wenn

If/When (Wenn)

Level 2

Wenn is the German word for 'if' (conditions) and 'when' (time). It is a subordinating conjunction, meaning the conjugated verb must move to the very end of the clause.

How It Works

The word wenn is one of the most versatile conjunctions in German. To use it correctly, you must follow specific subordinate clause word order rules.

1. Word Order Rules:
In a wenn-clause, the conjugated verb always goes to the end. If the wenn-clause comes first in the sentence, the main clause must start with a verb (this is called verb-second inversion).
Example: Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause.

2. Conditional vs. Temporal:
German uses wenn for both 'if' (conditions) and 'when' (time). For time, wenn is used for the present, future, and repeated events in the past. For a single, specific event or a single period of time in the past (like 'when I was a child'), you must use als instead.

3. Hypothetical Situations:
You will often see wenn used with Konjunktiv II to describe unreal or hypothetical situations.
Example: Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich kommen.

4. Wenn vs. Wann:
Do not confuse wenn with wann. Use wann only for questions (direct or indirect) regarding a specific time. Use wenn for 'whenever' or 'if'.

Examples (4)

  1. Wenn ich Zeit habe, helfe ich dir.

    If I have time, I will help you.

    Word by Word: If I time have, help I you.

    This is a conditional use. Notice the verb 'habe' is at the end of the first clause, and 'helfe' starts the second clause.

  2. Ich rufe dich an, wenn ich zu Hause bin.

    I will call you when I am at home.

    Word by Word: I call you at, when I at home am.

    This is a temporal (time) use referring to the future. The verb 'bin' moves to the end.

  3. Immer wenn es regnete, sind wir ins Kino gegangen.

    Whenever it rained, we went to the cinema.

    Word by Word: Always when it rained, are we into the cinema gone.

    This shows a repeated event in the past. 'Wenn' is used here because it happened multiple times.

  4. Wenn du willst, können wir Pizza essen.

    If you want, we can eat pizza.

    Word by Word: If you want, can we pizza eat.

    A common conditional sentence. The modal verb 'können' is inverted in the main clause.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'wenn' for a single event or a single period of time in the past.

    Wenn ich ein Kind war, spielte ich viel.
    Als ich ein Kind war, spielte ich viel.

    For a single, specific event or a single block of time (like childhood) that happened in the past, you must use 'als' instead of 'wenn'.

  • Using 'wenn' to mean 'whether' in indirect questions.

    Ich weiß nicht, wenn er kommt.
    Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt.

    If you mean 'if' in the sense of 'whether' (a yes/no choice), you must use ob.

  • Incorrect word order in the main clause.

    Wenn es regnet, ich bleibe zu Hause.
    Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause.

    When the 'wenn'-clause comes first, the main clause must start with the verb. Think of the entire 'wenn'-clause as position one.

How It Connects

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wennLevel 2If/When (Wenn)

Learn This First

To use 'wenn' correctly, you need to understand German subordinate clause word order, where the conjugated verb moves to the end. You also need to be comfortable with basic verb conjugation and how the main clause's word order changes when it follows a dependent clause.

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