A2
conjunction
4 min de lecture
400+w
seitdem en 30 secondes
- Connects a past event to the present.
- Means 'since then' or 'ever since'.
- Introduces a subordinate clause (verb at end).
- Used for ongoing situations after a past point.
- Core Meaning
- 'Seitdem' is a German conjunction that translates to 'since then' in English. It is used to indicate a point in time in the past from which a subsequent event or state has continued or occurred. It connects two clauses, with the first clause often describing the event that marks the beginning of the period, and the second clause describing what has happened or been the case since that event.
- Function as a Subordinating Conjunction
- As a subordinating conjunction, 'seitdem' introduces a subordinate clause (a dependent clause). This means the clause introduced by 'seitdem' cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and must be attached to an independent clause. In German subordinate clauses, the conjugated verb is moved to the very end of the clause. This is a crucial grammatical feature to remember when using 'seitdem'.
- Temporal Relationship
- The primary function of 'seitdem' is to establish a temporal relationship. It marks the beginning of a period that extends up to the present moment or another point in time mentioned in the main clause. Think of it as a marker that says, 'From that point forward...'. It implies a continuous state or a series of events that have transpired since a specific past moment.
Er zog nach Berlin, und seitdem lebt er dort glücklich.