German Phrase
Mariniere den Tofu, bevor du ihn kochst.
Meaning
The sentence tells someone to season the tofu in a sauce or mixture before cooking it. It emphasizes the order of steps in a recipe, ensuring the tofu absorbs flavor before heat is applied.
When to use
Use this phrase when giving cooking instructions, especially in vegetarian or vegan recipes, or when you want to stress the importance of marinating for better taste.
✦Grammar Breakdown
MarinieredenTofu,bevorduihnkochst.
Imperativ (2. Person Singular)
‘Mariniere’ is the imperative form of ‘marinieren’ for ‘du’. The verb stem is ‘marinier‑’ and the ending ‘‑e’ marks the command.
Akkusativobjekt
‘den Tofu’ is the direct object in the accusative case; masculine nouns take ‘den’ in the accusative.
Subjunktion ‘bevor’
‘bevor’ introduces a temporal subordinate clause and pushes the verb to the end of that clause (‘kochst’).
Personalpronomen im Akkusativ
‘ihn’ replaces ‘den Tofu’ in the second clause; it is the masculine accusative pronoun.
Verb‑Zweit‑Stellung im Hauptsatz
In the main clause the verb ‘mariniere’ occupies the second position, right after the subject (which is omitted in the imperative).
🗨In Conversation
Mariniere den Tofu, bevor du ihn kochst.
Marinate the tofu before you cook it.
Gute Idee! Welche Marinade schlägst du vor?
Good idea! What marinade do you suggest?
✕Common Mistakes
Marinierst den Tofu, bevor du ihn kochst.
‘marinierst’ is the 2nd‑person singular present tense, not the command. Use ‘mariniere’ for the imperative.
Mariniere das Tofu, bevor du ihn kochst.
‘Tofu’ is masculine in German, so the accusative article is ‘den’, not ‘das’.
Mariniere den Tofu, bevor du kochst ihn.
In a ‘bevor’-clause the verb goes to the end; the pronoun stays before the verb.
↔Alternatives
Lass den Tofu vorher marinieren.
Let the tofu marinate beforehand.
Mariniere den Tofu, dann koche ihn.
Marinate the tofu, then cook it.
Bevor du den Tofu kochst, mariniere ihn.
Before you cook the tofu, marinate it.
Cultural Tip
Tofu is increasingly popular in German kitchens, especially in urban areas where vegan and flexitarian diets are on the rise. While traditional German cuisine rarely uses soy products, many modern chefs blend classic techniques (like marinating) with tofu to create fusion dishes that appeal to both locals and international palates.