Conjunctional adverb 'dann' (then)
Konjunktionaladverb 'dann'
'dann' (then) marks the next step in time and causes inversion.
Structure
Hauptsatz. Dann + Verb + Subjekt … (zeitliche Folge)
main clause. Dann + verb + subject … (temporal sequence)
Details
- Part of Speech
- Adverb
- Word Type
- Conjunctional adverb
- Register
- Standard
Explanation
What it is. dann means then and marks the next step in a sequence of time - what happens after something else.
How it is used. When dann starts a clause, it occupies position 1 and causes inversion: the comes in position 2 and the follows: Zuerst esse ich, dann lerne ich - (lerne) before (ich). It often pairs with zuerst (first) or danach (afterwards) to order events.
Examples.
- Zuerst esse ich, dann lerne ich. - First I eat, then I study.
- Wir gehen ins Kino, dann gehen wir essen. - We're going to the cinema, then we'll go and eat.
Common mistakes. Keep -second order after a fronted dann: dann gehe ich, not dann ich gehe. dann (then, sequence) is not the same as denn (because/for).
About Conjunctional adverb 'dann' (then)
'dann' (then) marks the next step in time and causes inversion.
Marks the next step in a sequence; at the start of a clause it causes inversion.
'dann' nennt den nächsten Schritt in der Zeit und führt zur Inversion.
Caution
When 'dann' starts the clause, the verb comes before the subject: 'Zuerst esse ich, dann lerne ich'.