Als, wenn, and wann all translate to “when” in English, but they follow different rules in German. Use wann for questions about time (direct and indirect), als for single events in the past, and wenn for repeated events, conditions, or future situations. A simple decision rule: Wann = question word, Als = one-time past, Wenn = everything else.If you’ve ever said “Als es regnet…” instead of “Wenn es regnet…”, you’ve already hit the classic trap: German has three words for English “when” — and mixing them up changes the meaning of your sentence. The good news is that the rules are simple and logical once you see the pattern. For the big picture on how German sentences are built, see our Sentence Structure guide. For other time-related topics, check out temporal prepositions and temporal adverbs.
This guide explains the rules with examples, covers word order, common mistakes, and includes a free quiz to test yourself.
What’s the Difference Between Als, Wenn, and Wann?
Here’s the core rule at a glance:| Word | When to Use | Time Frame | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| wann | Questions (direct & indirect) | Any time | Wann kommst du? |
| als | Single event in the past | Past only | Als ich ankam, … |
| wenn | Repeated events, conditions, future | Present, future, repeated past | Wenn es regnet, … |
1. Is it a question about time? → wann
2. Is it a single event in the past? → als
3. Everything else (repeated, future, condition)? → wenn
Wann — For Questions About Time
Wann is the question word for “when.” Use it in direct questions and in indirect questions (embedded questions inside statements).- Wann beginnt der Unterricht? (When does the class start?) — direct question
- Wann hast du Geburtstag? (When is your birthday?) — direct question
- Kannst du mir sagen, wann der Zug ankommt? (Can you tell me when the train arrives?) — indirect question
- Ich weiß nicht, wann sie kommt. (I don’t know when she’s coming.) — indirect question
Als — For Single Events in the Past
Als refers to a one-time event or period that happened in the past. It’s almost always used with the Präteritum (simple past) or Perfekt.- Als ich ein Kind war, spielte ich jeden Tag im Park. (When I was a child, I played in the park every day.)
- Er rief mich an, als er angekommen war. (He called me when he had arrived.)
- Als sie den Brief las, weinte sie. (When she read the letter, she cried.)
- Wir trafen uns, als die Sonne unterging. (We met when the sun was setting.)
Wenn — For Repeated Events, Conditions & Future
Wenn covers everything that “als” doesn’t: repeated events (past, present, or future), conditions (“if/when”), and future situations.- Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. (When/If it rains, I stay at home.) — condition/repeated
- Ich besuche dich, wenn ich Zeit habe. (I’ll visit you when I have time.) — future
- Wenn wir früher Urlaub hatten, fuhren wir immer ans Meer. (When we used to have vacation, we always went to the sea.) — repeated past
- Er lächelt immer, wenn er sie sieht. (He always smiles when he sees her.) — repeated present
Als vs. Wenn — The Key Difference
This is the question most learners struggle with. The rule is actually simple: it comes down to one-time past vs. everything else.| Situation | Correct Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Single event, past | als | Als ich gestern ankam, … |
| Single period, past | als | Als ich ein Kind war, … |
| Repeated event, past | wenn | (Immer) wenn ich ihn sah, … |
| Repeated event, present | wenn | Wenn ich müde bin, … |
| Future event | wenn | Wenn du morgen kommst, … |
| Condition (“if”) | wenn | Wenn es regnet, … |
“Als ich in Berlin war, hat es geregnet.” → One specific trip. It rained during that one visit.
“Wenn ich in Berlin war, hat es immer geregnet.” → Every time I was in Berlin, it rained. Multiple trips.
Word Order After Als, Wenn, and Wann
Als and wenn always introduce a subordinate clause: the conjugated verb moves to the end. Wann works differently depending on whether it’s a direct question or an indirect question.Normal: Ich kam gestern an.
With “als”: …, als ich gestern ankam. (verb → end)
With “wenn”: …, wenn es regnet. (verb → end)
- Direct question: “Wann” is a normal question word — the verb stays in 2nd position, just like any W-question:
Wann kommst du morgen? (When are you coming tomorrow?)
Wann fängt der Film an? (When does the movie start?) - Indirect question: “Wann” introduces a subordinate clause — the verb moves to the end:
Ich frage dich, wann du morgen kommst. (I’m asking you when you’re coming tomorrow.)
Weißt du, wann der Film anfängt? (Do you know when the movie starts?)
Direct: “Wann kommst du?” (verb in 2nd position)
Indirect: “Ich weiß nicht, wann du kommst.” (verb at end)
See Indirect Questions for the full explanation.
- Als ich ankam, ging er sofort. (When I arrived, he left immediately.)
- Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause. (When it rains, I stay home.)
❌ “Als ich ankam, ich ging nach Hause.”
✅ “Als ich ankam, ging ich nach Hause.”
After a subordinate clause, the main clause verb must come directly next — before the subject. This is called inversion. See German Word Order for the full rules.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Wrong: Wenn ich ein Kind war, spielte ich im Park.
✅ Correct: Als ich ein Kind war, spielte ich im Park.
💡 Why: “Being a child” is a single period in the past — not a repeated event. Single past = als. This is the #1 mistake learners make.
❌ Wrong: Als es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause.
✅ Correct: Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich zu Hause.
💡 Why: Raining is a repeated event (it rains many times). Repeated = wenn, regardless of present or past.
❌ Wrong: Ich weiß nicht, wenn er kommt.
✅ Correct: Ich weiß nicht, wann er kommt.
💡 Why: This is an indirect question (“I don’t know when…”). Questions about time always use wann — never “wenn.”
