Grammar Notes - Conditionals

Using the Present Tense Using Conditional 1 Using Conditional 2 Test yourself!

 

Using the Present Tense

German uses Present Tense where English uses Present Tense + Future Tense. Consider the sentence structures in the example.

As soon as the spares are ready, I'll send our carrier off straight away.	Sobald die Teile fertig sind, sende ich unseren Spediteur gleich los.

Complete the sentences below.

Check your answers in the Solution.

1. Imperative + Future tense	Imperative + Present Simple
Fax me your order and I'll deal with it today	____ mir Ihre Bestellung und ich ____ das heute.
2. Present Simple + Future tense	Present Simple + Present Simple
If you want, I'll try that for you.	Wenn Sie ____, ____ ich das für Sie.

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Solution to Using the Present Tense

1. Imperative + Future tense	Imperative + Present Simple
Fax me your order and I'll deal with it today	Faxen Sie mir Ihre Bestellung und ich erledige das heute.
2. Present Simple + Future tense	Present Simple + Present Simple
If you want, I'll try that for you.	Wenn Sie wollen, versuche ich das für Sie.

 

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Using Conditional 1

Both languages use Conditional 1 in the same way.

English forms Conditional 1 with Modals such as would, could, should + Verb in the Infinitive form. 

German forms Conditional 1 with Modals such as würde, könnte + Verb in the Infinitive form. 

Consider the following example and note the position of the Verbs (in bold):

 

He wouldn't be here if he could help it.	Er wäre nicht hier, wenn er es vermeiden könnte.

Complete the sentences below.

Check your answers in the Solution.

Subjunctive + Conditional 1	Past Subjunctive + Conditional 1
If I were you, I wouldn't do it.	Wenn ich Sie ____, ____ ich das nicht ____.
If I wanted that, I would do it	Wenn ich das ___, ____ ich es ____.

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Solution to Using Conditional 1

Subjunctive + Conditional 1	Past Subjunctive + Conditional 1
If I were you, I wouldn't do it.	Wenn ich Sie wäre, würde ich das nicht machen.
If I wanted that, I would do it	Wenn ich das wollte, würde ich es tnn.

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Conditional 2

In Structure 4, both languages use Conditional 2.

English forms Conditional 2 with Modals such as would have, could have or should have + the Past Participle of the Main Verb.

German forms Conditional 2 with Modals such as hätte + the Infinitive of the main Verb + können.

Consider the following example and note the position of the Verbs (in bold):

He wouldn't have done it if he could have helped it.	Er hätte es nicht getan, wenn er es hätte vermeiden können.

Complete the sentences below.

Check your answers in the Solution.

Past Perfect + Conditional 2	Past Perfect Subjunctive + Conditional 2
If I'd known that before, I'd only have ordered ten items.	Wenn ich das vorher ____ ____, ____ ich nur zehn Stück ____
If I had wanted that, I would have already done it.	Wenn ich das ____ ____, ____ ich es schon ____

 

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Solution to Using Conditional 2

Past Perfect + Conditional 2	Past Perfect Subjunctive + Conditional 2
If I'd known that before, I'd only have ordered ten items.	Wenn ich das vorher gewußt hätte, hätte ich nur zehn Stück bestellt
If I had wanted that, I would have already done it.	Wenn ich das gewollt hätte, hätte ich es schon getan

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Test yourself!

In respect of the above sections, try the following:

1. Study the explanations and examples.
2. Print out the table for the grammar point you are working on and fold it into 2 vertically. You will then be able to check your recall of the English and German examples by folding and unfolding the paper.

Created for ULTRALAB trial June 1999 Copyright ULTRALAB at Anglia Polytechnic University