Conditional sentence in German

Lesson outline

1.What is a conditional sentence?
2.Structure of a conditional sentence
2.1.Real conditions
2.2.Unreal conditions in the present
2.3.Unreal conditions in the past
3.Exercises
3.1.Exercise of real conditional sentences
3.2.Exercise of unreal conditional sentences (present)
3.3.Exercise of unreal conditional sentences (past)

What is a conditional sentence?

A conditional sentence consists of a wenn-(if)-clause and a conclusion. The wenn-clause is the dependent clause of the conditional sentence. The conjugate, or finite verb has to be placed at the end of the sentence.

For example:

Wenn du mich magst, hilfst du mir. (If you like me, you will help me)
Wenn du morgen Zeit hast, gehen wir ins Kino. (If you have time tomorrow, we will go to the cinema)

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Structure of a conditional sentence

In the following you will find some examples of the positions of if-clauses and the conclusion. If the clause begins with a condition the subject is located behind finite verb in the conclusion.

if- clause	conclusion	Translation
Wenn alle Menschen so dächten,	dann wäre die Welt sauberer.	If all people would think that way, then the world would be much cleaner
Wenn ich morgen Zeit habe,	dann können wir ins Kino gehen.	If I have time tomorrow, then we can go to the cinema
Wenn ich heute Zeit gehabt hätte,	dann hätte ich dir im Garten helfen können.	If I would have had time today, then I could have helped you in the garden

or: If the conclusion comes first, the subject is located before the finite verb.

conclusion	if- clause	Translation
Die Welt wäre sauberer,	wenn alle Menschen so dächten.	The world would be cleaner, if all people would think that way
Wir können ins Kino gehen,	wenn ich morgen Zeit habe.	We can go to the cinema, if I have time tomorrow
Ich hätte dir im Garten helfen können,	wenn ich heute Zeit gehabt hätte.	I could have helped you in the garden, if I would have had time today

1) Real conditions

In both parts of the sentences we assume that the conditions can be fullfilled. We use the present tense in both parts.

Wenn ich Hunger habe, dann koche ich etwas. (When I'm hungy, I cook something)
Wenn ich Zeit habe, helfe ich dir natürlich. (When I have time, I will help you of course)

2) Unreal conditions in the present

With the unreal condition, we describe a condition that is not fullfilled in the present. Therefore, we use in both parts of the sentence the subjunctive II. (we can also use the würde + infinitive form). The würde form is more used.

Wenn ich Geld hätte, würde ich dir das Buch kaufen. (If I had money, I would buy you the book)
Wenn ich Geld hätte, kaufte ich dir das Buch. (If I had money, I would buy you the book)

3) Unreal conditions in the past

Here, we describe a condition that was not fulfilled in the past. Therefore, we are using the subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) in both parts of the sentence.

Wenn ich Geld gehabt hätte, hätte ich dir das Buch gekauft. (If I had money, I would have bought you the book)
Wenn ich Zeit gehabt hätte, hätte ich etwas mit dir unternommen. (If I had time, I would have done something with you)

Now, that you have learned about the conditional sentences try to apply your knowledge in our interactive exercises.