Bevor ich den Kuchen backe, hole ich die Kuchenform aus dem Schrank.

the; (masculine or neuter, dative)

Breakdown of Bevor ich den Kuchen backe, hole ich die Kuchenform aus dem Schrank.

• ich: I
• bevor: before
• der Kuchen: the cake

Questions & Answers about Bevor ich den Kuchen backe, hole ich die Kuchenform aus dem Schrank.

Why is backe at the end of the first part: Bevor ich den Kuchen backe?

Because bevor is a subordinating conjunction meaning before. In German, a subordinate clause usually sends the conjugated verb to the end.

So:

• Bevor ich den Kuchen backe = Before I bake the cake
• not Bevor ich backe den Kuchen

This is one of the most important German word order patterns to learn.

Why does the next part start with hole ich instead of ich hole?

In a normal main clause, German usually puts the conjugated verb in second position.

Here, the sentence begins with the subordinate clause:

• Bevor ich den Kuchen backe, ...

That whole clause counts as position 1, so the verb in the main clause must come next:

• ..., hole ich die Kuchenform aus dem Schrank.

So the structure is:

• [subordinate clause], [verb] [subject] ...

If you started with the main clause instead, you would say:

• Ich hole die Kuchenform aus dem Schrank, bevor ich den Kuchen backe.

Why is there a comma after backe?

In German, a subordinate clause is normally separated from the main clause by a comma.

So:

• Bevor ich den Kuchen backe, hole ich die Kuchenform aus dem Schrank.

This comma is required in standard German.