Breakdown of Ich kündige sofort, wenn Sie das Gehalt nicht erhöhen.
ich
I
Sie
you (formal)
nicht
not
sofort
immediately
wenn
if / when (conditional, not a question word)
das Gehalt
the salary
erhöhen
to raise / to increase
kündigen
to resign / to fire / to cancel (a contract/subscription)
Questions & Answers about Ich kündige sofort, wenn Sie das Gehalt nicht erhöhen.
Why does the verb erhöhen go at the very end of the sentence?
The word wenn is a subordinating conjunction. This means it introduces a dependent clause and forces the conjugated verb in that clause (erhöhen) to move all the way to the end.
Does wenn mean "if" or "when" here?
In this sentence, wenn means "if" because it sets up a condition. The word wenn can also mean "when" for present or future events, but the context usually makes it clear which one is meant.
Why is kündige in the present tense if the English translation says "I will resign"?
In German, the present tense is very commonly used to talk about the future. Because the condition in the wenn clause makes it obvious that this is a future threat, you do not need a future tense verb.
Why is nicht placed right before erhöhen?
When you negate an entire action, nicht usually goes at the end of the clause. However, because wenn forces the verb to take the absolute final spot, nicht must be placed immediately before the verb it negates (erhöhen).
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