Plusquamperfekt with “Nachdem” & “Bevor”

The Plusquamperfekt (past perfect) is used to describe actions that happened before another past action. The conjunctions “Nachdem” (after) and “Bevor” (before) are commonly used to establish the sequence of events in a sentence.

“Nachdem” and Sentence Structure

“Nachdem” introduces a subordinate clause (Nebensatz) that describes an action that happened before the main clause (Hauptsatz).

“Nachdem” with Perfekt in the Nebensatz & Präsens in the Hauptsatz

• The subordinate clause (Nebensatz) uses the Perfekt (present perfect).
• The main clause (Hauptsatz) uses the Präsens (present tense).

Examples:

Nachdem ich gefrühstückt habe, gehe ich zur Arbeit.
After I have had breakfast, I go to work.

Nachdem sie den Brief geschrieben hat, ruft sie ihre Freundin an.
After she has written the letter, she calls her friend.

Nachdem wir das Haus geputzt haben, entspannen wir uns.
After we have cleaned the house, we relax.

Nachdem er den Führerschein gemacht hat, kauft er ein Auto.
After he has gotten his driver’s license, he buys a car.

Rule:

• The action in the “Nachdem”-clause happened first (past event).
• The main clause expresses a present action happening after the first event.

“Nachdem” with Plusquamperfekt in the Nebensatz & Präteritum/Perfekt in the Hauptsatz

• The subordinate clause (Nebensatz) uses the Plusquamperfekt (past perfect).
• The main clause (Hauptsatz) uses the Präteritum (simple past) or Perfekt (present perfect).

Examples:

Nachdem ich gefrühstückt hatte, ging ich zur Arbeit. (Präteritum in Hauptsatz)
After I had had breakfast, I went to work.

Nachdem sie den Brief geschrieben hatte, rief sie ihre Freundin an. (Präteritum in Hauptsatz)
After she had written the letter, she called her friend.

Nachdem wir das Haus geputzt hatten, haben wir uns entspannt. (Perfekt in Hauptsatz)
After we had cleaned the house, we relaxed.

Nachdem wir den Film gesehen hatten, haben wir darüber gesprochen. (Perfekt in Hauptsatz)
After we had watched the film, we talked about it

“Bevor” and Sentence Structure

“Bevor” introduces a subordinate clause (Nebensatz) that describes an action happening before another action. With this conjunction, the verb in the main clause and the verb in the subordinate clause are used in the same tense.

“Bevor” with Präsens in Nebensatz & Hauptsatz

Both the subordinate clause and the main clause use Präsens (present tense).

Examples:

Bevor ich zur Arbeit gehe, frühstücke ich.
Before I go to work, I eat breakfast.

Bevor wir ins Kino gehen, kaufen wir Popcorn.
Before we go to the cinema, we buy popcorn.

Bevor sie schläft, liest sie ein Buch.
Before she sleeps, she reads a book.

Rule:

Both actions happen in the present, but one occurs before the other.

“Bevor” with Perfekt/Präteritum in Nebensatz & Hauptsatz

Both the subordinate and main clause use Perfekt or Präteritum.

Examples:

Bevor ich zur Arbeit gegangen bin, habe ich gefrühstückt. (Perfekt in both clauses)
Before I went to work, I had breakfast.

Bevor wir ins Kino gingen, kauften wir Popcorn. (Präteritum in both clauses)
Before we went to the cinema, we bought popcorn.

Bevor sie eingeschlafen ist, hat sie ein Buch gelesen. (Perfekt in both clauses)
Before she fell asleep, she read a book.

Rule:

Both actions happen in the past, but one occurs before the other.