B2–C1 · CND · 57 patterns

Conditionals and counterfactuals

Reason through possibilities and alternatives.

01 · How to use this set

Start from the communication job

Reason through possibilities and alternatives.

Read the frame, try to complete your own sentence before opening an example, then compare the English structure with its German parallel. The point is retrieval and choice, not passive list reading.

02 · Representative patterns

Start with these reusable frames

A compact sample from the 57 patterns in this study set.

01If + Past Simple, would + VIf I had more time, I would start a side project that solves a problem I keep seeing at work. · German parallel: Wenn + Konjunktiv II, würde + Infinitiv 02If I were you, I’d + VIf I were you, I’d apply for an international project. It will be useful to revisit this before the final plan is agreed. · German parallel: An deiner Stelle würde ich + Infinitiv 03If it weren’t for + noun/phrase, I wouldn’t + VIf it weren’t for my team’s support, I wouldn’t have finished the project on time. · German parallel: Ohne + Akkusativ, würde ich nicht + Infinitiv 04Unless + present simple, will + VUnless you submit the report today, no one will review it tomorrow. · German parallel: Wenn ... nicht + present, wird + Infinitiv 05Provided (that) + present simple, will + VProvided (that) all data is ready, we will launch the report on Friday. · German parallel: Vorausgesetzt, dass + present, wird + Infinitiv 06As long as + present simple, will + VYou can work from home as long as you stay available online. · German parallel: Solange + present, wird + Infinitiv

03 · Complete set

Browse every pattern

The canonical list follows below. Every pattern has a stable ID and its own page for examples, translation, and reuse.

