When to use ‘als’, ‘wenn’ or ‘wann’ in German

Choosing between als or wenn in German can be tricky. In English, we often use a single word (“when”) that can translate to both conjunctions. But German makes a finer distinction. Whether you use als or wenn depends on whether you’re talking about the past or the future, or a single event, or a repeated action, or a condition.

In this guide, you’ll learn how temporal clauses work in German grammar — which includes a discussion of how to correctly apply als and wenn. We’ll review some illustrative examples to show you the difference and get you ready to form your own temporal clauses.

• Understanding temporal clauses in German grammar
• Using als: Referring to single events in the past
• Using wenn: For repeated actions, future events and conditions
• Using wann: Asking or referring to a point in time
• Als vs. wenn: Making the right choice
• Wann vs. wenn: Timing vs. condition
• FAQs

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Understanding temporal clauses in German grammar

What are temporal clauses?

Temporal clauses (Temporalsätze) are subordinate clauses that provide information about when an action or event in the main clause takes place. They are introduced by conjunctions like als or wenn and follow standard subordinate clause word order in German. 

Temporal clauses are used to talk about sequences, repetitions, or durations of actions and events in the past, present or future.

Why word order matters in German clauses

In German, the word order in main clauses and subordinate clauses differs primarily in the verb’s position. 

In main clauses, the conjugated verb is always in the second position. The subject can appear in the first or third position, depending on the word order.

In subordinate clauses, the conjugated verb is placed at the end of the clause. In the case of compound tenses, this means that the participle comes before the auxiliary verb (e.g. haben or sein), and the auxiliary verb is placed at the very end of the clause.

Temporal conjunctions like als or wenn introduce subordinate clauses and take the first position, providing information about when the action takes place:

• Als ich ankam, war es schon zu spät. (When I arrived, it was already too late.)
• Wenn ich losfahre, rufe ich dich an. (When I leave, I’ll call you.)

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Using ‘als’: Referring to single events in the past

The conjunction als is used to talk about a single event that happened in the past. It indicates that something occurred only once, not repeatedly:

• Als wir uns trafen, war es 18 Uhr. (When we met, it was 6 p.m.)

Using ‘wenn’: For repeated actions, future events and conditions

The conjunction wenn is quite versatile. It refers to repeated actions in the past, events in the present and future and conditions.

Repeated events in the past

If an event or situation happened more than once in the past, the conjunction wenn is used:

• Wenn es im Sommer heiß war, gingen wir jeden Tag ein Eis holen. (When it was hot in the summer, we went out for ice cream every day.)

Present, future and conditional sentences

Wenn applies to present and future situations, too. This is true regardless of how often they occur:

• Wenn ich Kaffee trinke, fühle ich mich wacher. (When I drink coffee, I feel more awake.)
• Wenn wir in Rom sind, werden wir das Kolosseum besuchen. (When we are in Rome, we’ll visit the Colosseum.)

Wenn can also be used to form conditional sentences in German, much like “if” in English:

• Wenn es morgen regnet, besuchen wir ein Museum. (If it rains tomorrow, we’ll visit a museum.)

Comparing ‘wenn’ to ‘falls’ (if/in case)

Wenn and falls both serve to introduce a condition in German, but they differ slightly in tone and nuance.

Wenn implies a real, likely or repeated event and usually translates to “if” in English:

• Wenn die Sonne scheint, gehen wir spazieren. (If the sun shines, we go for a walk.)

Falls, on the other hand, sounds more hypothetical or cautious and is often considered more formal. It’s closer in meaning to “in case” in English and typically refers to conditions that are less likely and/or not repeated:

• Falls ihr früher zu Hause seid, können wir zusammen essen. (In case you get home earlier, we can eat together.)

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Using ‘wann’: Asking or referring to a point in time

Direct questions with ‘wann’

If you want to ask when something happens, use wann, which translates to “when” in English.

In direct questions, wann typically comes at the beginning of the sentence:

• Wann sehen wir uns? (When will we see each other?)

Indirect questions and subordinate clauses

Wann is also used in subordinate clauses to introduce indirect questions. These clauses depend on a main clause and follow the standard word order in which the verb is placed at the end:

• Ich weiß nicht, wann sie kommt. (I don’t know when she’s coming.)

The key difference between direct and indirect questions is the word order. In indirect questions, the verb moves to the end of the clause.

‘Als’ vs. ‘wenn’: Making the right choice

Deciding whether to use als or wenn can be challenging. Even though both translate to “when” in English, they’re not interchangeable in German.

The main difference between these temporal conjunctions lies in tense and frequency:

• Als is for single events in the past.
• Wenn is for repeated events, conditions and any present or future events — regardless of how often they occur.

One-time vs. repeated events

Tense	Single event	Repeated event
Past	als	wenn
Present	wenn	wenn
Future	wenn	wenn

‘Wann’ vs. ‘wenn’: Timing vs. condition

Wann and wenn may look and sound similar, but they serve different purposes in German.

Wann is used to ask when something happens. In direct questions, it appears at the beginning of the sentence; in indirect questions, it functions as part of a subordinate clause.

Wenn expresses a condition, similar to “if” in English. It’s not used in questions and always introduces a subordinate clause that describes the condition for the main clause.

Let’s see some examples:

• Wann fahren wir in den Urlaub? (When do we go on vacation?)

Here we are asking about the specific point in time in which we are going on vacation. Contrast this example with the following:

• Wenn ich müde bin, gehe ich früher ins Bett. (If I’m tired, I go to bed earlier.)

This sentence isn’t a question. The action in the main clause depends on the condition stated in the subordinate clause.

When do you use als vs. wenn in German?

Als is used for single events in the past. Wenn applies to repeated events, present or future actions, and conditions.

Is wenn used to refer to the past or the future?

Wenn is used for both the past and the future. In the past, it refers to repeated events, while in the future, it introduces any event or condition, regardless of how often they occur.

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Key Takeaways on ‘als’, ‘wenn’ and ‘wann’

Mastering the difference between als, wenn and wann is key for forming accurate temporal and conditional sentences in German. Use als for single events in the past; wenn for repeated actions, present or future events and conditions; and wann to ask when something happens, either directly or indirectly.

Before focusing on these conjunctions, make sure you understand how to talk about the past in German and build a solid foundation in tense usage and sentence structure.To put these concepts into practice in real conversations, try Lingoda’s small group classes led by native-level teachers. Find your level, from German A1 to German C1, and start learning at your own pace.

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