German Phrase
Erzähl alles, was passiert ist, bevor es angefangen hat.
Meaning
The sentence asks someone to give a full account of every event that occurred prior to a certain starting point. It implies a detailed, chronological narration of what happened before something began.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need a comprehensive recount, for example after an accident, a meeting, or when someone is telling a story and you want the background events that led up to the main action.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Erzählalles,waspassiertist,bevoresangefangenhat.
Imperative (du)
‘Erzähl’ is the du‑form imperative of ‘erzählen’, used for informal commands.
Relative clause
‘was passiert ist’ is a relative clause describing ‘alles’; it uses the perfect tense.
Subordinate clause with ‘bevor’
‘bevor es angefangen hat’ is a temporal subordinate clause, also in perfect tense.
Perfect tense of ‘anfangen’
‘hat angefangen’ is the present perfect of ‘anfangen’; note the auxiliary ‘haben’.
Object ‘alles’
‘alles’ functions as a neuter pronoun meaning ‘everything’ and takes the accusative case.
🗨In Conversation
Erzähl alles, was passiert ist, bevor es angefangen hat.
Tell me everything that happened before it started.
Also, zuerst kam das Telefon, dann ging das Licht aus, und erst danach begann das eigentliche Problem.
Well, first the phone rang, then the lights went out, and only after that did the real problem start.
✕Common Mistakes
Erzählen alles, was passiert ist, bevor es angefangen hat.
In informal speech you need the du‑imperative ‘Erzähl’, not the infinitive.
bevor es ist angefangen hat.
‘Anfangen’ uses ‘haben’ as the auxiliary in perfect tense: ‘hat angefangen’.
Erzähl alles, was passiert ist, nachdem es angefangen hat.
‘Nachdem’ means ‘after’; the sentence requires ‘bevor’ (before).
↔Alternatives
Berichte alles, was geschehen ist, bevor es losging.
Report everything that happened before it began.
Erzählen Sie alles, was passiert ist, bevor es angefangen hat.
Please tell everything that happened before it started. (formal)
Sag mir alles, was vorher passiert ist, bevor es losging.
Tell me everything that happened beforehand, before it started.
Cultural Tip
‘Erzähl’ is informal; in a professional or respectful setting switch to the formal imperative ‘Erzählen Sie…’. German speakers often prefer a clear temporal marker, so adding ‘zuerst’ or ‘vorher’ can make the request sound more natural. Also, avoid mixing up ‘bevor’ (before) with ‘nachdem’ (after).