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Conditional Statements: Causes and Effects
A conditional sentence describes a logical or causal connection between one event or action (the condition or cause) and another (the consequence or effect):
| If you don’t brush your teeth (condition), they will fall out (consequence). |
Sometimes we state the outcome first and the condition second.
| Ich hole ein paar Suppen in Dosen, wenn ich daran vorbeikomme. |
| I will get a few cans of soup, if I pass by. |
Sometimes either the consequence or the condition is left unspoken.
| Wenn wir nur mehr Zeit in Deutschland hätten! |
| If we only had more time in Germany! |
| Er hätte dich sicher angerufen... |
| He certainly would have called you... |
Real Conditions vs. Unreal Conditions
Some conditions seem plausible or likely and are called real.
| Wenn es morgen regnet, bleiben wir zu Hause. |
| If it rains tomorrow, we’ll stay home. |
Other conditions seem implausible, unlikely, or impossible, and are called unreal.
| Wenn es morgen regnen würde, würden wir zu Hause bleiben. |
| If it should rain tomorrow, we would stay home. |
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