German wenn-Clauses: "If" and "When" with Verb-Final Word Order (A2)
Learn how wenn introduces a subordinate clause meaning "if" or "whenever," why the verb goes to the end, and how it differs from wann and als.
The conjunction wenn means either if (condition) or when / whenever (repeated time). It introduces a subordinate clause, so the conjugated verb moves to the very end:
Ich bleibe zu Hause, wenn es regnet. — I stay home if/when it rains.
Front position triggers inversion
When the wenn-clause comes first, the whole clause counts as position 1. The main clause must then start with its verb (verb-second rule), followed by the subject:
| Order | Example |
|---|---|
| Main first | Ich bleibe zu Hause, wenn es regnet. |
| Wenn first | Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. |
Notice the comma, then verb + subject: bleibe ich, not ich bleibe.
wenn vs. wann vs. als
- wenn — if / whenever (condition or repeated event).
- wann — the question word "at what time": Wann kommst du?
- als — a single event/state in the past: Als ich klein war… (When I was little…).
English note: English uses "when" for all three, so decide by meaning: a question → wann; one past event → als; otherwise → wenn.
Examples
Wenn es Grammatical analysisBase form regnenPerson3rd person singular (er/sie/es)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build, Grammatical analysisBase form bleibenPerson1st person singular (ich)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form ichCaseNominativ (nominative)NumberSingular (singular)Person1st person singular (ich)Checked deterministically before build zu Hause.
When/If it rains, I stay at home.
Grammatical analysisBase form ichCaseNominativ (nominative)NumberSingular (singular)Person1st person singular (ich)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form lesenPerson1st person singular (ich)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build ein Buch, wenn Grammatical analysisBase form ichCaseNominativ (nominative)NumberSingular (singular)Person1st person singular (ich)Checked deterministically before build Zeit Grammatical analysisBase form habenPerson1st person singular (ich)TensePräsens (present)Checked deterministically before build.
I read a book when(ever) I have time.
Wenn Grammatical analysisBase form derCaseNominativ (nominative)Gendermaskulin (masculine)NumberSingular (singular)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form VaterCaseNominativ (nominative)Gendermaskulin (masculine)NumberSingular (singular)Checked deterministically before build nach Hause kommt, spielt das Kind mit Grammatical analysisBase form derCaseDativ (dative)Gendermaskulin (masculine)NumberSingular (singular)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form HundCaseDativ (dative)Gendermaskulin (masculine)NumberSingular (singular)Checked deterministically before build.
When the father comes home, the child plays with the dog.
Weißt Grammatical analysisBase form duCaseNominativ (nominative)NumberSingular (singular)Person2nd person singular (du)Checked deterministically before build, wann Grammatical analysisBase form derCaseNominativ (nominative)Gendermaskulin (masculine)NumberSingular (singular)Checked deterministically before build Grammatical analysisBase form ZugCaseNominativ (nominative)Gendermaskulin (masculine)NumberSingular (singular)Checked deterministically before build kommt?
Do you know when the train comes?
Common mistakes
A front wenn-clause fills the first position, so the main-clause verb must come immediately next (verb-second), then the subject: bleibe ich.
For an indirect or direct question about time (at what time), use the question word wann, not the conditional/temporal wenn.
For a single, completed event or state in the past (when I was a child), German uses als, not wenn.
Related topics
Practice
Ich bleibe zu Hause, wenn es ___.
Wenn ich Zeit habe, ___ ich ein Buch.
___ ich klein war, wohnte ich in Berlin.