what ... on / whereupon
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what ... on
Used as a question word (interrogative adverb) to ask about the target of an action or the object of an interest. It means 'auf was?' (what ... on?).
Worauf wartest du noch? Wir müssen los!
What are you still waiting for? We have to go!
on which
Used as a relative adverb to refer to a previously mentioned thing or circumstance. It means 'auf das' (on that) or 'auf welches' (on which).
Das ist das Signal, worauf wir alle gewartet haben.
That is the signal we have all been waiting for.
whereupon
Introduces a subordinate clause and expresses a sequence in time. It means 'danach' (after that) or 'infolgedessen' (as a result).
Er hielt eine kurze Ansprache, worauf die Feier eröffnet wurde.
He gave a short speech, whereupon the celebration was opened.
'Worauf' is a pronominal adverb made up of 'wo-' and the preposition 'auf'. It replaces the combination 'auf was?' (what ... on?) in questions or 'auf das/welches' (on that/which) in subordinate clauses and makes sentences more elegant.
Worauf freust du dich am meisten?
What are you looking forward to the most?
As a question word, 'worauf' comes at the beginning of the sentence, and the verb follows directly after it. As a relative adverb, it introduces a subordinate clause in which the conjugated verb comes at the end.
Worauf konzentrierst du dich gerade?
What are you concentrating on right now?
'Worauf' is always used with verbs or expressions that require the fixed preposition 'auf'. These include, for example, 'warten auf' (to wait for), 'sich freuen auf' (to look forward to), 'antworten auf' (to respond to), or 'achten auf' (to pay attention to).
Ich weiß nicht, worauf er wartet.
I don't know what he is waiting for.
In the temporal meaning 'danach' (after that), 'worauf' does not refer to a single noun, but to the action of the entire preceding sentence. It describes a direct consequence.
Der Redner beendete seinen Vortrag, worauf ein lauter Applaus folgte.
The speaker finished his lecture, whereupon loud applause followed.
afterward / after that
Danach is used in a main clause to say what happens later. Worauf, by contrast, introduces a subordinate clause that directly follows the previous event and describes its consequence. The choice therefore depends mainly on the sentence structure and how closely the events are connected.
Der Zug hielt plötzlich, worauf alle Fahrgäste ausstiegen.
The train stopped suddenly, whereupon all the passengers got off.
Der Zug hielt plötzlich, und danach stiegen alle Fahrgäste aus.
The train stopped suddenly, and afterward all the passengers got off.
