Breakdown of Wenn die Sonne scheint, sammeln die Bienen Nektar.
die Sonne
the sun
scheinen
to shine
wenn
if / when (conditional, not a question word)
sammeln
to gather
die Biene
the bee
der Nektar
the nectar
Questions & Answers about Wenn die Sonne scheint, sammeln die Bienen Nektar.
Why is the verb sammeln right after the comma instead of the subject die Bienen?
In German, the entire first clause (Wenn die Sonne scheint) counts as position one. Because the main verb must sit in position two, sammeln has to come immediately after the comma, before its subject die Bienen. This creates the famous German verb-comma-verb pattern: scheint, sammeln.
Why do we use wenn here instead of wann or als?
B1 learners often mix these up! Use wann only for questions, like asking for a time. Use als only for a one-time event in the past. Because this sentence is about a repeated, general fact in the present, wenn is the correct word to use.
Does wenn mean "when" or "if" in this sentence?
It means both! In German, wenn is used for both conditions ("if") and time ("when") in present and future tense sentences. Whether you translate it as "When the sun shines..." or "If the sun shines...", the meaning in German remains exactly the same.
Why is there no article before Nektar?
Just like in English, German omits the article when talking about an uncountable substance in a general sense. The bees are collecting nectar in general, not a specific, previously mentioned batch of it, so no article is needed.
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