Wenn means and When, And If - and introduces a subordinate clause:
Wenn du eine neue Wohnung findest, ruf mich an. – When (if) you find a new apartment, call me.
But if you need to say exactly If, but not When, then there is a special introductory word that sounds somewhat bookish, official:
Falls(= für den Fall, dass) Sie die Rechnung nicht rechtzeitig bezahlen, werden wir Sie vor Gericht ziehen. – If (if) you do not pay the bill on time, we will take you to court.
The same thing can be expressed by simply placing the verbs in both sentences first (as in Russian: If you don’t pay, we’ll attract you):
Bezahlen Sie die Rechnung nicht rechtzeitig, (so) werden wir Sie vor Gericht ziehen. – If you don’t pay the bill on time, (then) we will take you to court.
Or as, for example, the German proverb says:
Kommt Zeit, kommt Rat. – The time will come, advice will come (i.e. you need to wait, and the solution to the problem will come by itself).
As you have already seen, the connection between the subordinate and main clauses can be emphasized with the word so (so). Or in a word dann (then):
Hättest du auf mich gehört, (dann) wäre das nicht passiert. – If you had listened to me, (then) this wouldn’t have happened.
= Wenn du auf mich gehört hättest, (dann) wäre das nicht passiert. - If you had listened to me...
There are other ways to express a condition. Compare:
Wenn Sie krank werden, können Sie an dieser Konferenz nicht teilnehmen. – If you get sick, you will not be able to take part in this conference.
Angenommen, yes Sie krank werden, so können Sie an dieser Konferenz nicht teilnehmen. – Suppose you get sick, then you will not be able to take part in this conference.
= Angenommen, Sie werden krank, so können Sie an dieser Konferenz nicht teilnehmen.
Please note that in the latter case there is a direct word order (in the first part), since this is no longer a subordinate clause (due to the absence of an introductory word dass).
Instead of angenommen, dass… can also be used im Fall, dass... (in the event that) = gesetzt den Fall, dass...; vorausgesetzt, dass…; unter der Bedingung, dass... (provided that). In all these cases dass It's better not to let it go.
In addition, there is a turnover es sei denn, (dass)… (literally: if it were, what). Here, as you can see, the form Konjunktiv 1. But you don’t need to think too much about it, you just have to remember it as a whole phrase:
Ich gehe nicht zu ihm, es sei denn, dass er mich um Verzeihung bittet. “I won’t go to him, unless he asks me for forgiveness.”
= Ich gehe nicht zu ihm, es sei denn, er bittet mich um Verzeihung.
In subordinate conditional clauses it is often used sollte (should – Konjunktiv 2)- with a hint of meaning: if it turns out, if it turns out that...:
Wenn sie anrufen sollte, sagst du, dass ich nicht da bin. – If she calls me (literally: she should call), tell her that I’m not there.
= Wenn sie anruft, sagst du, dass ich nicht da bin.
Sollte es am Abend regnen, so bleiben wir zu Hause. – If it rains in the evening, we will stay at home.
Try it yourself:
Make one complex sentence out of two simple ones using wenn, falls(putting the subordinate clause in both the second and first position) , angenommen, (dass), as well as without using introductory words:
Sie kennen den Weg nicht. Sie nehmen ein Taxi (Sie können ein Taxi nehmen). – You don’t know the way. You take a taxi.
Sie haben keinen Wagen. Sie gehen zu Fuß. – You don’t have a car. You are walking.
Er will eine gute Arbeitsstelle haben. Er muss fleißig studieren. - He wants to get a good job. He must study diligently.
Sie rauchen zu viel. Sie werden krank. – You smoke too much. You will get sick.
Sie wollen verreisen. Sie sollten schon jetzt Ihr Ticket kaufen. – You want to leave. You would need (You should) buy a ticket now.
Sie wollen gut verdienen. Kommen Sie zu uns. – You want to earn good money. Come to us.
Sie können uns nicht besuchen? Rufen Sie uns an! -Can't you visit us? Call us!
Sie wollen Arzt werden? Dann müssen Sie ein Praktikum machen. – Do you want to become a doctor? Then you must do an internship.
Morgen scheint die Sonne. Wir gehen schwimmen. - Tomorrow the sun will (shine). We'll go swimming.
Du best brav. Du bekommst zu Weihnachten schöne Geschenke. - You will behave well. You will receive good gifts for Christmas.
Dein Kopf here weh. Du musst eine Tablette nehmen. - Do you have a headache. You have to take the pill.
Du best mude. Du musst zu Bett gehen. - Are you tired. You need to go to bed.
Du hast eine halbe Flasche Wein getrunken. Du darfst nicht Auto fahren. – You drank half a bottle of wine. You can't drive.
Say it in German using sollte(n):
If (it turns out that) he does not know the way, then...
If he leaves, then...
Say it in German using the phrase... es sei denn, dass…:
They will take a taxi unless (unless) they know the way.
They will go on foot... they have a car.
He won't get a good place... he studies hard.
You will get sick... You don't smoke that much (nicht so viel).
