nodeems

After: Nodeems

Level 3

Nodeems (or nodeem) means after and sends the verb to the end: Nodeems mer giess haten, si mer spadséiere gaangen. (After we had eaten, we went for a walk.)

How It Works

1. Two spellings
The dictionary's main form is nodeem; nodeems is a common variant, also in writing. Both mean the same.

2. Word order
Nodeems starts a subordinate clause, so its verb goes to the very end, after the participle: nodeems mer giess haten. If the nodeems clause comes first, the main clause starts with its verb: ..., si mer spadséiere gaangen. See Starting With a Subordinate Clause.

3. Tenses
The nodeems clause is usually one step earlier than the main clause:

  • Past story: pluperfect + perfect. Nodeem si ageplënnert waren, hu se sech bestuet. (After they had moved in, they got married.)
  • Now or later: perfect + present. Nodeems ech d'Aarbecht fäerdeg gemaach hunn, ruffen ech dech un. (After I have finished the work, I will call you.)

4. Nodeems, no or duerno?

  • nodeems + clause: nodeems mer giess haten (after we had eaten)
  • no + noun in the dative: nom Iessen (after the meal). See Prepositions With the Dative.
  • duerno on its own: Duerno si mer spadséiere gaangen. (Afterwards we went for a walk.)

5. With du
When du follows, an s is added after the main form nodeem: Nodeem s de giess hues, ... See The S After Conjunctions With Du.

Examples (5)

  1. Nodeems mer giess haten, si mer spadséiere gaangen.

    After we had eaten, we went for a walk.

    Haten is at the very end of the nodeems clause.

  2. Nodeem si ageplënnert waren, hu se sech bestuet.

    After they had moved in, they got married.

    The earlier event is in the pluperfect, the later one in the perfect.

  3. Nodeems ech d'Aarbecht fäerdeg gemaach hunn, ruffen ech dech un.

    After I've finished the work, I'll call you.

    For the future, the nodeems clause uses the perfect and the main clause the present.

  4. Ech hu mech direkt an d'Bett geluecht, nodeems ech heemkomm war.

    I went straight to bed after I had got home.

  5. Nodeem s de giess hues, kanns du spille goen.

    After you've eaten, you can go and play.

    With du, an s is added after nodeem: nodeem s de.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting the helping verb before the participle.

    Nodeems mer hate giess, si mer spadséiere gaangen.
    Nodeems mer giess haten, si mer spadséiere gaangen.

    In a nodeems clause, the conjugated verb goes to the very end, after the participle.

  • Using nodeems before a noun.

    Nodeems dem Iesse si mer spadséiere gaangen.
    Nom Iesse si mer spadséiere gaangen.

    Nodeems joins a clause. Before a noun, use the preposition no with the dative: nom Iessen.

  • Putting the subject first after the nodeems clause.

    Nodeems mer giess haten, mir si spadséiere gaangen.
    Nodeems mer giess haten, si mer spadséiere gaangen.

    The nodeems clause fills the first place, so the main verb comes right after the comma.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

nodeemsLevel 3After: Nodeems

Learn This First

Before After: Nodeems, learn The Pluperfect: Hat or War + Participle and Before: Ier.

Words in This Pattern

nodeem