Unreal Conditions: wann ... géif

Level 3

For an imagined situation, use the conditional twice: Wann ech Zäit hätt, géif ech méi reesen. (If I had time, I would travel more.)

How It Works

1. Real or imagined?

  • Real, possible: Wann ech Zäit hunn, kommen ech. (If I have time, I will come.)
  • Imagined, unlikely: Wann ech Zäit hätt, géif ech kommen. (If I had time, I would come.)

2. The wann clause
The verb goes to the end, as in every subordinate clause. Use a one-word conditional here: wier, hätt, or a modal such as kéint or misst.

  • Wann ech räich wier, ... (If I were rich, ...)
  • Wann ech méi Zäit hätt, ... (If I had more time, ...)
  • Wann ech kéint, ... (If I could, ...)

3. The main clause
Use géif with an infinitive, or wier, hätt or a conditional modal. When the wann clause comes first, the main clause starts with its verb: Wann ech räich wier, géif ech en Haus kafen. You can add da (dann) at the start of the main clause: ..., da géif ech en Haus kafen. See Starting With a Subordinate Clause.

4. The other order
The main clause can also come first: Ech géif dech uruffen, wann ech deng Nummer hätt. (I would call you if I had your number.)

5. Géif inside the wann clause
In relaxed speech you will also hear géif inside the wann clause. Careful writing keeps it in the main clause. See Géif Inside Wann Clauses.

6. In the past
For something that did not happen, use hätt or wier with a participle: Wann ech dat gewosst hätt, wier ech doheem bliwwen. See Unreal Past.

Examples (6)

  1. Wann ech Zäit hätt, géif ech méi reesen.

    If I had time, I would travel more.

  2. Wann ech räich wier, géif ech en Haus kafen.

    If I were rich, I would buy a house.

  3. Wann et net esou kal wier, géife mer spadséiere goen.

    If it weren't so cold, we would go for a walk.

    Géifen loses its n before m by the n-rule.

  4. Wa mer e Gaart hätten, hätte mer en Hond.

    If we had a garden, we would have a dog.

    Hätt can be used in both clauses. Wann and hätten lose their n before m.

  5. Wann hatt méi Suen hätt, kéint hatt en Auto kafen.

    If she had more money, she could buy a car.

    A conditional modal can stand in the main clause instead of géif.

  6. Ech géif dech uruffen, wann ech deng Nummer hätt.

    I would call you if I had your number.

    Here the main clause comes first.

Common Mistakes

  • Mixing a real wann clause with a conditional main clause.

    Wann ech Zäit hunn, géif ech méi reesen.
    Wann ech Zäit hätt, géif ech méi reesen.

    An imagined situation needs the conditional in both clauses: hätt, not hunn.

  • Putting the subject first after the wann clause.

    Wann ech räich wier, ech géif en Haus kafen.
    Wann ech räich wier, géif ech en Haus kafen.

    The wann clause fills the first place, so the verb géif comes right after the comma.

  • Leaving the verb in the middle of the wann clause.

    Wann ech hätt Zäit, géif ech kommen.
    Wann ech Zäit hätt, géif ech kommen.

    Wann sends its verb to the end of the clause.

How It Connects

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Unreal Conditions: wann ... géifLevel 3

Learn This First

Before Unreal Conditions: Wann ... géif, learn Would Be and Would Have: Wier and Hätt and If and When: Wann.

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