Verb tenses

Future tense

There are different ways of expressing the future tense in both English and in German.

In both languages you can simply use the present tense plus an adverb, or adverbial phrase, of time.

Or you can form the ‘real’ future by using 'will' plus another verb in English, and in German a part of the verb 'werden' plus an infinitive.

Here are the parts of the verb 'werden' you will use (meaning 'will' in this case):

Examples using 'werden'

Ich werde am Wochenende schwimmen gehen. - I’ll go for a swim at the weekend.

Mein Vater wird nächstes Jahr in Amerika arbeiten. - My dad will be working/is going to work in America next year.

Das wird schön sein. - That will be nice.

NB: The infinitive goes to the end of the sentence (or to the end of a clause).

Conditional tense

This tense conveys the meaning of 'would' in English. In German it is formed with a part of the verb 'werden' plus an infinitive.

In both languages, the conditional tense is often followed by a clause with 'if'.

Examples of the conditional tense

Ich würde gern nach Australien fahren, wenn ich genug Geld hätte. - I really would like to go to Australia, if I had enough money.

Ich würde ein neues Haus kaufen, wenn ich reich wäre. - I would buy a new house, if I were rich.

NB: Note that the infinitive goes to the end of the sentence; or, as in the two examples above, the end of the clause.

There is a special form for a small number of verbs in these clauses beginning with 'if':

For example:

Was würdest du machen, wenn du reich wärst? - What would you do, if you were rich?

For example:

Was würdest du machen, wenn du viel Geld hättest? - What would you do, if you had lots of money?

For example:

Ich würde im Ausland wohnen, wenn ich könnte. - I would live abroad if I could.

  
For example:

Am Wochenende möchte ich ins Kino gehen. - I’d like to go to the cinema at the weekend.

Möchtest du mitkommen? - Would you like to come?