Conditional Constructions in English and German

These flashcards cover conditional constructions in English and German, detailing their forms, uses, and grammatical nuances.

What are conditional constructions used to express?

They express possible, potential, unrealized events.

What does an open condition imply in English?

There is no need for Konjunktiv II.

How is the present tense conditional formed in English?

Using 'If I had time, I would fetch you'.

How do you express the past tense conditional in English?

Using 'If I had had time, I would have fetched you'.

What does the English past tense conditional resemble, but isn't?

It resembles a pluperfect but is not.

What two forms does German require for expressing past tense conditionals?

A decision between 'wäre' and 'hätte', along with the past participle.

What is one way to avoid ambiguity with 'wenn' in German?

Use 'falls ich Zeit habe' or 'sollte ich Zeit haben'.

What role does 'würde' play in spoken German?

It's used in combination with the infinitive when the Konjunktiv II form is not clearly marked.