Compare a word with a whole clause
Start with Heute bleibe ich hier. Replace the opening time word with a condition: Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich hier. The opening is longer, but it still occupies one position. Inside the opening clause, regnet has its own final position.
Weil der Bus spät kommt, warten wir hier.
Because the bus is coming late, we are waiting here.
Do not insert the main subject before the verb
In this integrated pattern, write Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich hier., not Wenn es regnet, ich bleibe hier. The comma marks a clause boundary; it does not restart the statement with an extra first position.
Wenn ich Zeit habe, besuche ich dich.
If I have time, I will visit you.
A condition is not always a repeated event
Wenn can express an open condition, a repeated occasion or a future occasion. Immer wenn makes repetition explicit. Use the surrounding meaning, not the connector alone, to interpret the sentence.
Immer wenn es kalt ist, trinke ich Tee.
Whenever it is cold, I drink tea.
Modal and separable verbs keep their other part
In Wenn es kalt ist, ziehe ich eine Jacke an., the conjugated part ziehe follows the opening clause and an remains at the end. With a modal, keep the infinitive at the end in the same way.
Wenn ich Zeit habe, möchte ich lesen.
If I have time, I would like to read.
Is dann allowed after the comma?
Yes: Wenn es regnet, dann bleibe ich hier. is a valid way to resume the condition. Learn the simple integrated pattern first, but do not conclude that every word between a comma and the main verb is an error.
Wenn du möchtest, dann kommen wir morgen.
If you would like, we will come tomorrow.
Practise this pattern
This explanation is free to read. The matching A2 block includes guided practice, a separate block check and spaced review. The first 10 blocks of each language stay free; other interactive lessons require course access or an eligible seven-day trial.
Explore this grammar blockRelated grammar
References
Original teaching prose and examples, informed by these grammar references. A2 placement is an editorial curriculum choice, not a CEFR certification.