Conditional Subordinating Conjunctions-2
The conditional conjunctions are used if the subordinate clause expresses a condition to which the main clause expresses the consequence.
| condition | consequence |
| if... | (then...) |
| subordinate clause | main clause |
One distinguishes in general between real and imaginary conditions: if you get hungry, if pigs had wings. Sentences expressing imaginary conditions use the subjunctive and will be addressed when we study the subjunctive.
wenn = if
This is the most commonly used conditional conjunction. As you recall, it is also a temporal conjunction meaning "whenever."
Wenn ihr kommt, gehen wir ins Kino.
falls = if, in case, in the event that
Falls er Hunger hat, kann er einen Teller Suppe essen.
Er kann einen Teller Suppe essen, falls er Hunger hat.
sofern = if , provided that
Sofern meine Eltern in Konstanz bleiben, werde ich nächstes Jahr dort studieren.
im Falle, dass = if, in case, in the event that
Im Falle, dass der Zug nicht pünktlich ist, kannst du mich ja mit deinem Handy anrufen.
außer wenn = except if, unless
Wir fahren nicht nach Berlin, außer wenn wir bei meinen Freunden übernachten können.
A conditional clause without a conjunction
Since conditional sentences are fairly frequent and variety is highly appreciated in a language, there is another way to express a conditional relationship between the subordinate and the main sentences:
- you have to put the conditional clause before the main clause;
- leave out the conjunction and put the verb in the first place as if it were a yes/no question. You will get something like this:
Kommt er, gehen wir ins Kino.
Hat er Hunger, kann er einen Teller Suppe essen.
Bleiben meine Eltern in Konstanz, werde ich nächstes Jahr dort studieren.
Do not mistake the first part of such a sentence for a question; it is a conditional sentence!
You don't need to add this kind of sentence to your speaking repertory right away, but it is quite frequently used in written German, even in books for young readers. Be aware of it.