Connector 'falls' (in case)

falls is a subordinating conjunction expressing a condition, close to English in case / if. It is very similar to conditional wenn, but falls tends to stress that the situation is uncertain and may or may not occur - you plan for a possibility rather than state a routine. The verb goes to the end of the falls-clause.

If the falls-clause comes first, the main clause follows with the verb in second position (inversion), because the whole subordinate clause fills the first slot.

• Falls es regnet, bleiben wir zu Hause. - In case it rains, we'll stay at home.
• Ruf mich an, falls du Hilfe brauchst. - Call me if you need help.
• Falls Sie Fragen haben sollten, wenden Sie sich an uns. - In case you should have questions, contact us.

Common mistakes:

• Treating falls like a main-clause adverb: the verb must go last (falls du Zeit hast, not falls du hast Zeit).
• Confusing it with wenn in the temporal sense (every time). falls is only conditional, never whenever.

'falls' (in case / if) introduces a condition; the verb goes to the end.

Introduces a condition (= wenn); the verb goes to the clause end.

'falls' nennt eine Bedingung; Verb am Satzende.