How to use "als" and "wenn" in German
- Sarah
- Feb 26, 2023
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 5, 2023
In German, "als" and "wenn" are both conjunctions that can be used to express different meanings of "when" in English. Here's a more detailed grammar explanation for each of them:
Als: "Als" is used to express a past event or a specific point in time, or to compare two things or people in terms of their characteristics. Here are the different ways "als" can be used:
To express a past event or a specific point in time: "Als" is used to indicate a specific time or event in the past, as in "Als ich jung war, habe ich Fußball gespielt" (When I was young, I played soccer). Note that in this context, "als" is usually followed by the simple past tense.
To compare two things or people: "Als" is also used to compare two things or people in terms of their characteristics, as in "Er ist größer als sie" (He is taller than her). In this context, "als" is usually followed by an adjective or adverb.
Wenn: "Wenn" is used to express a hypothetical or future situation, or to indicate a repeated action or habit. Here are the different ways "wenn" can be used:
To express a hypothetical or future situation: "Wenn" is used to indicate a hypothetical or future situation that may or may not happen, as in "Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich drinnen" (If it rains, I stay indoors). Note that in this context, "wenn" is usually followed by the present tense or the future tense.
To indicate a repeated action or habit: "Wenn" can also be used to indicate a repeated action or habit, as in "Ich esse immer eine Banane, wenn ich Sport treibe" (I always eat a banana when I exercise). In this context, "wenn" is usually followed by the present tense.
Note that "als" and "wenn" can sometimes be used interchangeably in certain contexts, but their meanings are not always the same. Understanding the context and the meaning of the sentence is important in choosing the correct conjunction to use.
In German, "als" and "wenn" are both conjunctions used to express different meanings of "when" in English. Here's how to use them:
Als: "Als" is used to express past events or situations that occurred at a specific point in time. It's also used to compare two things or people in terms of their characteristics. Here are some examples:
"Als ich jung war, habe ich gerne Fußball gespielt." (When I was young, I enjoyed playing soccer.)
"Sie ist größer als ich." (She is taller than I am.)
Wenn: "Wenn" is used to express hypothetical or future situations that may or may not happen. It's also used to indicate a repeated action or habit. Here are some examples:
"Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause." (If it rains, I stay at home.)
"Ich esse immer eine Banane, wenn ich Sport treibe." (I always eat a banana when I exercise.)
Note that "wenn" can also be translated as "whenever" or "while" in certain contexts, depending on the meaning of the sentence.
In summary, "als" is used for past events or comparisons, while "wenn" is used for hypothetical or future situations or to indicate a repeated action or habit. Understanding the context and meaning of the sentence is essential in choosing the correct conjunction to use.
Here are some example sentences that use "als" and "wenn" in German:
Als:
"Als ich jünger war, habe ich gerne im Freien gespielt." (When I was younger, I liked playing outside.)
"Ich fühle mich besser als gestern." (I feel better than yesterday.)
"Sie spricht Deutsch besser als ich." (She speaks German better than I do.)
"Ich war nervös, als ich das erste Mal auf der Bühne stand." (I was nervous when I stood on stage for the first time.)
Wenn:
"Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich drinnen." (When it rains, I stay indoors.)
"Wenn ich genug Geld hätte, würde ich in den Urlaub fahren." (If I had enough money, I would go on vacation.)
"Ich trinke immer eine Tasse Kaffee, wenn ich aufstehe." (I always drink a cup of coffee when I wake up.)
"Wenn ich Zeit habe, lese ich gerne ein Buch." (When I have time, I like to read a book.)
Here are some of the most common mistakes that people make when using "als" and "wenn" in German:
Using "als" instead of "wenn" for hypothetical situations: Many learners of German tend to use "als" instead of "wenn" when they want to express a hypothetical or future situation. For example, they might say "Als ich viel Zeit habe, werde ich ein Buch lesen" (When I have a lot of time, I will read a book), instead of "Wenn ich viel Zeit habe, werde ich ein Buch lesen." To avoid this mistake, remember that "als" is used for past events or comparisons, while "wenn" is used for hypothetical or future situations.
Using "wenn" instead of "als" for past events: Another common mistake is using "wenn" instead of "als" when talking about a specific past event. For example, they might say "Wenn ich jung war, habe ich gerne Fußball gespielt" (When I was young, I enjoyed playing soccer), instead of "Als ich jung war, habe ich gerne Fußball gespielt." To avoid this mistake, remember that "als" is used for past events or comparisons.
Incorrect word order: Sometimes, learners of German may place the conjunction "als" or "wenn" in the wrong position in the sentence. For example, they might say "Ich werde schwimmen gehen, als ich in den See gehe" (I will go swimming when I go to the lake), instead of "Ich werde schwimmen gehen, wenn ich in den See gehe." To avoid this mistake, remember to place the conjunction in the correct position in the sentence.
Not using the correct verb tense: Another common mistake is not using the correct verb tense with "als" and "wenn." For example, they might say "Als ich heute aufstehe, trinke ich Kaffee" (When I wake up today, I drink coffee), instead of "Wenn ich heute aufstehe, trinke ich Kaffee." To avoid this mistake, remember to use the correct verb tense with each conjunction.
Overall, the key to using "als" and "wenn" correctly is to understand their meanings and to use them appropriately in different contexts.
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