Wenn das Lied beginnt, singe ich leise mit.

When the song begins, I sing along quietly.

Breakdown of Wenn das Lied beginnt, singe ich leise mit.

• ich: I
• beginnen: to begin
• wenn: when
• leise: quietly
• mitsingen: to sing along
• das Lied: the song

Questions & Answers about Wenn das Lied beginnt, singe ich leise mit.

Why is the finite verb beginnt placed at the end of the wenn-clause?

Subordinating conjunctions like wenn turn the clause into a subordinate clause, and German subordinate clauses require the finite verb to appear in final position. That’s why Wenn das Lied beginnt has beginnt as its last word.

Why does singe appear before the subject ich in the main clause?

German main clauses follow the V2 rule (verb-second). Since the entire wenn-clause counts as the first element (the prefield), the finite verb singe must occupy the second position, and the subject ich comes next.

Why is mit at the end of singe ich leise mit? Isn’t mit a preposition?

Here mit is not a preposition but the separable prefix of the verb mitsingen (“to sing along”). In a main clause, separable-prefix verbs split: the prefix (mit) moves to the end, and the base verb (singen) is conjugated (here as singe) in the verb-second slot.

When do I use wenn instead of als for “when”?

Use wenn for:
• repeated or habitual events
• general conditions or truths
• future occurrences (if/when)
Use als only for a single, completed event in the past. Because singing along happens each time the song starts, wenn is the correct choice.

Is leise an adjective or an adverb here, and why doesn’t it change form?

In this sentence, leise is an adverb meaning “quietly” or “softly,” modifying the verb mitsingen. German adverbs are not inflected, so leise remains in its base form.

How do I know that Lied is neuter and takes das?

German noun genders often have to be memorized or looked up. Lied (song) happens to be a neuter noun, so its nominative singular article is das. Over time you’ll notice patterns and can use dictionaries or mnemonic tricks to help.

Can I say Wenn das Lied beginnt, ich singe leise mit to match English word order?

No. That would break the V2 rule in the main clause. German requires the finite verb in second position, so you must say Wenn das Lied beginnt, singe ich leise mit.

What if I start with the main clause? “Ich singe leise mit, wenn das Lied beginnt.” Is that correct?

Yes. Placing the main clause first still follows V2: Ich (subject) is first, singe (finite verb) is second, and leise plus the separable prefix mit follow. The subordinate clause retains its verb-final order: wenn das Lied beginnt.