Topic: German

"Wenn sie isst, trinke ich."

Translation:When she eats, I drink.

October 6, 2017

18 Comments

https://www.duolingo.com/profile/Zbrrv55w

    Why not "if" as in, "If she eats, I drink" e.g. imagine, one partner has a disorder that means they can't eat solid foods, so they drink while partner two eats, when both partners go out together, e.g. to a restaurant?

    October 12, 2017
    https://www.duolingo.com/profile/Rejnald

      I think it should be correct

      October 22, 2017
      https://www.duolingo.com/profile/mizinamo
      Mod
      Plus
      • 46

      Yes, that's also a possible translation.

      Report it as a missing alternative ("my translation should be accepted"), please.

      December 5, 2017
      https://www.duolingo.com/profile/KarolChmiel

        Like me and my wife

        October 6, 2017
        https://www.duolingo.com/profile/ellablun

          how do i know when "wenn" is "if" and when "wenn" is "when"?

          October 18, 2017
          https://www.duolingo.com/profile/mizinamo
          Mod
          Plus
          • 46

          Just context.

          I suppose Germans consider all future events to be a little bit hypothetical :)

          (If you want to be explicit about the "if" meaning, you can use falls.)

          November 3, 2017
          https://www.duolingo.com/profile/Quinn254356
          • 592

          Would "...ich trinke" have also worked?

          October 6, 2017
          https://www.duolingo.com/profile/MortiBiRD

            Wenn sie isst, trinke ich. Correct.

            Ich trinke, wenn sie isst. Correct.

            Wenn sie isst, ich trinke. Not correct.

            The verb of the main clause has to be on position 2. In Duos sentence the subordinate clause is on pos 1. Since the verb has to be on pos 2 it can only be at this place.

            October 6, 2017
            https://www.duolingo.com/profile/der.handschuh

              so it let me use "if" before but not on this one.I must translate it with "when" though i don't want to.For me when is wann and wenn is if.

              October 21, 2017
              https://www.duolingo.com/profile/Alextru91

                Classic Duolingo

                November 3, 2017
                https://www.duolingo.com/profile/ClarissaSa777440

                  When they eat isn't correct?

                  October 7, 2017
                  https://www.duolingo.com/profile/Josef641815

                    She eats = sie isst They eat = sie essen

                    October 7, 2017
                    https://www.duolingo.com/profile/lightbombs

                      It's isst so use she

                      October 16, 2017
                      https://www.duolingo.com/profile/Slayer_Jezza

                        Sie would be capitalized and used with essen not isst

                        October 24, 2017
                        https://www.duolingo.com/profile/acfern
                        • 895

                        "Sie" is only capitalised for the formal "you", not when it means "they" or "her".

                        November 29, 2017
                        https://www.duolingo.com/profile/Robert718458

                          Wann sie isst, trinke ich.

                          October 24, 2017
                          https://www.duolingo.com/profile/mizinamo
                          Mod
                          Plus
                          • 46

                          No. Wann is not a conjunction -- it's a question word.

                          November 3, 2017
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