Getting started
You now know three types of if-clauses. In real texts they appear together. A person might plan the future (type 1), dream (type 2) and look back on a mistake (type 3), all in one conversation. This lesson helps you to choose the right type quickly and to avoid the typical mistakes.
Auf Deutsch: In dieser Lektion wiederholst du alle drei Typen, übst die Auswahl und testest dich mit gemischten Aufgaben.
Explanation
Overview
| type | meaning | if-clause | main clause |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | real possibility (present, future) | simple present | will + infinitive |
| 2 | imagined, unlikely (present, future) | simple past | would + infinitive |
| 3 | unreal past (cannot be changed) | past perfect | would have + past participle |
Three questions
- Does the condition refer to the past? If yes, and it didn't happen: type 3.
- Is it a real possibility? Then type 1.
- Is it imagined, a dream or very unlikely? Then type 2.
Typical mistakes
| mistake | correct | why |
|---|---|---|
| If it will rain, … | If it rains, … | no will in the if-clause |
| If I would have money, … | If I had money, … | no would in the if-clause |
| If I had known, I would help you. | If I had known, I would have helped you. | type 3 needs would have |
| I would of come. | I would have come. | of is a spelling mistake |
| If I was you, … in writing | If I were you, … | fixed phrase for advice |
Auf Deutsch: Der wichtigste Merksatz für alle drei Typen: Im if-Satz steht nie will oder would.
Examples
Example 1: An email from a friend
Hi Jana,
If you're free on Saturday, we'll go to the climbing centre. If I had more money, I would buy my own climbing shoes, but I'll borrow some. Last time was a bit embarrassing. If I had listened to the instructor, I wouldn't have fallen off the wall.
Text me if you want to come.
Lea
- If you're free …, we'll go: type 1, a real plan.
- If I had more money, I would buy: type 2, Lea does not have the money.
- If I had listened, I wouldn't have fallen: type 3, about the past.
- Text me if you want to come: type 1 with an imperative.
Example 2: One topic, three types
- If I practise every day, I will get into the school band. (type 1, realistic plan)
- If I played like Ed Sheeran, I would give concerts. (type 2, a dream)
- If I had started earlier, I would have been in the band last year. (type 3, past)
Rule
Past and unreal → type 3. Real possibility → type 1. Imagined or unlikely → type 2. Never will or would in the if-clause.
Exercises
Grundlagen
- Which type is it? a) If I had a dog, I would call it Max. b) If you press this button, the machine will start. c) If she had left earlier, she would have caught the train.
- Put the verbs into the correct form. a) If I (be) you, I (wear) a jacket. b) If we (win) tomorrow, we (be) the champions. c) If they (not / forget) the tickets, they (see) the show yesterday.
Weiter
- Finish the sentences in your own words. a) If I could speak any language perfectly, … b) If it snows next week, … c) If I had been born a hundred years ago, …
- Find and correct the mistakes in this text. If I will have time this weekend, I visit my grandparents. If they would live closer, I would see them every week. Last month I didn't go. If I had went, I would have met my cousin.
Knobeln
- Write a short text (80 to 100 words) with the title My perfect weekend. Use at least one if-clause of each type.
- Explain in German why If I would have known, I would have helped you. is wrong in standard English, although German speakers often say „Wenn ich das gewusst hätte, …“.
Lösungen
- a) type 2 b) type 1 c) type 3
- a) were, would wear b) win, will be c) hadn't forgotten, would have seen
- For example: a) … I would learn Japanese. b) … we will build a snowman. c) … I wouldn't have had a mobile phone.
- If I have time this weekend, I will visit my grandparents. If they lived closer, I would see them every week. Last month I didn't go. If I had gone, I would have met my cousin.
- Expected: a short text with a clear topic. Type 1 for real plans (If the weather is good, I will …), type 2 for wishes (If I could choose, I would …) and type 3 for a look back (If I had known …, I would have …). Correct tenses in both parts.
- Im deutschen Bedingungssatz steht in beiden Teilen der Konjunktiv („hätte gewusst“, „hätte geholfen“). Im Englischen steht im if-Satz kein would. Der if-Satz bekommt das past perfect: If I had known, I would have helped you.