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Bevor ich den Schrank repariere, hole ich das Werkzeug aus der Werkzeugkiste.

Bevor ich den Schrank repariere, hole ich das Werkzeug aus der Werkzeugkiste.
Before I repair the cupboard, I get the tools out of the toolbox.
FromLesson 100inHardcore German
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Questions & Answers about Bevor ich den Schrank repariere, hole ich das Werkzeug aus der Werkzeugkiste.

Why is there a comma after repariere?

Because Bevor ... introduces a subordinate clause (Bevor ich den Schrank repariere) and in German subordinate clauses are separated from the main clause by a comma. Here the structure is:

  • Subordinate clause: Bevor ich den Schrank repariere,
  • Main clause: hole ich das Werkzeug aus der Werkzeugkiste.
Why does the verb repariere come at the end of the first clause?

After subordinating conjunctions like bevor (before), German word order changes: the conjugated verb typically goes to the end of that subordinate clause.
So it’s Bevor ich den Schrank repariere (not Bevor ich repariere den Schrank).

Why is it hole ich and not ich hole in the second clause?

Because the sentence begins with something other than the subject: the subordinate clause Bevor ich den Schrank repariere takes up position 1. In a German main clause, the conjugated verb must be in position 2 (the V2 rule).
So the main clause becomes: ..., hole ich ... (verb second, subject after it).

Why is it den Schrank (accusative) and not der/dem Schrank?

Reparieren takes a direct object: you repair something. Direct objects are usually in the accusative case.

  • der Schrank = nominative (dictionary form)
  • den Schrank = accusative (what is being repaired)
Why does it say ich den Schrank repariere and not ich den Schrank reparieren?

Because the verb must be conjugated to match the subject ich.

  • Infinitive: reparieren
  • ich-form (present tense): ich repariere
Is this sentence in the present or the future? Why present tense?
It’s in the present tense (repariere, hole). German often uses the present tense to talk about planned or future actions when the time relationship is already clear from context—here it’s clear because of bevor (before).
Why is it aus der Werkzeugkiste and not aus die Werkzeugkiste?

Because aus is a two-way preposition that (in practice) takes the dative when it means “out of/from” (a location you are coming from). So:

  • die Werkzeugkiste (nominative/accusative) → der Werkzeugkiste (dative)
    You’re taking the tool out of the toolbox, so dative is used.
What’s the difference between Werkzeug and Werkzeugkiste?
  • das Werkzeug = the tool / tools (it can be used as a collective noun)
  • die Werkzeugkiste = the toolbox (literally tool box)
    German often forms compound nouns like Werkzeug + Kiste → Werkzeugkiste.
Why is Werkzeug singular even though you might take multiple tools?
In German, das Werkzeug can function like English equipment—a collective term. It can refer to tools in general, not necessarily one single tool. If you want to emphasize multiple individual tools, you could also say die Werkzeuge.
Do I need to repeat ich in both clauses?

In standard German, yes: each clause normally has its own subject. So you say:
Bevor ich ..., hole ich ...
Dropping the second ich would be ungrammatical here.

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