Word Frequency (Worthäufigkeit) #101
Word (Wort)

ob

Translation (Übersetzung) whether, if
Pronunciation (Aussprache) [ɔp]
A2
Conjunctions
Beginner
Neutral
Tags (Tags)
grammar most-common conjunction subordinate question
Subordinating conjunction meaning 'whether' or 'if'. Introduces indirect questions and conditional clauses. Verb goes to end. One hundred and first most frequent word in German.

ob - German Conjunctions - ob Meaning - ob Translation - ob Conjunctions Examples

ob is a German Conjunctions

Learn ob meaning, translation, pronunciation, and usage examples. ob is classified as a Conjunction in German grammar.

ob Examples (Beispiele) in English

ob examples with English translations. See how to use ob in sentences. ob example sentences in English below.

Ich frage, ob er kommt.
I ask whether he's coming.
indirect question
Ich weiß nicht, ob es wahr ist.
I don't know if it's true.
uncertainty
Es ist unklar, ob wir gehen können.
It's unclear whether we can go.
uncertainty
Ich frage mich, ob das richtig ist.
I wonder if that's correct.
doubt
Ob er kommt oder nicht, ist egal.
Whether he comes or not doesn't matter.
alternative
Ich weiß nicht, ob ich gehen soll.
I don't know whether I should go.
indecision
Es ist fraglich, ob das funktioniert.
It's questionable whether that works.
doubt
Ob es regnet, gehe ich spazieren.
Whether it rains or not, I'm going for a walk.
conditional

ob — common mistakes (English)

Learner-focused corrections for ob — typical errors vs. correct German, with short explanations.

  • ob (verb position)
    ob (verb goes to end: 'Ich frage, ob er kommt')
    Subordinating conjunction - verb goes to end: 'Ich frage, ob er kommt' (I ask whether he's coming)
  • ob (confusing with 'wenn')
    ob (whether - indirect question) vs. wenn (if/when - conditional)
    'Ob' introduces indirect questions (whether), 'wenn' introduces conditions (if/when): 'Ich frage, ob er kommt' vs. 'Wenn er kommt, sehe ich ihn'
  • ob (confusing with 'dass')
    ob (whether - uncertainty) vs. dass (that - certainty)
    'Ob' expresses uncertainty (whether), 'dass' expresses certainty (that): 'Ich weiß nicht, ob er kommt' vs. 'Ich weiß, dass er kommt'

ob Word Family - ob Related Words - ob Family Members

ob Word Family (Wortfamilie)

ob word family includes related words, derivatives, and word forms. Learn ob family members with meanings, translations, and usage. Explore ob related words and expand your German vocabulary.

Compound Form (Verbindungsform)
obwohl
Meaning: although, even though
Usage: although, even though (compound form with 'ob')
Example: Obwohl es regnet, gehe ich.
Conjunction
obgleich
Meaning: although, even though
Usage: although, even though (formal, compound form with 'ob')
Example: Obgleich es schwierig ist, mache ich es.
Conjunction
obschon
Meaning: although, even though
Usage: although, even though (formal, compound form with 'ob')
Example: Obschon es spät ist, arbeite ich weiter.
Conjunction
Related Conjunction (Verwandte Konjunktion)
dass
Meaning: that
Usage: that (different usage - statement vs. indirect question)
Example: Ich weiß, dass er kommt.
Conjunction
wenn
Meaning: when, if
Usage: when, if (conditional, different usage - condition vs. indirect question)
Example: Wenn es regnet, bleibe ich.
Conjunction
falls
Meaning: if, in case
Usage: if, in case (conditional, different usage - condition vs. indirect question)
Example: Falls es regnet, nehme ich einen Schirm.
Conjunction
weil
Meaning: because
Usage: because (causal, different usage - reason vs. indirect question)
Example: Ich bleibe, weil es regnet.
Conjunction
Related Question Word (Verwandtes Fragewort)
was
Meaning: what
Usage: what (direct question vs. indirect question with 'ob')
Example: Was machst du? vs. Ich frage, ob du kommst.
Pronoun
wie
Meaning: how
Usage: how (direct question vs. indirect question with 'ob')
Example: Wie geht es dir? vs. Ich frage, ob es dir gut geht.
Pronoun
warum
Meaning: why
Usage: why (direct question vs. indirect question with 'ob')
Example: Warum kommst du? vs. Ich frage, ob du kommst.
Pronoun

ob Usage - ob Collocations - ob Idioms - ob Synonyms - ob Antonyms

ob Usage & Related Words (Verwendung & verwandte Wörter)

Learn how to use ob in context. Discover ob collocations (common word combinations), idioms, synonyms, and antonyms. Master ob usage patterns and expand your German vocabulary with related words.

ob Collocations (Kollokationen)

ob collocations are common word combinations that native speakers use. Learn ob word combinations and how to use ob with other words naturally.

ob es
whether it, if it
High frequency
ob ich
whether I, if I
High frequency
ob er
whether he, if he
High frequency
ob sie
whether she/they, if she/they
High frequency
ob wir
whether we, if we
High frequency
ob du
whether you, if you
High frequency
ob man
whether one, if one
High frequency
ob das
whether that, if that
High frequency
ob nicht
whether not, if not
High frequency
ob schon
whether already, if already
High frequency
ob auch
whether also, if also
High frequency
ob vielleicht
whether maybe, if maybe
High frequency
ob wohl
whether, if (with emphasis)
Medium frequency
ob überhaupt
whether at all, if at all
Medium frequency
ob noch
whether still, if still
High frequency

ob Idioms (Redewendungen)

ob idioms and expressions. Learn German idioms containing ob with meanings and explanations. Master ob expressions used in everyday German.

ob es so ist
whether it is so, if it is so
Expressing uncertainty about a situation
ob es geht
whether it works, if it's possible
Asking about possibility or feasibility
ob es nicht geht
whether it doesn't work, if it's not possible
Expressing doubt about possibility
ob es sein kann
whether it can be, if it's possible
Questioning possibility
ob es sein muss
whether it must be, if it has to be
Questioning necessity
ob es so sein soll
whether it should be so, if it should be so
Questioning expectation or requirement
ob es nicht anders geht
whether there's no other way, if there's no alternative
Questioning alternatives
ob es wahr ist
whether it's true, if it's true
Questioning truth or validity
ob es stimmt
whether it's correct, if it's true
Questioning correctness or truth
ob es möglich ist
whether it's possible, if it's possible
Questioning possibility

ob Synonyms (Synonyme)

ob synonyms - words with similar meanings. Find alternative words for ob and expand your German vocabulary. Learn ob similar words and their usage.

dass
Meaning: that
Medium similarity
wenn
Meaning: when, if
Medium similarity
falls
Meaning: if, in case
Medium similarity

ob Antonyms (Antonyme)

ob antonyms - opposite words. Learn words with opposite meanings to ob. Discover ob opposite words and expand your German vocabulary.

dass
Meaning: that

ob Semantically Related Words - ob Contextually Related Words - ob Thematically Related Words

ob Semantically Related Words (Semantisch verwandte Wörter)

ob semantically related words - words that are conceptually or thematically related to ob. Explore ob related vocabulary and discover words in the same semantic field. Learn ob contextually related words to expand your German vocabulary.

dass wenn falls weil obwohl obgleich obschon was wie warum Konjunktion

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