Breakdown of Wenn ein Sturm kommt, dauert die Fahrt oft viel länger.
kommen
to come
lang
long
oft
often
viel
much
wenn
when
der Sturm
the storm
dauern
to last
die Fahrt
the trip
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Questions & Answers about Wenn ein Sturm kommt, dauert die Fahrt oft viel länger.
What does wenn mean in this sentence, and how is it different from als or falls?
- Here wenn introduces a conditional or recurring situation: “Whenever a storm comes…”.
- als is used for a single event in the past (e.g. Als der Sturm kam, blieb ich zuhause).
- falls expresses a hypothetical or less certain condition (e.g. Falls ein Sturm kommt, bleibe ich zuhause).
Why is kommt placed at the end of the clause Wenn ein Sturm kommt?
Because wenn is a subordinating conjunction. In German subordinate clauses, the finite verb moves to the very end. So you get: Wenn + subject/object + other elements + finite verb.
Why does dauert appear right after the comma in the main clause?
After a subordinate clause, the main clause follows normal word order: the finite verb occupies the second position. Here the first position is the entire subordinate clause (Wenn ein Sturm kommt), so dauert comes next.
What is the role and gender of die Fahrt in this sentence?
- die Fahrt is feminine (die).
- It functions as the subject of the main clause (“the journey/ride lasts…”).
- You could translate it as “the trip,” “the ride,” or “the journey,” depending on context.
How should I understand dauert here? Does it mean “takes” or “lasts”?
dauern means “to last” or “to take time.” In English you’d often say “the trip takes longer,” but literally it’s “the trip lasts much longer.”
Why is it viel länger instead of just länger?
- länger is the comparative form of lang (“longer”).
- viel is an adverb intensifier meaning “a lot” or “much.”
- Together viel länger means “much longer.”
Why is the frequency adverb oft placed between dauert and viel länger?
In German, adverbs of frequency usually follow the finite verb and precede other elements like adjectives or their modifiers. So you get: finite verb (dauert) + frequency adverb (oft) + adjective phrase (viel länger).
Could I also say Die Fahrt dauert oft viel länger, wenn ein Sturm kommt?
Yes. You can move the subordinate clause to the end for emphasis or style. The meaning stays the same; you just swap main and subordinate clauses.