Word
Kommt ein Gewitter, holen wir das Segel ein.
Meaning
If a thunderstorm comes, we bring in the sail.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Lesson
Breakdown of Kommt ein Gewitter, holen wir das Segel ein.
ein
a, an (eine)
kommen
to come
wir
we
das Segel
the sail
Questions & Answers about Kommt ein Gewitter, holen wir das Segel ein.
Why does this sentence start with the verb Kommt instead of using Wenn?
This is a verb-first conditional clause. In German, you can drop wenn (if) and move the conjugated verb to the very beginning of the sentence. Kommt ein Gewitter means exactly the same thing as Wenn ein Gewitter kommt.
Why is the verb holen right after the comma?
The entire first clause (Kommt ein Gewitter) counts as the first position for the whole sentence. Since the conjugated verb in a German main clause must take the second position, holen has to come immediately after the comma.
Why is the word ein at the very end of the sentence?
It belongs to the separable verb einholen (to bring in or take down). In a main clause, the conjugated part (holen) takes the second position, and the prefix (ein) gets pushed to the very end of the sentence.
Is it common to drop wenn like this in everyday German?
Yes! Verb-first conditions are widely used in both written and spoken German. They often sound a bit more direct and punchy than using a standard wenn clause, making them great for giving instructions or stating consequences.