Subordinate clause with 'wenn' (if/when, temporal/conditional)
Nebensatz mit 'wenn' (temporal/konditional)
'wenn' introduces conditional ('if') or repeated temporal ('whenever') clauses with the at the end.
Structure
wenn + … + Verb (Satzende), (dann) Hauptsatz
wenn + … + verb (end of the clause), (dann) main clause
Details
- Part of Speech
- Conjunction
- Word Type
- Subordinating conjunction
- Register
- Standard
Explanation
wenn introduces a that is either conditional (if) or temporal in the sense of a repeated event (whenever). As a subordinating it sends the conjugated to the end of the clause.
- Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. - If it rains, I stay at home.
- Wenn ich Zeit habe, besuche ich dich. - When/if I have time, I'll visit you.
- Immer wenn er kommt, freuen wir uns. - Whenever he comes, we are happy.
If the wenn-clause comes first, the begins with its , often introduced by dann: Wenn es regnet, (dann) bleibe ich zu Hause. This is the -second rule: the whole wenn-clause counts as position 1.
Common mistakes: For a single past event ("when" = at that one time) German uses als, not wenn. Use wenn for present/future conditions and for repeated past actions. Also do not forget to start the with the after a fronted wenn-clause.
About Subordinate clause with 'wenn' (if/when, temporal/conditional)
'wenn' introduces conditional ('if') or repeated temporal ('whenever') clauses with the at the end.
'wenn' expresses a condition or a repeated event. The goes last. A fronted 'wenn'-clause is followed by verb-first in the .
'wenn' leitet Bedingungs- oder (wiederholte) Zeitsätze ein; das steht am Ende.
Caution
If the 'wenn'-clause comes first, the main clause starts with the verb (often after 'dann'): 'Wenn es regnet, (dann) bleibe ich zu Hause.'