How Real Is a "Real" Condition?

Abstract

For many decades German grammarians have been writing about real conditions, unreal conditions and unreal subjunctives. Their statements about conditional sentences have disturbed even experienced language teachers and have quite befuddled students in elementary German courses. The following formulations are typical. A. Real Conditions: If the assumption is viewed as a reality, the indicative is used. Wenn er das Geld hat, kauft er das Buch. If he has money, he will buy the book. B. Conditions contrary to fact: If the assumption is merely supposed, the secondary subjunctive is used .Wenn er Geld hdtte, wiirde er das Buch kaufen. If he had money, he would buy the book.' Mood. When the supposition is real the verb of the conditional clause is in the indicative: Wenn ich stumm blieb, geschah es nur, weil ich iiber ein Ritsel nachgriibelte. If I remained silent (and I actually did so) it was because I was pondering over an enigma. If the case is only a supposed one, but one that can easily happen, the indicative is now used, or to indicate a little more uncertainty the past subjunctive of sollen with the infinitive of the verb: Ich gehe fort, wenn er kommt. I shall go away if he comes, or Ich gehe fort, wenn er kommen sollte. I shall go away if he should come.2 (Let the student compare this last definition with rule B above and become properly bewildered!) Unreal Conditions. The unreal potential is also used in conditional sentences in which the conclusion rests upon a condition that is not likely to be fulfilled, or upon one which is contrary to the facts in the case. The principal clause has