Wenn alles gut läuft, werde ich die Prüfung bestehen und danach mit meiner Familie feiern.

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Questions & Answers about Wenn alles gut läuft, werde ich die Prüfung bestehen und danach mit meiner Familie feiern.

What does the phrase "Wenn alles gut läuft" mean, and why is the verb placed at the end of this clause?
The phrase means "if everything goes well." In German, subordinate clauses introduced by a subordinating conjunction like "wenn" require that the conjugated verb appears at the end of the clause. Hence, "läuft" (from "laufen") is positioned at the end.
How is the future tense constructed in this sentence, and why is "werde" used?
The future tense in German is typically formed by using the auxiliary verb "werden" in its conjugated form along with the infinitives of the main verbs. In this sentence, "werde" is used in the first person singular to indicate a future action. The two main actions—"die Prüfung bestehen" and "mit meiner Familie feiern"—are given as infinitives at the end of the clause.
What does "die Prüfung bestehen" mean, and why might it be confusing to English speakers?
"Die Prüfung bestehen" literally translates to "to pass the exam." Although "bestehen" can also mean "to exist" or "to persist," in this context it idiomatically means "to pass" or "to successfully complete" an exam. English speakers might expect a different verb like "pass" rather than "bestehen," which has a broader meaning in German.
What is the function of "danach" in the sentence?
"Danach" functions as a temporal adverb meaning "afterwards" or "then." It signals that the celebration with the family will take place after the exam is passed. This helps the listener understand the sequence of events.
Why is there a comma after "Wenn alles gut läuft", and what rule does this illustrate?
In German, a subordinate clause is separated from the main clause by a comma. Since "Wenn alles gut läuft" is a subordinate clause introduced by the conjunction "wenn," it must be followed by a comma to clearly distinguish it from the main part of the sentence.