Wenn der Drucker funktioniert, kopiere ich den Bericht.
If the printer works, I will copy the report.
Breakdown of Wenn der Drucker funktioniert, kopiere ich den Bericht.
ich
I
funktionieren
to work (function)
der Drucker
the printer
der Bericht
the report
wenn
if / when (conditional, not a question word)
kopieren
to copy
Questions & Answers about Wenn der Drucker funktioniert, kopiere ich den Bericht.
Why is the verb funktioniert at the end of the first part of the sentence?
The word wenn (if/when) is a subordinating conjunction. In German, these types of connecting words force the conjugated verb to the very end of their clause.
Why does the second half start with the verb kopiere instead of ich kopiere?
This is because of the verb-second rule in German main clauses. The entire wenn clause acts as the first block of information in the sentence. Therefore, the verb (kopiere) must immediately follow it in the second position, pushing the subject (ich) after the verb.
The English translation says "I will copy", but is kopiere in the present tense?
Yes, kopiere is the present tense ("I copy"). In German, it is very common to use the present tense to talk about the future, especially when the context (like an "if" condition) makes it clear that the action hasn't happened yet. You don't need an extra future tense helping verb here.
Why does the sentence use der Drucker but den Bericht?
Both of these nouns are masculine, but they play different roles. Der Drucker is the subject of the first clause (it is the thing doing the working), so it takes the nominative case (der). Den Bericht is the direct object of the second clause (it is the thing being copied), so it takes the accusative case, which changes der to den.
Could wenn in this sentence also translate to "when"?
Yes! Wenn can mean either "if" (a condition) or "when" (a temporal event). Depending on the context, this sentence could equally mean "When the printer works, I will copy the report."
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