Breakdown of Wenn der Kopierer nicht funktioniert, leiten wir die Datei weiter.
wir
we
nicht
not
funktionieren
to work (to function)
wenn
if
Questions & Answers about Wenn der Kopierer nicht funktioniert, leiten wir die Datei weiter.
What does the conjunction wenn do here? How is it different from wann, als, and falls?
- Wenn introduces a condition (if) or a repeated/whenever time.
- Wann is only for (direct or indirect) questions about time (when), never for conditions.
- Als is for one specific time in the past (when I was a child).
- Falls overlaps with conditional wenn but sounds more tentative/in-case; sofern = provided that (more formal).
Why is funktioniert at the end of the first clause?
Because wenn creates a subordinate clause, and German sends the finite verb to the end of subordinate clauses: Wenn … funktioniert, ….
Why does the main clause start with leiten instead of wir?
German main clauses are verb-second (V2). The entire initial wenn-clause occupies position 1, so the finite verb leiten must be in position 2, pushing the subject wir to position 3: Wenn …, leiten wir ….
Can I put the main clause first?