Breakdown of Wenn der Kollege mich stört, kann ich mich nicht konzentrieren.
ich
I
nicht
not
mich
me
können
can / to be able to
der Kollege
the colleague
wenn
if / when (conditional, not a question word)
stören
to disturb
sich konzentrieren
to concentrate
Questions & Answers about Wenn der Kollege mich stört, kann ich mich nicht konzentrieren.
Why is the verb stört at the very end of the first part?
Wenn (if/when) is a subordinating conjunction. These types of connecting words always kick the conjugated verb—in this case, stört—to the very end of their clause, right before the comma.
Why does the second half of the sentence start with kann instead of ich?
Remember the "verb-second" rule? In German, the main verb usually has to be the second idea in a sentence. Here, the entire wenn clause acts as the first idea. To keep the main clause's verb in position two, kann must come right after the comma, pushing ich after it.
Why is the word mich used twice in this sentence?
They are doing two different jobs! The first mich is simply the object of stört ("disturbs me"). The second mich belongs to sich konzentrieren (to concentrate). In German, this is a reflexive verb, so you literally say "I cannot concentrate myself."
Does wenn mean "if" or "when"?
It can mean both! Wenn is used for conditions ("if") and also for events happening in the present or future ("when" or "whenever"). Depending on the context, this sentence could also mean "Whenever the colleague disturbs me, I cannot concentrate."
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