Mastering German Subordinate Clauses: "bevor" and "nachdem" Explained | B1 German Course | Lesson 18

Assalamualaikum and welcome to Germany for student channel. Today is lesson number 18 of German language course B1 level. In lesson number 18, we will do the conjunctions of before and nachdem in this lesson. In previous lessons, we have seen the conjunctions of before and nachdem separately. While using these two conjunctions, there are a lot of similarities and a lot of differences. And in today's lesson, we will see that when we have to use these two conjunctions, then which points are common and which are different in them or what are the differences in them. So let's start today's lesson. First, let's see the conjunction of nachdem. We have to use nachdem when we have two events and both events have happened in the past. To describe these two events, we need two sentences. One sentence is called Hauptsatz and one sentence is called Nebenzatz. Now let's see that if we have to use the conjunction of before, in which case we can use the conjunction of before. So to use the conjunction of before, we need two events. Or in such situations where two events have happened, we can use the conjunction of before. For this too, we need two sentences, Hauptsatz and Nebenzatz. But the biggest difference here is that for nachdem, both events have to be present in the past. Whereas when we use the conjunction of before, there can be sentences in present or perfect. It is not necessary that the sentences should be in the preteritum. Now let's do a quick recap that if we have to use the conjunction of nachdem, then what is the sentence structure? We will only see the sentence structure of Nebenzatz here because the conjunction is used in Nebenzatz. The sentence will start with nachdem. After that, the subject will come. After subject, the object will come. Then we have to use the participle form of verbs. And in the preteritum, we have to use the helping verbs. We have seen the preteritum form of these two helping verbs in detail in the previous lesson. And we have to conjugate this form according to the subject of Nebenzatz. Now let's see that if we have to use before as a conjunction, then Nebenzatz will start with before. After that, the subject will come. After subject, the object will come. Instead of object, there can be a preposition or adjective. After that, the verb will come. And we will conjugate the verb according to the subject of Nebenzatz. Now let's see some sentences. And in these sentences, we will use the conjunction of nachdem and before. And then we will see that how we can make these two sentences using the conjunction of before and nachdem. Architects start construction. They have to take a lot of approvals. Now they have to take approval before doing construction. So what will be the first event of these two? That they have to take approval. And what is the second event? Or what is the later event? That they start construction. If we combine these two sentences using the conjunction of before, then Nebenzatz will have the event that happened later. What is the later event? That architects have started construction. So this sentence will be Before architects start construction. Now let's make these two sentences using the conjunction of nachdem. Here the rule is that nachdem is used in Nebenzatz. And the event used in Nebenzatz should have happened earlier. So in this case it will be Architects started construction after taking a lot of approvals. So here it is a little confusing. But you have to remember this rule that in the case of both conjunctions, the conjunction will be used in Nebenzatz. In the case of before, the event will come in Nebenzatz which happened later. In the case of nachdem, the event will come in Nebenzatz which happened earlier. Let's see further examples. Politician gave a speech. It means to give a speech. He prepared important questions for many days. So before giving a speech, he prepared a lot of important questions. In this sentence, Hilt is the preteritum form of Halten. And when we conjugate it according to der Politiker, the third person singular, it will be Hilt. In the second sentence, the verb of Vorbegeiten is used. It also has a preteritum form. When we conjugate it according to er. And the prefix for will go to the last position of the sentence. Now let's identify which is the event that happened earlier and which is the event that happened later. Politiker prepared for many days. This is the first event. And what is the event that will happen later? He gave a speech. If we make a sentence with before, then the event that happened later will come in Nebenzatz. Let's see. Before der Politiker seine Rede hielt. Before the politician gave his speech. Begeitete er sich Tage lang auf die Wichtigsten Fragen vor. He prepared important questions for many days. That how he has to answer these important questions. Now let's make these two sentences using the conjunction of Nachtem. Then the event that happened earlier comes in Nebenzatz. Nachdem der Politiker sich Tage lang auf die Wichtigsten Fragen vorbegeitet hatte, hielt er seine Rede. After preparing important questions for many days, the politician gave his speech. Let's see the next example. Das Team konnte das Projekt abschließen, sie mussten Saalreiche technische Probleme lösen. Sie mussten unzählige technische Probleme lösen. Saalreiche unzählige technische Probleme lösen. The first event in these two sentences is that they solved many technical problems. After that they completed the project. If we combine these two sentences with before, then the event that happens later comes in Nebenzatz. The event that happens later is that the team completed the project. Before das Team das Projekt abschließen konnte. Before the team completed the project. Sie mussten Saalreiche technische Probleme lösen. Sie mussten unzählige technische Probleme lösen. Now we use the conjunction Nachdem on these two sentences. While using the conjunction Nachdem, the event that happens later comes in Nebenzatz. The event that happens later is that they solved many technical problems. Nachdem sie Saalreiche technische Probleme gelöst hatten, konnte das Team das Projekt abschließen. After solving many technical problems, the team completed the project. Let's see one more example with before and nachdem. Der Anwalt verteidigte seinen Mandaten, er begeitete überzeugende Argumente vor. The lawyer defended his argument, he made convincing arguments. The event that happens later is that the lawyer defended his argument, he made convincing arguments. Before der Anwalt seinen Mandaten verteidigte, Begeitete er überzeugende Argumente vor. He made convincing arguments. While using the conjunction Nachdem, the event that happens later comes in Nebenzatz. The event that happens later is that he made convincing arguments. Nachdem der Anwalt überzeugende Argumente vorbegeitete hatte, verteidigte er seinen Mandaten. The lawyer defended his argument, he made convincing arguments. This was today's lesson. I hope you got the clarity to use before and nachdem. Now let's see the homework. Der Unternehmer gründete die Firma, er erstellte einen detaillierten Geschäftsplan. He created a detailed business plan. You have to make these two sentences by using the conjunction Nachdem and before. You have to combine these two sentences by using the conjunction Nachdem and before. The rule is to identify which work has been done first and which work has been done later. If I have to use the conjunction before, which event will come in Nebenzatz? If I have to use the conjunction Nachdem, which event will come in Nebenzatz? I will be waiting for your feedback. See you in the next lesson. Allah Hafiz.