Expressing "in case" with "falls"
When you want to talk about contingencies or prepare for the unexpected, you can use the conjunction falls (in case / if).
Just like weil or dass, falls is a subordinating conjunction. This means it introduces a dependent clause and pushes the conjugated verb to the very end of that clause.
| We call the doctor in case it becomes an emergency. | Wir rufen den Arzt, falls es ein Notfall wird. |
| I need the band-aid in case the wound bleeds. | Ich brauche das Pflaster, falls die Wunde blutet. |
Starting a sentence with "falls"
You can also place the condition at the beginning of the sentence to set the scene. When you start a sentence with a falls clause, remember the standard rule for dependent clauses: the "verb, comma, verb" rule.
Because the entire falls clause occupies the first position of the sentence, the main clause must start immediately with its conjugated verb right after the comma. This keeps the main verb in its mandatory second position.
| In case an emergency happens, we need cash. | Falls ein Notfall passiert, brauchen wir Bargeld. |
| In case the battery is empty, the radio does not work. | Falls die Batterie leer ist, funktioniert das Radio nicht. |
Preparing for emergencies
Being prepared means planning ahead for things like a power outage (der Stromausfall) or ensuring you have good insurance (die Versicherung). You can use falls along with this emergency vocabulary to explain your backup plans.
| In case there is a power outage, we light candles. | Falls es einen Stromausfall gibt, zünden wir Kerzen an. |
| We have good insurance in case something goes wrong. | Wir haben eine gute Versicherung, falls etwas schiefgeht. |