- Today, we're going to learn the difference
between "wenn", "wann" and "als".
(upbeat music)
Welcome to Coffee Break German! I'm Mark
and I'm Andrea.
- And as Andrea said, we are learning today the difference
between these three words which kind of seem very similar.
They are used in similar situations
but they are different.
And this question is coming from Chuck.
So Chuck, you want to know,
when do you use "als", "wann" and "wenn".
Andrea over to you.
- Yes, thank you Chuck
for this very interesting question
which I love answering.
And let's look at each of these words individually.
Let's start with "wann".
- Okay. - Yeah.
"Wann" is always asking a question.
Yeah? For example: "Wann beginnt die Deutschstunde?"
So, "Wann beginnt die Deutschstunde?"
So, "when does the German lesson begin?"
Exactly, yes.
Yeah, so it's always the question
about what time or when something is happening.
- Okay, so it's for the question.
So, "Wann beginnt die Deutschstunde?"
You are asking a question, okay.
What about als?
Yeah, "als" is happening in the past.
- Okay - Yeah.
For example: "Als ich fünf war, hatte ich ein Fahrrad."
So, "Als ich fünf war..."
"When I was five..."
"...hatte ich ein Fahrrad."
so "I had a bicycle."
- "Als ich fünf war." - Yeah, exactly!
Okay so there, it's still translating as "when" in English
but it's a different type of "when".
You're looking back to the past.
- Yeah. So we're using "als" when we speak
about something happening in the past.
- Okay. - Yeah?
- "When" for the past, okay.
- What else? - Exactly.
And then let's look at "wenn".
And I think "wenn" is the trickiest one
because "wenn" could be "if"
but it could also "when".
So let's look at a sentence when,
when it means "if", yeah.
For example:
"Wenn es morgen regnet, bringe ich einen Schirm."
- Okay, so
"Wenn es morgen regnet, bringe ich einen Schirm."
You said.
Exactly.
- So, when or not when, but "if it rings tomorrow,
...bringe ich einen Schirm."
"I'll bring an umbrella". Yeah?
Exactly, that's right.
- Right so, there, it's meaning "if"
Exactly, very good.
So, and then we can use "wenn" as when.
For example about things that always happen
or things that are universal truths.
- Right. - For example.
"Wenn es schneit, ist es kalt."
- Right, okay.
So that's just a kind of general thing.
"Wenn es schneit..."
Just make sure that looks correct there.
"Wenn es schneit, ist es kalt."
Did you say?
Yeah, exactly, that's right.
- So a universal truth: "when it snows it's cold."
So it's "when"
but that's for a "universal truth" kind of idea.
- Mhmm.
- Okay.
- And then we can use "wenn" for making plans.
For example, in the future.
For example:
"Wenn ich nach Hause komme, essen wir Kuchen."
- Right.
So "Wenn ich nach Hause komme, essen wir Kuchen."
Exactly.
- "When I get home, when I come home,
we will eat cake."
- Exactly, that's right, yes. - Okay.
So that is again, is "when",
but this one is for the future.
Exactly.
- Okay.
Andrea, can I ask you then a question?
What's the difference between that last sentence
and the "if" in
"Wenn es morgen regnet"
When do you know which, whether it means "when" or "if"?
- You don't really.
So you have to get this from context.
- Okay. - Yeah.
Obviously for "if" we have another word.
- Mhmm
- So if you want to avoid confusion,
you could say "falls".
- Okay, right. - Yeah.
"Falls es morgen regnet, bringe ich einen Schirm."
- Okay. But I think we'll keep that one
for a different video, for now!
Good stuff, okay.
Well we hope that that answers your question, Chuck.
Then that you're now more familiar
with "als", "wann" and "wenn".
And if you have a question like Chuck
then you can send that question to us
at coffeebreakquestions.com
Just head there, fill in the form
and we'll be able to include your question
in a future episode.
For now, that's it.
Don't forget to like
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if you've enjoyed this video.
And of course, post a comment.
Why not try to use "wenn", "als"
or "wann" in a sentence in German.
Post the comment here
and we'll look forward to seeing that.
For now, thank you very much and see you next time!
See you soon!
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