❌ Wrong: Wann ich Zeit habe, besuche ich dich.
✅ Correct: Wenn ich Zeit habe, besuche ich dich.
💡 Why: This isn’t a question — it’s a condition (“if/when I have time”). Conditions use wenn. “Wann” is only for actual questions.
❌ Wrong: Als ich ankam, ich ging nach Hause.
✅ Correct: Als ich ankam, ging ich nach Hause.
💡 Why: After a subordinate clause (als/wenn/wann), the main clause uses inversion: verb first, then subject. See word order rules.
Test Yourself: 5 Quick Questions
Choose the correct word for each sentence: als, wenn, or wann?
1. ___ ich gestern nach Hause kam, war niemand da.
- A) Als
- B) Wenn
- C) Wann
Check Answer
“Als ich gestern nach Hause kam, war niemand da.” — “Gestern” (yesterday) tells you it’s a single past event. Single past = always “als.”
2. ___ hast du morgen Zeit?
- A) Als
- B) Wenn
- C) Wann
Check Answer
“Wann hast du morgen Zeit?” — This is a direct question about time. Questions = always “wann.”
3. ___ ich müde bin, trinke ich Kaffee.
- A) Als
- B) Wenn
- C) Wann
Check Answer
“Wenn ich müde bin, trinke ich Kaffee.” — This is a repeated event / general condition (every time I’m tired). Repeated = “wenn.” Note the inversion in the main clause: “trinke ich” (not “ich trinke”).
4. Weißt du, ___ der Film anfängt?
- A) als
- B) wenn
- C) wann
Check Answer
“Weißt du, wann der Film anfängt?” — This is an indirect question (a question embedded in a statement). Indirect questions about time = “wann.” Notice the verb “anfängt” goes to the end.
5. ___ wir letztes Jahr in Berlin waren, hat es die ganze Zeit geregnet.
- A) Als
- B) Wenn
- C) Wann
Check Answer
“Als wir letztes Jahr in Berlin waren, hat es die ganze Zeit geregnet.” — “Letztes Jahr” (last year) makes it a single event in the past. If it were “every time we were in Berlin,” you’d use “wenn”: “Immer wenn wir in Berlin waren, …”
Als, wenn, and wann change the word order — but the articles stay just as important.
Is it “als ich den Brief las” or “als ich dem Brief las”? Every sentence with als, wenn, or wann still needs the correct article. The Article Trainer drills 600+ nouns until der, die, das becomes automatic.
Practice German Articles →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between als, wenn, and wann in German?
All three translate to “when” in English, but they follow different rules. Wann is a question word for time (“Wann kommst du?”). Als refers to a single event or period in the past (“Als ich ein Kind war…”). Wenn is used for repeated events, conditions, and future situations (“Wenn es regnet…”). The key distinction is between als (one-time past) and wenn (everything else).
How do I choose between als and wenn?
Ask yourself two questions: (1) Is it in the past? (2) Did it happen only once? If both answers are “yes,” use als. In every other case — repeated past, present, future, or conditions — use wenn. Example: “Als ich gestern ankam” (one time, past) vs. “Wenn ich müde bin” (every time, present).
Can “wenn” be used for past events?
Yes, but only for repeated past events. If something happened multiple times in the past, use “wenn” — often with “immer” or “jedes Mal” to make the repetition clear: “Immer wenn ich ihn sah, lächelte er.” (Every time I saw him, he smiled.) For a single past event, use “als.”
Does “wenn” mean “if” or “when”?
Both, depending on context. In conditional sentences, “wenn” means “if” (“Wenn ich reich wäre…” = If I were rich…). In temporal sentences, it means “when” (“Wenn ich ankomme…” = When I arrive…). Native speakers understand the meaning from context. If you want to be extra clear, use “falls” for “if” instead of “wenn.”
What word order do als, wenn, and wann require?
Als and wenn always introduce a subordinate clause: the conjugated verb moves to the end (“als ich nach Hause kam…”). Wann works in two ways: in a direct question, the verb stays in 2nd position like any W-question (“Wann kommst du?”). In an indirect question, the verb moves to the end (“Ich weiß nicht, wann du kommst.”). When an als/wenn clause comes first, the main clause uses inversion: “Als ich ankam, ging ich sofort.” See German Word Order for more.
Is “wann” only used in questions?
Primarily, yes. “Wann” appears in direct questions (“Wann kommst du?”) and indirect questions (“Ich weiß nicht, wann er kommt.”). It is never used in temporal or conditional clauses — that’s where “als” or “wenn” go. A common mistake is saying “Ich weiß nicht wenn er kommt” — the correct word is “wann.”
What are the most common mistakes with als, wenn, and wann?
The top five are: (1) Using “wenn” instead of “als” for single past events (“Wenn ich ein Kind war” → wrong). (2) Using “als” for repeated or present events. (3) Using “wenn” in indirect questions instead of “wann.” (4) Using “wann” in conditional sentences instead of “wenn.” (5) Wrong word order after the subordinate clause (forgetting inversion).
How can I practice als, wenn, and wann?
Start with the decision rule (wann = question, als = one-time past, wenn = everything else), then test yourself with the Als vs. Wenn vs. Wann Quiz (20 questions). For broader grammar practice, check all grammar quizzes. Since every German sentence also needs the correct article, the Article Trainer is a great complement.
Grammar clicks when every piece works together.
You now know als, wenn, and wann. But every sentence you build still needs the right article — and that means knowing whether the noun is der, die, or das. 10 minutes a day with the Article Trainer, and you’ll stop guessing for good.
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