What is the difference between using als and wenn?

Als is used for a sentence that is in the past, for example 'als ich jünger war...' when I was younger. Wenn is used to mean 'if or when' and often has a conditional sense, for example 'wenn ich mehr Geld hätte', meaning 'if I had more money.' Note that 'als' can have other meaning and can be used in a comparative sense as 'than' or 'as' (for example better than...).

JF
Answered by Jennifer F. German tutor

24476 Views

See similar German A Level tutors

Related German A Level answers

All answers ▸

Translate the sentence: 'Last week my brother got engaged, so I congratulated him.' and explain the various grammatical structures and processes you encountered while translating.


Which prepositions take the accusative?


When do you use the Past Perfect (das Plusquamperfekt) and how to you construct it?


Do you say "von meinem kleinen Bruder" or "von meinem kleinem Bruder"


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning