German · B1 · Family moment
If Plans Change in German
Help your child prepare for unexpected changes with reassuring backup plans. Use falls (“if” or “in case”) to introduce a possible situation and explain what to do next.
What you'll learn
- Use falls to talk about possible changes to plans.
- Put the finite verb at the end of a falls clause.
- Give clear instructions or offer help after a falls clause.
- Distinguish contingency falls from habitual temporal wenn.
German phrases for if plans change
Falls deine AG heute früher zu Ende ist, ruf mich an, bevor du gehst.
If your club finishes early today, call me before you leave.
AG means a school club or extracurricular group. Both falls and bevor send the finite verb to the end of their clause.
Falls der Bus nicht kommt, warte drinnen im Sportzentrum.
If the bus does not come, wait inside the sports centre.
Kommt goes at the end of the falls clause. Drinnen makes it clear that your child should wait indoors.
Falls dein Freund absagt, können wir etwas anderes planen.
If your friend cancels, we can plan something else.
Absagen stays together as absagt at the end of the falls clause. For a female friend, use deine Freundin.
Falls du deinen Schlüssel verlierst, bitte unseren Nachbarn um Hilfe.
If you lose your key, ask our neighbour for help.
The pattern jemanden um Hilfe bitten means “to ask someone for help.” For a female neighbour, use unsere Nachbarin.
Falls dein Handyakku leer ist, kannst du das Telefon an der Rezeption benutzen.
If your phone battery runs out, you can use the phone at reception.
Dein Handyakku ist leer is a natural way to say that your phone battery has run out.
Falls du dich bei der Übernachtung unwohl fühlst, kann ich dich abholen.
If you feel uncomfortable at the sleepover, I can pick you up.
Sich unwohl fühlen can describe feeling physically unwell or emotionally uncomfortable.
Falls du deine Gruppe nicht finden kannst, bleib am Treffpunkt.
If you cannot find your group, stay at the meeting point.
With a modal verb, the infinitive comes before the final finite verb: finden kannst.
Falls während eures AG-Treffens der Alarm losgeht, folge dem Gruppenleiter nach draußen.
If the alarm goes off during your club meeting, follow the group leader outside.
Folgen takes the dative: dem Gruppenleiter. For a female group leader, use der Gruppenleiterin.
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
falls
if; in case
Introduces a possible situation that may require a response or backup plan.
die AG
school club; extracurricular group
Short for Arbeitsgemeinschaft. It refers to the group and can also refer to its scheduled session.
absagen
to cancel
A separable verb: Dein Freund sagt ab, but falls dein Freund absagt.
der Nachbar
neighbour
Adds -n in the accusative: unseren Nachbarn. The feminine form is die Nachbarin.
der Handyakku
mobile phone battery
Use leer for a flat battery and aufladen for charging it.
die Übernachtung
overnight stay; sleepover
For a child's sleepover, you can also say eine Übernachtung bei Freunden.
der Treffpunkt
meeting point
Am Treffpunkt means “at the meeting point”; am is short for an dem.
losgehen
to go off; to start
For an alarm: Der Alarm geht los. In a falls clause, use der Alarm losgeht.
Falls clauses: the finite verb goes last
Falls introduces a condition that might occur. Put the finite verb—the verb showing person and tense—at the end of the clause. Separate this clause from the main clause with a comma.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple verb | falls + subject + other information + finite verb | Falls der Bus nicht kommt, warte drinnen. |
| Separable verb | Keep the prefix attached to the final verb. | Falls dein Freund absagt, können wir etwas anderes planen. |
| Modal verb | falls + subject + other information + infinitive + finite modal | Falls du deine Gruppe nicht finden kannst, bleib am Treffpunkt. |
What follows the condition?
When the falls clause comes first, the main clause starts with its finite verb. In a statement, the subject follows that verb. For an instruction to your child, use the informal singular imperative.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Offer or option | Falls clause, + finite verb + subject + rest. | Falls du dich unwohl fühlst, kann ich dich abholen. |
| Instruction | Falls clause, + imperative + rest. | Falls der Bus nicht kommt, warte im Sportzentrum. |
| Condition placed last | Main clause + comma + falls clause. | Ich kann dich abholen, falls du dich unwohl fühlst. |
Falls versus habitual wenn
Falls highlights a possible condition: “if this happens.” Habitual temporal wenn describes what happens regularly: “when” or “whenever.” Wenn can also introduce a condition, so it is not restricted to habitual situations. Both words require clause-final finite verbs.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Possible change | falls = if; in case | Falls deine AG heute früher zu Ende ist, ruf mich an. |
| Regular routine | immer wenn = whenever | Immer wenn meine AG zu Ende ist, rufe ich meine Eltern an. |
More examples
Falls sich der Plan ändert, sage ich dir Bescheid.
If the plan changes, I will let you know.
German often uses the present tense for future actions when the context is clear.
Bleib an der Rezeption, falls du mich nicht finden kannst.
Stay at reception if you cannot find me.
The falls clause can come last. The finite modal kannst still goes at its end.