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B2–C1 · GFC · 20 patterns

Conditions and counterfactuals

Compare how English and German express conditions and counterfactuals. Practise reusable constructions with Russian translations.

01 · How to use this set

Start from the communication job

Compare how English and German express conditions and counterfactuals. Practise reusable constructions with Russian translations.

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 20 patterns in this study set.

01If it were not for + noun phrase, subject + would + infinitiveIf it weren't for the noise, this would be a perfect place to work. · German parallel: Wenn + noun phrase + nicht wäre, würde + subject + infinitive02If it had not been for + noun phrase, subject + would have + past participleIf it hadn't been for your message, I would have missed the meeting. · German parallel: Wenn + noun phrase + nicht gewesen wäre, hätte/wäre + subject + participle03If + subject + had + participle, subject + would be + -ing + nowIf I had accepted that job, I would be living abroad now. · German parallel: Wenn + Plusquamperfekt Konjunktiv II, würde + subject + jetzt + infinitive04If + subject + past-form state, subject + would have + past participleIf I were more organised, I wouldn't have missed yesterday's deadline. · German parallel: Wenn + present Konjunktiv II state, hätte/wäre + subject + participle05Should + subject + bare infinitive, main clauseShould you need further details, please contact me. · German parallel: Sollte(n) + subject + infinitive, main clause06Were + subject + to + infinitive, subject + would + infinitiveWere the supplier to withdraw, we would need a replacement. · German parallel: Würde(n) + subject + infinitive, main clause in Konjunktiv II

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 it were not for + noun phrase, subject + would + infinitiveGFC001 · If it were not for + noun phrase, subject + would + infinitive / Wenn + noun phrase + nicht wäre, würde + subject + infinitive02If it had not been for + noun phrase, subject + would have + past participleGFC002 · If it had not been for + noun phrase, subject + would have + past participle / Wenn + noun phrase + nicht gewesen wäre, hätte/wäre + subject + participle03If + subject + had + participle, subject + would be + -ing + nowGFC003 · If + subject + had + participle, subject + would be + -ing + now / Wenn + Plusquamperfekt Konjunktiv II, würde + subject + jetzt + infinitive04If + subject + past-form state, subject + would have + past participleGFC004 · If + subject + past-form state, subject + would have + past participle / Wenn + present Konjunktiv II state, hätte/wäre + subject + participle05Should + subject + bare infinitive, main clauseGFC005 · Should + subject + bare infinitive, main clause / Sollte(n) + subject + infinitive, main clause06Were + subject + to + infinitive, subject + would + infinitiveGFC006 · Were + subject + to + infinitive, subject + would + infinitive / Würde(n) + subject + infinitive, main clause in Konjunktiv II07Had + subject + past participle, subject + would have + past participleGFC007 · Had + subject + past participle, subject + would have + past participle / Hätte(n)/Wäre(n) + subject + participle, main clause in past Konjunktiv II08Had + subject + not + past participle, subject + would have + past participleGFC008 · Had + subject + not + past participle, subject + would have + past participle / Hätte(n) + subject + nicht + participle, main clause in past Konjunktiv II09If + subject + should happen to + infinitive, main clauseGFC009 · If + subject + should happen to + infinitive, main clause / Falls + subject + zufällig + verb, main clause10Even if + subject + had + participle, subject + could not have + participleGFC010 · Even if + subject + had + participle, subject + could not have + participle / Selbst wenn + past Konjunktiv II, hätte(n) + subject + infinitive + können11Whether or not + subject + verb, main clauseGFC011 · Whether or not + subject + verb, main clause / Ob + clause + oder nicht, main clause12Permission clause + provided that + present-tense conditionGFC012 · Permission clause + provided that + present-tense condition / Permission clause, vorausgesetzt, dass + subordinate condition13But for + noun phrase, subject + would have + past participleGFC013 · But for + noun phrase, subject + would have + past participle / Ohne + noun phrase, hätte/wäre + subject + participle14Actual past clause; otherwise, subject + would have + past participleGFC014 · Actual past clause; otherwise, subject + would have + past participle / Actual past clause; sonst + hätte/wäre + subject + participle15If + subject + would + infinitive, subject + could + infinitiveGFC015 · If + subject + would + infinitive, subject + could + infinitive / Wenn + subject + bereit wäre(n), zu-infinitive, könnte(n) + subject + infinitive16Subject + wish(es) + subject + had not + past participleGFC016 · Subject + wish(es) + subject + had not + past participle / Subject + wünschte(n), subject + hätte(n) nicht + participle17Subject + would rather + different subject + had not + past participleGFC017 · Subject + would rather + different subject + had not + past participle / Subject + wäre es lieber gewesen, wenn + different subject + nicht + past Konjunktiv II18It is time + subject + past simpleGFC018 · It is time + subject + past simple / Es ist Zeit, dass + subject + present-tense clause19Suppose + subject + past-form verb, wh-word + would + subject + infinitive?GFC019 · Suppose + subject + past-form verb, wh-word + would + subject + infinitive? / Angenommen, + Konjunktiv II clause, wh-question in Konjunktiv II20Subject + wish(es) + different subject + would + infinitiveGFC020 · Subject + wish(es) + different subject + would + infinitive / Subject + wünschte(n), different subject + würde(n) + infinitive