German · B1 · Family moment
Just in Case in German
Use falls to make gentle backup plans for your baby. It means “if” or “in case” and introduces a possible situation you want to be ready for.
What you'll learn
- Describe possible situations using falls.
- Put the finite verb at the end of a falls clause.
- Connect a possible situation with a reassuring plan.
- Distinguish contingency falls from habitual temporal wenn.
German phrases for just in case
Falls du bei unserem Spaziergang Hunger bekommst, habe ich ein Fläschchen bereit.
If you get hungry on our walk, I have a bottle ready.
Hunger bekommen means “to get hungry.” Bekommst goes at the end of the falls clause.
Falls deine Windel ausläuft, haben wir Wechselkleidung dabei.
If your nappy leaks, we have some spare clothes.
Auslaufen means “to leak.” Its prefix stays attached in the falls clause: ausläuft.
Falls es zu regnen anfängt, ziehe ich den Regenschutz über den Kinderwagen.
If it starts raining, I will put the rain cover over the pram.
Anfängt is the finite verb and comes last in the falls clause. The present tense ziehe expresses the planned future action.
Falls du nicht zur Ruhe kommst, halte ich dich eine Weile im Arm.
If you cannot settle, I will hold you for a while.
Zur Ruhe kommen means “to settle” or “to calm down.” Dich im Arm halten means “to hold you in my arms.”
Falls sich dieser Löffel zu hart anfühlt, können wir den weicheren ausprobieren.
If this spoon feels too hard, we can try the softer one.
Sich anfühlen describes how something feels. Den weicheren means “the softer one,” referring back to the spoon.
Falls dir heute Nacht das Zahnfleisch wehtut, können wir dir einen kühlen Beißring anbieten.
If your gums hurt tonight, we can offer you a cool teething ring.
German uses singular das Zahnfleisch for “gums.” Dir shows whose gums hurt.
Falls du früh aufwachst, können wir in Ruhe kuscheln.
If you wake up early, we can have a quiet cuddle.
In Ruhe kuscheln means “to cuddle quietly or peacefully.” Aufwachst stays together at the end of the falls clause.
Falls du Fieber bekommst, rufe ich beim Arzt an.
If you develop a fever, I will call the doctor.
Fieber bekommen means “to develop a fever.” In the main clause, anrufen separates: rufe … an.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
das Fläschchen
baby bottle
A diminutive of die Flasche. Nouns ending in -chen are always neuter.
die Windel
nappy; diaper
The plural is die Windeln.
die Wechselkleidung
spare clothes; a change of clothes
Usually used as an uncountable noun.
der Regenschutz
rain cover; protection from rain
Here it refers to the cover for the pram.
der Kinderwagen
pram; pushchair; stroller
A general German word for a wheeled baby carriage.
der Beißring
teething ring
Related to beißen, meaning “to bite.”
kuscheln
to cuddle; to snuggle
A warm, everyday word used with babies and family members.
Falls: a possible situation
Falls introduces a condition meaning “if” or “in case.” The finite verb—the verb marked for person and tense—goes at the end of this subordinate clause. Separate it from the main clause with a comma.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Basic pattern | falls + subject + other information + finite verb | Falls du Hunger bekommst, habe ich ein Fläschchen bereit. |
| Separable verb | Keep the prefix attached to the clause-final verb. | Falls du früh aufwachst, können wir in Ruhe kuscheln. |
| With a modal verb | falls + subject + other information + infinitive + finite modal | Falls du nicht schlafen kannst, halte ich dich im Arm. |
The backup plan in the main clause
When the falls clause comes first, it fills the first position of the sentence. The main clause therefore starts with its finite verb, followed by the subject. German often uses the present tense for a future plan.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb before subject | Falls …, + finite verb + subject + … | Falls deine Windel ausläuft, haben wir Wechselkleidung dabei. |
| Modal plus infinitive | Falls …, + können + subject + … + infinitive | Falls du früh aufwachst, können wir in Ruhe kuscheln. |
| Present tense for a future response | Falls …, + present-tense action | Falls du Fieber bekommst, rufe ich beim Arzt an. |
Falls versus habitual wenn
Falls presents something as a possibility: it may or may not happen. Wenn can also mean conditional “if,” but habitual temporal wenn means “when” or “whenever” and describes a repeated situation. Use immer wenn to make “whenever” especially clear.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Possible situation | falls = if; in case | Falls du früh aufwachst, können wir kuscheln. |
| Usual routine | immer wenn = whenever | Immer wenn du aufwachst, kuscheln wir. |
More examples
Falls dir kalt wird, habe ich eine Decke dabei.
If you get cold, I have a blanket with me.
Dir wird kalt means “you get cold.” In the falls clause, wird moves to the end.
Wir können eine Pause machen, falls du müde wirst.
We can take a break if you get tired.
The falls clause can also come second. Keep the comma and the clause-final verb.