She will buy her ticket now... she doesn't want to leave.
First of all, you need to indicate the conjunctions that form additional subordinate clauses and subordinate clauses of reason:
And now the fun begins. In the main clause everything is as usual, but in the subordinate clause the word order changes in a special way. The subject comes immediately after the conjunction, and the modified part of the predicate takes last place:
It looks even more original if a complex tense form, a construction with a modal verb, etc. appears in the sentence:
If we compare this with the direct word order: “Er fährt...”, “Sie ist...”, “Sie will...”, then one can see a frame construction, where the frame is formed by the subject (at the beginning of the subordinate clause) and “ the predicate is opposite" (at the end).
The negation in a subordinate clause comes before the predicate or before the unchangeable part of the predicate - in a word, not in last place, because the last place is always “reserved” for the changeable part of the predicate:
Separable prefixes and components of verbs in subordinate clauses are not separated:
The reflexive pronoun sich is used in a subordinate clause after subject, if the subject is expressed by a pronoun:
But if the subject of the subordinate clause is expressed by a noun, then sich usually stands before subject:
Additional subordinate clauses can be introduced not only by the conjunction dass, but also by a question word:
Ich habe nicht gehört, was er gesagt hat. - I didn't hear what he said.
Ich weiß nicht, wann er commmt. - I don't know when he will come.
Können Sie erklären, warum Sie sich immer verspäten? - Can you explain why you are always late?
Wissen Sie, Herr Doktor, was ich heute Morgen geschossen habe? - Do you know, Mister Doctor, what I shot this morning?
Ja, das weiß ich. Ich habe ihn heute Mittag behandelt. - Yes I know. I examined him during the day.
Play a role in such proposals and pronominal adverbs. They are formed by joining wo(r)- or da(r)- to the corresponding preposition:
Pronominal adverbs can introduce additional subordinate clauses:
Union da - because usually introduces a subordinate clause if it comes before the main clause. That is, in this case, our entire argument begins with the conjunction da. The variable parts of the predicate in the main and subordinate clauses tend to each other and are located at the junction:
Da er ein junger Wissenschaftler ist, hat er ein Forschungsstipendium bekommen. - Since he is a young scientist, he received a research fellowship.
Da er dieses Stipendium bekommen hat, fährt er nach Deutschland. - Since he received this scholarship, he goes to Germany.
In complex sentences, subordinating conjunctions are used to link subordinate clauses to the main clause. Subordinate clauses, as a rule, perform the functions of secondary members - definitions, additions, circumstances. Conjunctions are used to connect with the main subordinate clauses as complements and adverbials; attributive clauses are tied to the main clause using relative adverbs and pronouns. Subordinating conjunctions have a special impact on the word order in the subordinate (depending on the main) clause. Their use dictates a strictly defined word order in the subordinate clause, which looks like this: “subordinating conjunction + subject + (additions, circumstances) + predicate: non-conjugated part + predicate: conjugated part (last place), for example:
Subordinating conjunctions in German
|
Russian Union |
German Confederation |
Example |
||
|
TEMPORARY 1. Simultaneous (parallel) actions in the main and subordinate clauses |
||||
| "when = once" | "als" | Als es zu regnen begann, waren wir schon vor dem Theater. – When it started to rain, we were already in front of the theater. | ||
| "when = many times" | "wenn" | Wenn wir auf dem Lande sind, grillen wir oft Schweinefleisch. – When we are out of town, we often grill pork. | ||
| "while" | « » | An diesem Tag hat sie gefrühstückt, indem sie frische Zeitungen gelesen hat. “That day she had breakfast while reading the latest newspapers. | ||
| "while" | "indessen" | Ich schäle Kartoffeln, indessen meine Freundin Gurken schneidet. — I’m peeling potatoes, while my friend is chopping cucumbers. | ||
| "Bye" | "solange" | Solange du Fieber hast, darfst du nicht aufstehen. “As long as you have a fever, you can’t get up.” | ||
| "when = whenever" | "soft" | Sooft ich in unserer Kantine esse, fühle ich mich danach nicht wohl. – When I eat in our dining room, I always feel unwell afterward. | ||
| "when = while" | "während" | Während wir bei unseren Bekannten in Köln waren, gingen wir oft in den Dom. – When (while) we were visiting our friends in Cologne, we often went to the cathedral. | ||
|
2. Preceding the action of the main clause |
||||
| "when = after" | "als" | Als Marta ihrer Schwester die Geschichte erzählt hatte, begann sie zu weinen. – After Martha told this story to her sister, she began to cry. | ||
| "after" | "nachdem" | Nachdem ihr Fuss geröntgt worden war, entschied der Arzt, ihn einzugipsen. “After she had an x-ray of her foot, the doctor decided to put her in a cast. | ||
| "since" | "seitdem" | Seitdem sie nach Österreich gefahren ist, hören wir nichts von ihr. – Since she left for Austria, we have not heard anything about her. | ||
