comes after the verb. So: Danach sprechen wir …. This word order does not make it a question; it’s still a statement.

Can I start with “Wir” instead of “Danach”?

Yes: Wir sprechen danach miteinander über die Gegend. That’s equally correct. Starting with Danach emphasizes the time sequence; starting with Wir keeps a neutral, subject-first tone.

What’s the difference between danach, dann, nachher, and später?

danach = after that (refers back to a specific earlier event just mentioned).
dann = then/after that (very general sequencer).
nachher = afterward/later (more colloquial, often “a bit later”).
später = later (general, can be much later). All four can fit here; nuance and register differ slightly.

Why is it über die Gegend and not von der Gegend?

With verbs like sprechen/reden, über + Accusative means “talk about (the topic in some detail).” von + Dative can feel more like “talk of/mention.” Both are possible, but über is the default for “talk about a topic.” Hence: über die Gegend.

Which case does über take here, and why is it die?

In the “about” meaning, über takes the Accusative. Gegend is feminine, and feminine singular has die in both Nominative and Accusative. You’d see the case difference more clearly with other genders: über den Park (masc. Acc.), über das Dorf (neut. Acc.).

What gender is Gegend, and what’s the plural?

Gegend is feminine: die Gegend. The plural is die Gegenden.

Do I need the article? Can I say “über Gegend”?

Yes, you generally need an article with singular countable nouns in German. Über die Gegend is natural; über Gegend sounds wrong in standard usage.

What’s the nuance of miteinander compared to zusammen or mit uns?

miteinander = with each other (reciprocal; emphasizes interaction).
zusammen = together (doing the action jointly, less about direct interaction).
mit uns literally “with us” and would mean “talk with ourselves” if used like this. For “with each other,” use miteinander, not mit uns.

Where can miteinander go in the sentence?

Most natural: Wir sprechen miteinander über … You can also put it later: Wir sprechen über die Gegend miteinander (possible, slightly less idiomatic). Fronting it (Miteinander sprechen wir …) is stylistic/emphatic. Don’t split it or write it as two words.

Can I replace “über die Gegend” with a da(r)- word?

Yes: Danach sprechen wir miteinander darüber. The da(r)+Preposition form (darüber) replaces a previously mentioned über + object phrase.

Could I use other verbs like reden, sich unterhalten, or besprechen?

reden (über/von) ≈ speak/talk (often a bit more informal): Wir reden miteinander über die Gegend.
sich unterhalten (über) = have a conversation: Wir unterhalten uns miteinander über die Gegend.
besprechen + Accusative (no preposition) = discuss something: Wir besprechen die Gegend. (More matter-of-fact, “discuss” rather than just “talk about.”)

How do I pronounce key parts (quick tips)?

sprechen: initial sp sounds like “shp” in German; ch here is the soft “ich” sound.
über: ü is a front-rounded vowel (like French “u”).
Gegend: long “ee” in the first syllable; final d is typically devoiced to a “t”-like sound in German.

Why does the present tense here feel like the future in English?

German often uses the present tense with a time word to express the future. Danach sprechen wir … can translate as “After that, we’ll talk …” Context and adverbs carry the future meaning.

Any spelling gotchas?

It’s danach (not “dannach”).
über needs an umlaut; without it (e.g., on a keyboard), write ueber.
miteinander is written as one word.

How do I negate this, and what changes in meaning?

Danach sprechen wir nicht miteinander über die Gegend. = We won’t talk with each other (no conversation between us).
Danach sprechen wir miteinander nicht über die Gegend. = We will talk with each other, but not about the area (about something else instead).

Do I need a comma here?

No comma is needed: Danach sprechen wir miteinander über die Gegend. You’d use a comma if you introduced a subordinate clause, e.g., Nachdem wir ankommen, sprechen wir miteinander über die Gegend.