Conditional

Question 0

If you come visit me, I’ll bake a cake.

Answer 0

Wenn ihr mich besuchen kommt, backe ich Kuchen.

The part of the sentence without wenn is a completely normal main clause.

The wenn-clause comes in first position. Because the finite verb must always come in second position, the subject is moved after the verb.

Question 1

When I have time, I like to read magazines.

Answer 1

Wenn ich Zeit habe, lese ich gerne Zeitschriften.

Wenn + subject + … + finite verb (at the end)

Question 2

He doesn’t like to be disturbed when he’s revising for a test.

Answer 2

Er möchte nicht gestört werden, wenn er für die Prüfung lernt.

Wenn + subject + … + finite verb (at the end)

Question 3

I can pick you up if you don’t know the way.

Answer 3

Ich kann dich abholen, wenn du den Weg nicht kennst.

the part of the sentence without wenn is a completely normal main clause

→ subject + finite verb + … + infinite verb

Question 4

If it rains, we’ll stay home.

Answer 4

Wenn es regnet, bleiben wir zu Hause.

the part of the sentence without wenn is a completely normal main clause.

The wenn-clause comes in first position. Because the finite verb must always come in second position, the subject is moved after the verb.

Question 5

If I were rich, I’d go on a trip around the world.

Answer 5

Wenn ich reich wäre, würde ich eine Weltreise machen.

Wenn + subject + … + finite verb (at the end)
Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) of sein → wäre
with sein we generally don’t use the würde-form

Question 6

If you studied better for the tests, you wouldn’t have to be so nervous.

Answer 6

Wenn du vor den Tests besser lernen würdest, müsstest du keine Angst haben.

The wenn-clause comes in the first position. Because the finite verb always has to come in the second position, the subject moves after the verb.

Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) of müssen → müsste
with the modal verbs we generally don’t use the würde-form

Question 7

I would be very thankful to you if you could help me.

Answer 7

Ich wäre euch sehr dankbar, wenn ihr mir helfen könntet.

Wenn + subject + … + finite verb (at the end)
Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) of können → könnte
with the modal verbs we generally don’t use the würde-form

Question 8

The children would play outside if the weather were better.

Answer 8

Die Kinder würden draußen spielen , wenn das Wetter besser wäre.

the part of the sentence without wenn is a normal main clause
Here, we have to use the würde-form, because Subjunctive I (Konjunktiv I) and II don’t look any different from the indicative form.