ob or wenn?
b1English „if“ covers both; German separates them: ob introduces an indirect yes-no question (whether), wenn a condition or a repeated moment in time (if, whenever).
ob
After verbs of asking, knowing and doubting: fragen, wissen, sich fragen, unsicher sein. Two possibilities remain open.
Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt.I don't know whether he's coming.
wenn
A condition under which something happens, or a repeated point in time. Only in the condition can it be replaced by „falls“.
Wenn er kommt, essen wir.If he comes, we'll eat.
The mistake
Ich frage ihn, wenn er Zeit hat.
Ich frage ihn, ob er Zeit hat.
With „wenn“ the sentence means: I'll ask him at the moment he has time. The question itself was meant, and that needs „ob“.
Rule of thumb
Test: does „yes or no“ fit after it? Then ob. Does „falls“ or „whenever“ fit? Then wenn.
Learn this with merke.me
Create a free account to practice this with spaced repetition and track your progress.
Start free