German B1.1 Listening Practice: Lead With The Condition
Listen to a B1 German dialogue about lead with the condition, with audio, transcript, and grammar notes for language learning.
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Level
B1.1
Audio
Segmented audio
Transcript
15 segments
A short German listening chapter with transcript.
Start with the condition, finish it with its verb, and then begin the result with the finite main verb before the subject.
Read while you listen.
1. Hanna · Teacher
Welcome back! Today, we are learning how to lead a sentence with a condition using 'wenn' in German. Listen to Felix and Clara making plans.
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2. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Hast du morgen Zeit für einen Kaffee?
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3. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Wenn ich morgen Zeit habe, rufe ich dich an.
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4. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Das klingt gut, und wenn das Wetter schön ist, sitzen wir draußen.
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5. Clara · Native Speaker 2
Super, und wenn der Bus pünktlich kommt, bin ich um drei Uhr da.
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6. Felix · Native Speaker 1
Perfekt, ich freue mich darauf!
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7. Hanna · Teacher
Let's analyze Clara's response: 'Wenn ich morgen Zeit habe, rufe ich dich an.' When the 'wenn' clause comes first, it acts as position one, so the main verb 'rufe' comes immediately after the comma, with the prefix 'an' at the end.
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8. Lukas · Student
So because the whole 'wenn' clause is in first position, the main clause verb and subject flip positions?
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9. Hanna · Teacher
Exactly. Instead of 'ich rufe dich an', it becomes 'rufe ich dich an' right after the condition.
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10. Hanna · Teacher
Next, Felix said: 'Wenn das Wetter schön ist, sitzen wir draußen.' Meaning, 'If the weather is nice, we'll sit outside.'
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11. Lukas · Student
And 'sitzen' comes right after 'ist' because 'ist' finishes the 'wenn' clause?
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12. Hanna · Teacher
Precisely. The verb 'ist' ends the subordinate clause, and 'sitzen' immediately starts the main clause right after the comma.
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13. Hanna · Teacher
Finally, Clara said: 'Wenn der Bus pünktlich kommt, bin ich um drei Uhr da.'
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14. Lukas · Student
Is this rule strict every single time we start with 'wenn'?
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15. Hanna · Teacher
Yes, whenever a subordinate clause leads the sentence, the main clause verb must come immediately next.
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