Konditionalsätze (If Clauses: wenn, falls)
A conditional sentence says what happens if a condition is met. German usually introduces the condition with wenn (if) or falls (if, in the event that). The wenn clause is a subordinate clause, so its verb goes to the end. German has three main types, like the English first, second and third conditionals: a real condition, an unreal condition in the present and an unreal condition in the past.
1. Real conditions
The condition can really happen. Both clauses are usually in the present tense; English uses will in the main clause, German normally does not.
Wenn ich Zeit habe, helfe ich dir.If I have time, I'll help you.
Wenn es morgen regnet, bleiben wir zu Hause.If it rains tomorrow, we'll stay at home.
Falls du Fragen hast, ruf mich an.If you have any questions, give me a call.
2. Unreal conditions in the present
The condition is not true now and probably will not be. Both clauses use the Konjunktiv II: hätte, wäre, the modal forms, or würde + infinitive.
Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich dir helfen.If I had time, I would help you.
Wenn ich mehr Geld hätte, würde ich ein Auto kaufen.If I had more money, I would buy a car.
Wenn ich du wäre, würde ich das nicht machen.If I were you, I wouldn't do that.
Common mistake
Wenn ich Zeit habe, ich helfe dir. is wrong; correct: Wenn ich Zeit habe, helfe ich dir.
In English the subject follows the if clause. In German the whole wenn clause is the first position, so the verb comes next.
3. Unreal conditions in the past
The condition was not met in the past, so it can no longer change. Both clauses use hätte or wäre + past participle, like English if I had …, I would have ….
Wenn ich Zeit gehabt hätte, hätte ich dir geholfen.If I had had time, I would have helped you.
Wenn ich mir nicht das Bein gebrochen hätte, wäre ich Profifußballer geworden.If I hadn't broken my leg, I would have become a professional footballer.
Wenn wir früher losgefahren wären, hätten wir den Zug nicht verpasst.If we had left earlier, we wouldn't have missed the train.
Word order and if clauses without wenn
- When the wenn clause comes first, the main clause starts with its verb: Wenn ich Zeit habe, helfe ich dir. When it comes second, the main clause has normal order: Ich helfe dir, wenn ich Zeit habe.
- The main clause can begin with dann or so: Wenn du müde bist, dann geh ins Bett.
- wenn can be left out. The verb then moves to the front of the condition: Hätte ich Zeit, würde ich dir helfen. (If I had time, I would help you.)
- wenn also means when or whenever in statements; in questions, when is wann: Ich weiß nicht, wann er kommt. falls is only conditional and stresses that something may or may not happen.
Common mistake
Ich weiß nicht, wenn er heute kommt. is wrong; correct: Ich weiß nicht, ob er heute kommt.
English if has two meanings. For a condition German uses wenn; for whether (an indirect yes/no question) it uses ob; see indirect questions.
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Written by: Fatih Ün, German teacher · Last updated: