Conditional Clauses in Speech: géif / wann
Géif Inside Wann Clauses in Speech
For an imagined situation, speakers often use géif + infinitive in the wann clause as well as in the main clause: Wann ech den Jackpot géif gewannen, géif ech eng Weltrees maachen.
How It Works
1. Géif in both clauses
In speech, and in plenty of everyday writing, géif appears on both sides:
- Wa mer all méi verstänneg géife fueren, kéinte mer muncht Ongléck verhënneren. (If we all drove more sensibly, we could prevent many accidents.)
- Majo, wéi wier et dann, wa mer et géife maachen, wéi s du sees! (Well, how about if we did it the way you say!)
This is normal Luxembourgish. It is not a mistake.
2. Where the verbs go
Wann sends the verbs toward the end, as in any subordinate clause. Géif usually comes just before the infinitive: wa mer et géife maachen. Speakers also often put géif earlier, before an object or an adverb: wa mer géifen déi Spillreegele respektéieren, wann s de géifs doheem raumen. With du, remember wann s de.
3. The one-word forms
Sinn and hunn have their own conditional forms, wier and hätt. Careful writing uses them in the wann clause: Wann ech méi Zäit hätt, géif ech méi reesen. The same goes for verbs with a one-word conditional, such as kéim, géing and wéisst.
4. Choosing a style
When you speak, géif in the wann clause is always fine. In a formal text, a one-word form in the wann clause often reads more polished, and géif then appears only in the main clause.
Examples (6)
- Wann ech an der Lotterie den Jackpot géif gewannen, géif ech fir d'éischt emol eng Weltrees maachen.
If I won the jackpot in the lottery, the first thing I would do is go on a trip around the world.
Géif appears in both clauses, which is common in speech.
- Majo, wéi wier et dann, wa mer et géife maachen, wéi s du sees!
Well, how about if we did it the way you say!
Wann becomes wa before mer by the n-rule.
- Et géif eis freeën, wa mer eng Kéier zesumme géifen iesse goen.
We would be glad if we went out to eat together sometime.
- Ech hätt léiwer, wann s de géifs heibleiwen.
I would rather you stayed here.
With du, the wann clause starts with wann s de, and géif takes the du form géifs.
- Wa mer all méi verstänneg géife fueren, kéinte mer muncht Ongléck verhënneren.
If we all drove more sensibly, we could prevent many accidents.
- Wann ech méi Zäit hätt, géif ech méi reesen.
If I had more time, I would travel more.
With hunn, the one-word form hätt is usual in the wann clause.
Common Mistakes
Using the past participle after géif instead of the infinitive.
Wann ech den Jackpot géif gewonnen, géif ech eng Weltrees maachen.Wann ech den Jackpot géif gewannen, géif ech eng Weltrees maachen.Géif always goes with an infinitive. Gewonnen is the participle; the infinitive is gewannen.
Putting géif and a one-word conditional together.
Wann ech räich géif wier, géif ech en Haus kafen.Wann ech räich wier, géif ech en Haus kafen.Wier is already a complete conditional form. Use either wier alone or géif with an infinitive, never both.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Géif Inside Wann Clauses in Speech, learn One-Word Conditionals: Kéim, Géing, Wéisst.
Related Patterns
- Unreal Conditions: wann ... géif
The basic pattern with a conditional form in both clauses.
Level 3 - géif + InfinitiveWould: Géif + Infinitive
The general conditional that appears here inside the wann clause.
Level 3 - wier / hättWould Be and Would Have: Wier and Hätt
The one-word forms that careful writing prefers in the wann clause.
Level 3 - wann s deThe S After Conjunctions with Du
With du, the wann clause becomes wann s de géifs.
Level 2 - wéi wannAs if: Wéi Wann
Wéi wann clauses also very often contain géif.
Level 5
Words in This Pattern
Practice Conditional Clauses in Speech: géif / wann in Bubblegum
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