Wishes With nëmmen
Wishes: Wann Ech Nëmmen ...!
Wann ... nëmmen + conditional expresses a wish: Wann ech nëmmen Zäit hätt! (If only I had time!)
How It Works
1. Wishes about now
Use a conditional form such as wier or hätt or kéim:
- Wann ech nëmmen Zäit hätt! (If only I had time!)
- Wann et nëmmen erëm Summer wier! (If only it were summer again!)
- Wann hien nëmmen haut kéim! (If only he would come today!)
2. Wishes about the past
For something that did not happen, use hätt or wier with the participle (unreal past): Wann ech dat nëmme gewosst hätt! (If only I had known that!)
3. Verb first, without wann
You can drop wann and put the conditional verb first (verb-first conditions): Hätt ech dat nëmme gewosst! Wier ech nëmme méi fréi fortgaangen! (If only I had left earlier!)
4. Nëmmen and the n-rule
nëmmen Zäit, nëmmen erëm, but nëmme gewosst (n-rule). Dach can join nëmmen for extra feeling: Hätt ech dach nëmmen op mäi Gefill gelauschtert!
5. Wish or condition?
A condition has a main clause: Wann ech Zäit hätt, géif ech kommen (unreal conditions). A wish stands alone and ends with an exclamation mark.
Examples (5)
- Wann ech nëmmen Zäit hätt!
If only I had time!
Nëmmen keeps its n before z; hätt goes to the end.
- Hätt ech dat nëmme gewosst!
If only I had known that!
Without wann, the conditional hätt comes first.
- Wann et nëmmen erëm Summer wier!
If only it were summer again!
- Wann hien nëmmen haut kéim!
If only he would come today!
Kéim is the one-word conditional of kommen.
- Wier ech nëmme méi fréi fortgaangen!
If only I had left earlier!
Common Mistakes
Using the present tense to wish for something that is not true now.
Wann ech nëmmen Zäit hunn!Wann ech nëmmen Zäit hätt!Here you have no time, so the wish is about something unreal. That needs the conditional hätt, not the present hunn.
Leaving the verb in second place after wann.
Wann ech hätt nëmmen Zäit!Wann ech nëmmen Zäit hätt!Wann starts a subordinate clause, so hätt goes to the end.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Wishes: Wann ech nëmmen ...!, learn Unreal Conditions: Wann ... géif.
Related Patterns
- wier / hättWould Be and Would Have: Wier and Hätt
Wier and hätt are the most common verbs in wishes.
Level 3 - Unreal Past: hätt / wier + ParticipleUnreal Past: Hätt or Wier + Participle
Wishes about the past use hätt or wier with a participle.
Level 4 - One-Word Conditionals: kéim / géing / wéisstOne-Word Conditionals: Kéim, Géing, Wéisst
Forms such as kéim also appear in wishes.
Level 4 - Conditions Without wann
A wish can start with the conditional verb instead of wann.
Level 6 - wannIf and When: Wann
Wann introduces the wish and sends the verb to the end.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice Wishes With nëmmen in Bubblegum
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