| "as soon as" | "sobald" | Sobald ich den nächsten Chemieunterricht habe, frage ich meinen Lehrer danach. – As soon as I have my next chemistry lesson, I will ask my teacher about it. | ||
|
3. Following the action of the main clause |
||||
| "before" | "bevor" | Bevor ich dir das nächste Buch gebe, musst du dieses bis zum Ende gelesen haben. | ||
| "until" | "bis" | Du darfst deinen Mund nicht öffnen, bis ich winke. – You are not allowed to open your mouth until I nod (give a sign). | ||
| "before" | "ehe" | Ehe du in den Flughafen gekommen bist, ist er schon abgeflogen. - Before you arrived at the airport, he had already left. | ||
|
COMPARATIVE |
||||
| “than, as – als”, “as – wie”, “as if, as if – als ob”, “as if, as if – als wenn”, “as if – wie wenn”, “so that – als dass”, “than ... that - je... desto", "than... that - je... je" | Er sah so aus, als ob er die Nacht nicht im Bett, sondern am Computer verbracht hatte. – He looked as if he had spent the night not in bed, but at the computer. | |||
|
CAUSAL |
||||
| “because - da”, “since, since - weil” | Unsere Familie hat diese Wohnung gemietet, weil sie in der Nähe von meinem Büro ist. – Our family rented this apartment because it is located near my office. | |||
|
INVESTIGATIVE |
||||
| “so that - als dass”, “so (as a result of which) - so dass = sodass” | Jetzt ist es schon sehr dunkel, als dass wir noch spazieren gehen könnten. “It’s already too dark to go for a walk.” | |||
|
TARGET |
||||
| “(in order) so that, in order to - damit”, “so that - dass” | Ich habe ihm einige Bücher mitgegeben, damit er sie in Ruhe liest. — I gave him several books with me so that he could read them in peace. | |||
|
CONDITIONS |
||||
| “if - wenn”, “(in case) if - falls”, “(in case) if - im Falle dass” | Falls er nach St.Petersburg kommt, kann er wieder bei uns übernachten. – If he comes to St. Petersburg, he can spend the night with us again. | |||
|
CONDITIONAL |
||||
| “although – obwohl”, “despite the fact that – obzwar”, “although – obgleich”, “although – obschon”, “although, even if – wenngleich”, “although – wenn auch”, “despite the fact what - trotzdem" | Bettina fährt mit ihrem Auto nach Hause, obwohl sie heute sehr viel Martini getrunken hat. Bettina is driving home in her car, although she drank a lot of martinis today. | |||
|
RESTRICTIVE |
||||
| “how much”: “(in)sofern”, “(in)wiefern”, “(in)soweit”, “(in)wieweit”, “soviel” | Soweit es uns bekannt ist, wohnt er allein. — As far as we know, he lives alone. | |||
|
MODAL (MODES OF ACTION) |
||||
| "since, therefore, because - | ||||
indem»Ihr könnt euren Planeten retten, indem ihr der Umwelt helft. – You can save your planet by helping the environment.
“without that, so... not - ohne dass”Er verliess den Zuschauerraum, ohne dass er jemanden störte. - He left the auditorium without disturbing anyone. “Because - dadurch dass” Er stört mich dadurch, dass er ständig pfeift. “He bothers me by whistling all the time.”
After alliances aber - but, und - and, and, sondern - but, but, denn - because, oder - either, either subordinate clauses use direct word order.
The parents are leaving for Italy, and the aunt will look after the children
In subordinate clauses after conjunctions darum, deshalb, deswegen, sonst, trotzdem, dann, folglich used reverse word order. That is, the subject and predicate in the subordinate clause change places.
I don't have a car, so I take the bus to work
In this case auxiliary (haben/sein) to stand on first place after the union, and verb in third form leaves In the end subordinate clause.
I didn't have a car, so I took the bus to work
In subordinate clauses after conjunctions dass (what), weil (because), wenn (if, when), falls (in case), während (bye), bevor (before; before), nachdem (after that), obwohl (though) - used inversion . That is verb in a subordinate clause goes to the end .
I do not have a car. I go to work by bus
I go to work by bus because I don't have a car.
I know he is in school
I didn't have a car. I went to work by bus
I went to work by bus because I didn't have a car.
In this case both verbs subordinate clause go to the end , but on last place put auxiliary or anyone else who was with the subject.
I didn't buy a car. I went to work by bus
I didn't buy a car because I took the bus to work
If the subordinate clause is with a conjunction wenn stands before the main clause, then the main thing often begins with the words so or Dann :
If my friend comes soon, we'll go to the cinema
Wenn in the meaning of “when” is used if the actions in the main and subordinate clauses occur simultaneously. Also wenn in the meaning "when", used to emphasize recurrence actions:
When he comes to Moscow, he always visits me
Als also translated “when”, but used in the past tense when one-time action:
We met my friend when we were at the theater on Sunday
Union um...zu + Inf. and damit expresses target .
He goes to Germany to learn German
I give him a German textbook so he can learn German
Instead of doing her homework, the girl watches TV
She leaves without saying goodbye
Union der (die, das, dessen, den, dem ) expresses the definition.
I'm going to the city where my relatives live
