FormHauptsatz, wenn … Subjekt … Verb (Ende)
Meaning and usage
wenn introduces a subordinate clause. It means if for real conditions in the present or future, and also whenever. The conjugated verb moves to the very end of the wenn clause. If the wenn clause comes first, the main clause starts with its verb: Wenn ich Zeit habe, komme ich.
Use wenn for things that can really happen or happen regularly. A common mistake is to keep the verb in second place, as in Wenn ich habe Zeit, komme ich. The verb must go to the end: Wenn ich Zeit habe, komme ich.
Examples 5
Sie dürfen es gern behalten, wenn Sie wollen.
It's OK to keep that if you want it.
Ich kann dir Geld leihen, wenn du möchtest.
I can lend you some money if you like.
Ich mache oft Fehler, wenn ich Französisch spreche.
I often make mistakes when speaking in French.
Ich bin immer da, wenn Sie mich brauchen.
I'm here whenever you need me.
Ich kann dir helfen, wenn du mich lässt.
I can help you if you let me.
Test yourself
-
1 Sprachbausteine
Ich rufe dich an, wenn ich zu Hause .
Show answer
Correct answer: bin
The wenn clause has ich as its subject, so the verb must be bin at the end. The main clause Ich rufe dich an already has its verb in second place, so the wenn clause needs its own verb at the end.
- ist is the form for er, sie or es, but the subject here is ich, so it does not match.
- bist is the form for du, but the subject here is ich, so it does not match.
- sein is the infinitive, and a wenn clause needs a conjugated verb at the end, not an infinitive.
In this topic: Subordinate clauses
- weil … Verb because, with the verb at the end
- weil … Verb / denn + Hauptsatz denn keeps normal order, weil sends the verb to the end
- dass … Verb say, think or know something with dass, verb at the end
- wenn … Verb if or whenever, with the verb at the end
- obwohl … Verb although: a contrast clause with the verb at the end
- nicht …, sondern not X, but rather Y
- …, dass er kommen kann. two verb parts in a subordinate clause: finite verb last
- …, weil ich früh aufstehe. separable verb joins as one word at the end
- Weil ich krank bin, bleibe ich zu Hause. Subordinate clause first, then verb, comma, verb
Example sentences from Tatoeba, used under CC BY 2.0 FR. See sources.