What are conditional sentences in German?

In German, conditional sentences are “if-then” sentences: expressing a condition that must be met in order for a certain result to happen. These sentences are composed of two parts: the conditional clause (what needs to happen), and the consequence (the result).

Just like in English, there are three main types of conditional clauses in German:

• Type 1: describe real possibilities (e.g. If I win the lottery…)

• Type 2: describe hypothetical possibilities (e.g. If I won the lottery…)

• Type 3: describe hypothetical pasts (e.g. If I had won the lottery…)

In this post, we’ll discuss how to form the different types of conditionals, as well as some other reasons why you might form a conditional clause in German, such as to give advice, express a wish, or to make a request. Let’s have a look!

In German, there are three main types of conditional sentences, which we usually just call Type 1 (“likely”), Type 2 (“unlikely”), and Type 3 (“impossible”). In the following, we'll explore each of the three types: how to form them and how to use them. Let’s dive in!

In the sections above, we saw that you can introduce a conditional clause using wenn and falls. Let’s look at some of the other words and phrases you can use:

• ‘Es sei denn’ (unless)

  We use es sei denn in German like you would use “unless” in English: to describe a situation that will prevent the consequence, rather than one that will lead to it. We generally use this in type 1 conditionals.

  consequencecondition

  Wir gehen morgen die Filmpremiere schauen, es sei denn, der Film ist ausverkauft.

  We’re going to see the movie premiere tomorrow, unless it’s sold out.

  Notice that this has the same meaning as negating the condition in a normal type 1 conditional sentence:

  consequencecondition

  Wir gehen morgen die Filmpremiere schauen, falls der Film nicht ausverkauft ist.

  We’re going to see the movie premiere tomorrow, if it’s not sold out.

  However, unlike wenn and falls, which introduce subordinate clauses, the phrase es sei denn introduces an independent clause This means that:

  • The verb in the conditional clause comes in second position, not the end.

  • When using this phrase, the conditional will always come after the consequence.

  Tip

  The longer phrase es sei denn, dass… does introduce a subordinate clause, so if you extend the phrase, the verb will come at the end. This phrase should still always be used after the consequence clause, though!

  consequencecondition

  Wir gehen morgen die Filmpremiere schauen, es sei denn, dass der Film ausverkauft ist.

  We're going to see the movie premiere tomorrow, unless it's sold out.

• ‘Vorausgesetzt’ (provided that)

  You can also use the word vorausgesetzt(provided that) between the two clauses of a type 1 conditional, when the condition comes second. This is most common in written German, but can also be done in spoken language. Both the conditional clause and the consequence form independent clauses:

  consequencecondition

  Die Reisegruppe kommt um 17 Uhr an, vorausgesetzt, der Zug ist pünktlich.

  The tour group arrives at 5 p.m., provided that the train is on time.

  While less common, it is grammatically correct to place the condition first. Note that when this takes place, the condition acts like a subordinate clause. Look at the position of the underlined verbs!

  conditionconsequence

  Vorausgesetzt der Zug ist pünktlich, kommt die Reisegruppe um 17 Uhr an.

  Provided the train is on time, the tour group will arrive at 5 pm.

• The modal verb ‘sollen’

  You can form a type 1 conditional clause by using the modal verb sollen(should) in its subjunctive II form instead of the conjunctions wenn or falls. Compare the following two sentences:

  conditionconsequence

  Wenn es morgen regnet, nehmen wir den Bus.

  If it rains, we will take the bus.

  Sollte es morgen regnen, nehmen wir den Bus.

  Should it rain, we will take the bus.

  Did you notice that the word order stays the same? The only difference is that the verb at the end of the conditional clause is in its dictionary form since it appears together with a modal verb. Although the order of the conditional phrase and the main clause can be switched, it is more typical for the condition to occur first when sollen is used.

• Using no conjunction

  As we saw above, it’s possible to use word order change rather than a conjunction to introduce the conditional clause. Just start the clause with a verb!

  You can use this word order change with any type of conditional, but the condition has to stand before the consequence. In a conditional sentence without a conjunction, you can (but you don’t have to) insert so or dann both meaning “then,” after the comma.

  conditionconsequence

  Gibt es zu viel Stau, (so / dann) drehen wir um.

  If there is too much traffic, we will turn around.

  lit. Gives it too much traffic, (then) we turn around.

  Könnte ich mehr schlafen, (so / dann) wäre ich weniger müde.

  Could I sleep more, (then) I would be less tired.

  Hättet ihr uns angerufen, wären wir gekommen.

  Had you called us, we would have come.

  If the conditional clause comes after the consequence, wenn or falls cannot be omitted:

  consequencecondition

  ✅Wir kommen, wenn ihr uns anruft.
  ❌Wir kommen, ihr uns anruft.

  We come, if you call us.

In this article, we looked at the use of conditional clauses in German. The main types of conditionals are summarized in this handy table:

Remember, also, these points about conjunctions:

• You can use wenn(if) to introduce the condition in any type of conditional clause.

• You can use falls(if) to introduce the condition in type 1 conditionals.

• In any type of conditional you can skip the conjunction, but start the conditional with the verb.

• You can use other phrases like, es sei denn(unless), vorausgesetzt(provided that) or the modal verb sollen(should) in type 1 conditionals, but these have some special grammar rules to remember.

Ready to take on German conditional clauses like a pro? Let's get conditional-ing! Don't worry — just solve our German conditional exercises and condition yourself to succeed!