Distinguishing wenn, falls, sofern in German conditional sentences

Conditional sentences (Konditionalsatz) are sentences used to express and explain an event that may occur when the condition mentioned in the sentence is met. A conditional sentence consists of 2 parts: the subordinate clause indicating the condition (Nebensatz – verb at the end) and the main clause (Hauptsatz – verb in second position). The conditional clause is used with the conjunctions „wenn", „falls", „sofern". So when do you use „wenn", when do you use „falls", and when do you use „sofern"? The article below will help you distinguish between these three conjunctions.

Let's find out!

- The difference between „wenn", „falls" and „sofern" lies in the likelihood of the condition occurring. With „falls" and „sofern", the probability of the condition occurring is lower than with „wenn".

„Falls ich Zeit habe, gebe ich dir Bescheid!"

(If I have time, I will let you know!)

⇒ The chance that I have time is not high; I am not sure when I will have time.

„Ich ärgere mich, wenn sich meine Mitarbeiter verspäten."

(I get annoyed if my employees are late.)

⇒ The likelihood that I will be annoyed when employees are late is very high; I know for certain that there will be times I feel annoyed about this.

- „Sofern", „falls", „wenn" can both be used in sentences with negative and affirmative elements. However, sofern is used in a more elevated register.

„Sofern ich keine Zeit habe,..."

(If I have no time...)

„Sofern du nicht zum Treffen kommst,..."

(If you do not come to the meeting...)

*** Note: When the subordinate clause comes before the main clause, „wenn" can also be omitted. The verb in the subordinate clause moves to the beginning of the sentence.

„Wenn du zu spät kommst, gibt es Ärger." = „Kommst du zu spät, gibt es Ärger."(If you arrive late, you will be in trouble.)