wann/wenn/als – Free Exercise

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Exercises

Choose between wenn or als to complete the sentences.

  1. Ich bekomme immer Herzklopfen, wir uns sehen.talking about the present|when = wheneverwennMy heart pounds when we see each other.
  2. ich Paul zum ersten Mal gesehen habe, fand ich ihn ziemlich arrogant.one-off past action (signal: zum ersten Mal)|when can’t be replaced by wheneveralsWhen I saw Paul for the first time, I found him quite arrogant.
  3. meine Großmutter jung war, gab es noch kein Internet.past state|when can’t be replaced by wheneveralsWhen my grandmother was young, there was no internet.
  4. Richte Manuela bitte schöne Grüße aus, du sie triffst.talking about a future time → wennPlease tell Manuela I say hello when you see her.
  5. Jedes Mal, meine Mutter in der Schule eine gute Note hatte, bekam sie von ihren Eltern eine Tafel Schokolade.repeated past action (signal: jedes mal)|when = wheneverwennWhenever my mum got good grades at school, she got a bar of chocolate from her parents.

Complete the sentences with wenn or als.

  1.   ich 20 war, konnte ich die ganze Nacht durchfeiern.ongoing past state|when can’t be replaced by whenever (whenever I was 20) → alsWhen I was 20, I could party all night long.
  2.   mein Vater 65 wird, geht er in Rente.talking about the future → wennWhen my father turns 65, he’ll retire.
  3. Das mache ich,   ich zurückkomme.talking about the future → wennI’ll do that when I get back.
  4. Jahrelang grüßte er die alte Dame,   sie ihm begegnete, obwohl er längst vergessen hatte, woher er sie kannte.repeated past action (signal: jahrelang)|when can be replaced by wheneverwennFor years he said hello to the old lady when their paths crossed, even though he had long since forgotten where he knew her from.
  5.   meine Mutter noch in der Schokoladenfabrik arbeitete, hatten wir immer viele Süßigkeiten zu Hause.ongoing past situation|when can’t be replaced by whenever (whenever my mother still worked)→ alsWhen my mother still worked at the chocolate factory, we always had lots of sweets at home.

Choose between wann, als and wenn to complete the sentences.

  1. ist endlich wieder Sommer?asking a question → wannWhen is it finally summer again?
  2. Kai war sehr traurig, sein Hamster starb.one-off past occurrence|when can’t be replaced by whenever (whenever his hamster died) → alsKai was very sad when his hamster died.
  3. Wir können uns am Dienstag oder am Mittwoch treffen. Könntest du mir schreiben, es dir besser passt?indirect question|when can be replaced by what timewannWe could meet on Tuesday or on Wednesday. Could you let me know when suits you?
  4. Melde dich bitte, du Zeit hast!talking about the future → wennPlease get in touch when you have time!
  5. ich gestern im Bett lag, kam mir eine tolle Idee.talking about the past|when can’t be replaced by whenever (whenever I lay in bed yesterday)→ alsWhen I was laying in bed yesterday, I had a terrific idea.
  6. meine Oma Lebkuchen bäckt, duftet es in der ganzen Küche nach Weihnachten.talking about the present|when can be replaced by wheneverwennWhen my grandma bakes gingerbread, the whole house smells like Christmas.
  7. Weißt du, Tanja Geburtstag hat?indirect question (When is Tanja’s birthday?) → wannDo you know when Tanja’s birthday is?
  8. Jedes Mal, die Schwiegereltern zu Besuch waren, gab es Streit.talking about the present|when can be replaced by whenever (signal: jedes Mal) → wennEvery time my in-laws visited us, there was a argument.
  9. ich in der 5. Klasse war, kauften meine Eltern ein Haus.one-off occurrence in the past|when can’t be replaced by wheneveralsWhen I was in fifth grade, my parents bought a house.
  10. Du entscheidest, wir uns wiedersehen. Ich habe am Samstag und Sonntag Zeit.indirect question|referring to a concrete time → wannYou decide when to meet up again. I’m free on Saturday and Sunday.