01If + Past Simple, would + VCON001 · If + Past Simple, would + V / Wenn + Konjunktiv II, würde + Infinitiv 02If I were you, I’d + VCON002 · If I were you, I’d + V / An deiner Stelle würde ich + Infinitiv 03If it weren’t for + noun/phrase, I wouldn’t + VCON003 · If it weren’t for + noun/phrase, I wouldn’t + V / Ohne + Akkusativ, würde ich nicht + Infinitiv 04Unless + present simple, will + VCON004 · Unless + present simple, will + V / Wenn ... nicht + present, wird + Infinitiv 05Provided (that) + present simple, will + VCON005 · Provided (that) + present simple, will + V / Vorausgesetzt, dass + present, wird + Infinitiv 06As long as + present simple, will + VCON006 · As long as + present simple, will + V / Solange + present, wird + Infinitiv 07Even if + present simple, will + VCON007 · Even if + present simple, will + V / Selbst wenn + present, wird + Infinitiv 08Had + subject + Past Participle, would have + Past ParticipleCON008 · Had + subject + Past Participle, would have + Past Participle / Wenn + subject + Partizip II + hätte, hätte + subject + Partizip II 09If + present simple, will + VCON009 · If + present simple, will + V / Wenn + present, wird + Infinitiv 10In case + present simple, will + VCON010 · In case + present simple, will + V / Für den Fall, dass + present, wird + Infinitiv 11If it hadn’t been for + noun, I would have + V3CON011 · If it hadn’t been for + noun, I would have + V3 / Wenn es nicht ... gegeben hätte, hätte ich + Partizip II 12Only after + subject + has/have + V3, will + subject + VCON012 · Only after + subject + has/have + V3, will + subject + V / Erst nachdem + subject + Partizip II + hat, wird + subject + Infinitiv 13Whether + subject + V or not, subject + will + VCON013 · Whether + subject + V or not, subject + will + V / Egal ob + subject + Verb, wird + subject + Infinitiv 14As soon as + present simple, will + VCON014 · As soon as + present simple, will + V / Sobald + present, wird + subject + Infinitiv 15Had [a funding proposal] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND001 · Had [a funding proposal] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [einen Förderantrag] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.16Had [a delayed product launch] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND002 · Had [a delayed product launch] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine verspätete Produkteinführung] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.17Had [the team’s research findings] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND003 · Had [the team’s research findings] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [die Forschungsergebnisse des Teams] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.18Had [a customer complaint] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND004 · Had [a customer complaint] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine Kundenbeschwerde] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.19Had [a public-transport plan] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND005 · Had [a public-transport plan] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [einen Plan für den Nahverkehr] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.20Had [a difficult staffing decision] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND006 · Had [a difficult staffing decision] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine schwierige Personalentscheidung] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.21Had [the revised budget] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND007 · Had [the revised budget] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [das überarbeitete Budget] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.22Had [an accessibility requirement] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND008 · Had [an accessibility requirement] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine Anforderung an Barrierefreiheit] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.23Had [a cross-border partnership] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND009 · Had [a cross-border partnership] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine grenzüberschreitende Partnerschaft] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.24Had [the first pilot results] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND010 · Had [the first pilot results] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [die ersten Ergebnisse des Pilotprojekts] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.25Had [a neighbourhood meeting] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND011 · Had [a neighbourhood meeting] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [ein Treffen im Stadtteil] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.26Had [a climate-adaptation project] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND012 · Had [a climate-adaptation project] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [ein Klimaanpassungsprojekt] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.27Had [a sensitive policy change] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND013 · Had [a sensitive policy change] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine sensible Regeländerung] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.28Had [the quarterly forecast] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND014 · Had [the quarterly forecast] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [die Quartalsprognose] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.29Had [a mentoring conversation] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND015 · Had [a mentoring conversation] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [ein Mentoring-Gespräch] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.30Had [a data-security review] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND016 · Had [a data-security review] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine Datenschutzprüfung] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.31Had [a conference presentation] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND017 · Had [a conference presentation] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [einen Konferenzvortrag] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.32Had [a supplier contract] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND018 · Had [a supplier contract] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [einen Lieferantenvertrag] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.33Had [a community health initiative] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND019 · Had [a community health initiative] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine Gesundheitsinitiative im Quartier] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.34Had [a university curriculum] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND020 · Had [a university curriculum] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [ein Hochschulcurriculum] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.35Had [a housing-development plan] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND021 · Had [a housing-development plan] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [einen Wohnungsbauplan] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.36Had [a service outage] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND022 · Had [a service outage] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [einen Dienstausfall] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.37Had [a museum exhibition] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND023 · Had [a museum exhibition] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine Museumsausstellung] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.38Had [a volunteer programme] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND024 · Had [a volunteer programme] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [ein Freiwilligenprogramm] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.39Had [a language-learning project] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND025 · Had [a language-learning project] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [ein Sprachlernprojekt] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.40Had [a new reporting process] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND026 · Had [a new reporting process] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [einen neuen Berichtsprozess] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.41Had [a workplace conflict] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND027 · Had [a workplace conflict] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [einen Konflikt am Arbeitsplatz] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.42Had [an environmental impact assessment] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND028 · Had [an environmental impact assessment] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfung] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.43Had [a remote-work arrangement] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND029 · Had [a remote-work arrangement] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine Regelung zur Telearbeit] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.44Had [a healthcare appointment system] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND030 · Had [a healthcare appointment system] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [ein Terminvergabesystem im Gesundheitswesen] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.45Had [a local election debate] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND031 · Had [a local election debate] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine kommunale Wahldebatte] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.46Had [a software migration] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND032 · Had [a software migration] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine Softwaremigration] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.47Had [a research collaboration] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND033 · Had [a research collaboration] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine Forschungskooperation] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.48Had [a training workshop] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND034 · Had [a training workshop] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [einen Fortbildungsworkshop] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.49Had [a press statement] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND035 · Had [a press statement] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine Presseerklärung] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.50Had [a proposed timetable] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND036 · Had [a proposed timetable] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [einen vorgeschlagenen Zeitplan] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.51Had [a family-care arrangement] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND037 · Had [a family-care arrangement] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine Regelung zur Familienpflege] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.52Had [a grant evaluation] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND038 · Had [a grant evaluation] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine Fördermittelbewertung] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.53Had [a library modernisation] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND039 · Had [a library modernisation] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [eine Modernisierung der Bibliothek] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.54Had [an emergency response plan] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay.C1CND040 · Had [an emergency response plan] been addressed earlier, we might have avoided the delay. / Wäre [einen Notfallplan] früher angegangen worden, hätten wir die Verzögerung vielleicht vermeiden können.55Without [X], [Y] cannot [V].CLF043 · Without [X], [Y] cannot [V]. / Ohne [X] kann [Y] nicht [V].56Only if [X] can [Y].CLF044 · Only if [X] can [Y]. / Nur wenn [X], kann [Y].57Before we can [X], we need to [Y].CLF045 · Before we can [X], we need to [Y]. / Bevor wir [X] können, müssen wir [Y].

01Modality and obligationExpress necessity, permission, and recommendation.02Passive and impersonal styleUse formal, process-focused language.03Reported speech and attributionReport what people said with accuracy.04Tense and aspectPosition actions in time and show duration or completion.