German · B1 · Family moment
Calm Backup Plans in German
Use calm, practical backup plans to reassure your child when something unexpected happens. German falls means “if” or “in case” and introduces a possible situation.
What you'll learn
- Describe possible changes using falls.
- Put the finite verb at the end of a falls clause.
- Follow a falls clause with a clear plan or gentle instruction.
- Distinguish conditional falls from habitual temporal wenn.
German phrases for calm backup plans
Falls ich heute zu spät komme, warte bitte bei deiner Lehrkraft.
If I am late today, please wait with your teacher.
Komme ends the falls clause. Warte bitte is a polite instruction to one child.
Falls du deine Brotdose verlierst, können wir zusammen im Klassenzimmer nachsehen.
If you lose your lunchbox, we can check the classroom together.
Verlierst comes last in the falls clause. Können wir introduces the backup plan.
Falls in der Schule der Alarm losgeht, bleib bei deiner Klasse.
If the school alarm goes off, stay with your class.
Losgehen stays joined as losgeht at the end of the falls clause.
Falls dein Freund nicht zu Besuch kommen kann, können wir zusammen ein Spiel spielen.
If your friend cannot come over, we can play a game together.
With a modal verb, the ending is kommen kann. For a female friend, use deine Freundin.
Falls es heute Nachmittag regnet, bringe ich deine wasserdichte Jacke mit.
If it rains this afternoon, I will bring your waterproof jacket.
German commonly uses the present tense for a future plan when the time is clear.
Falls du die Sporthalle nicht finden kannst, bitte einen Erwachsenen um Hilfe.
If you cannot find the sports hall, ask an adult for help.
The falls clause ends with finden kannst. Here, bitte is the command form of bitten, “to ask.”
Falls dein Wackelzahn in der Schule ausfällt, sag deiner Lehrkraft Bescheid.
If your loose tooth falls out at school, tell your teacher.
Jemandem Bescheid sagen means “to let someone know.”
Falls du bei diesen Hausaufgaben Hilfe brauchst, bin ich da.
If you need help with this homework, I am here.
Hausaufgaben is normally plural. Bin ich da is a warm way to say you are available to help.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
die Lehrkraft
teacher
A gender-neutral term. Bei deiner Lehrkraft means “with your teacher” in these plans.
die Brotdose
lunchbox
A box for packed food; also commonly called a Lunchbox.
nachsehen
to check; to look
A separable verb: Wir sehen im Klassenzimmer nach.
wasserdicht
waterproof
Before Jacke, the adjective takes an ending: deine wasserdichte Jacke.
einen Erwachsenen um Hilfe bitten
to ask an adult for help
Use jemanden um Hilfe bitten. Einen Erwachsenen refers to an adult of unspecified gender; eine Erwachsene specifically refers to a woman.
der Wackelzahn
loose tooth
A common, child-friendly word for a tooth that wobbles before falling out.
Falls clauses: the finite verb comes last
Falls introduces a possible situation. The finite verb—the verb form that agrees with the subject—goes at the end of this clause. Separate the falls clause from the main clause with a comma.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple verb | falls + subject + other information + finite verb | Falls ich heute zu spät komme, warte bitte bei deiner Lehrkraft. |
| Modal verb | falls + subject + other information + infinitive + finite modal verb | Falls du die Sporthalle nicht finden kannst, bitte einen Erwachsenen um Hilfe. |
| Separable verb | The prefix stays attached to the clause-final verb. | Falls in der Schule der Alarm losgeht, bleib bei deiner Klasse. |
Follow the situation with a plan
When the falls clause comes first, a statement continues with its finite verb before the subject. For a direct instruction to your child, use the singular command form.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Statement | Falls clause, finite verb + subject + rest. | Falls du bei diesen Hausaufgaben Hilfe brauchst, bin ich da. |
| Instruction | Falls clause, command form + rest. | Falls in der Schule der Alarm losgeht, bleib bei deiner Klasse. |
Falls versus habitual wenn
Falls presents an uncertain possibility: “if” or “in case.” Wenn can also mean conditional “if,” but habitual temporal wenn means “when” or “whenever” for something that happens regularly. Falls does not express that habitual meaning.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Possible situation | falls = if / in case | Falls es heute Nachmittag regnet, bringe ich deine wasserdichte Jacke mit. |
| Repeated situation | immer wenn = whenever | Immer wenn es regnet, ziehst du deine Regenjacke an. |
More examples
Falls du bei diesen Hausaufgaben Hilfe brauchst, bin ich da.
If you need help with this homework, I am here.
Situation first: brauchst ends the falls clause, and bin starts the main clause.
Ich bin da, falls du bei diesen Hausaufgaben Hilfe brauchst.
I am here if you need help with this homework.
Reassurance first: the falls clause can also follow the main clause.
Immer wenn es regnet, ziehst du deine Regenjacke an.
Whenever it rains, you put on your rain jacket.
This describes a regular habit, not a backup plan for one possible event.