Breakdown of Wenn Sie kündigen möchten, müssen Sie zuerst mit mir sprechen.
Sie
you (formal)
sprechen
to speak
möchten
would like
müssen
to have to, must
mir
me / to me (dative)
mit
with
zuerst
first
wenn
if / when (conditional, not a question word)
kündigen
to resign / to fire / to cancel (a contract/subscription)
Questions & Answers about Wenn Sie kündigen möchten, müssen Sie zuerst mit mir sprechen.
Why does the second half of the sentence start with müssen?
In German, the conjugated verb in a main clause must be in the second position. Because the entire 'if' clause (Wenn Sie kündigen möchten) counts as the first position, the verb müssen has to come immediately after the comma to take the second position.
Why are there two verbs at the end of the first part (kündigen möchten)?
Wenn is a subordinating conjunction, which means it kicks the conjugated verb to the very end of its clause. Because this clause uses a modal verb (möchten) alongside an infinitive verb (kündigen), the conjugated verb (möchten) goes at the absolute end, right after the infinitive.
Could wenn mean 'when' in this sentence?
Yes! The word wenn can mean either 'if' (a condition) or 'when' (a present or future event). In this sentence, it could be translated as either 'If you would like to resign...' or 'When you would like to resign...', though 'if' is the most natural fit for the context.
Why does the sentence use mir instead of mich?
The preposition mit always requires the dative case. Because of this rule, the basic pronoun ich (I) must change to its dative form, mir.
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