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I'm doing an exercise "Bilden Sie Temporalsätze mit wenn und als". With the following given words, I shall write a sentence: immer, er, mit, die Arbeit, fertig, sein (präteritum), er, in, das Kino, gehen (präteritum).

This is my answer:

Wenn er immer mit die Arbeit fertig war, ging er ins Kino.

But I can't tell whether the place of "immer" is correct.

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It has to read either

Immer wenn er mit der Arbeit fertig war, ging er ins Kino.

or

Wenn er mit der Arbeit fertig war, ging er immer ins Kino.

Er ging immer ins Kino, wenn er mit der Arbeit fertig war.

(Please note die Arbeit becomes der Arbeit when put into Dativ, as required by the verb fertig sein mit + Dativ.)


Why put immer in front? That is because immer wenn is a fixed phrase meaning each time.

And why alternatively put immer into the main clause? In German the focus of a sentence is on the first, then the last thing in it. When you put immer wenn at the front of a sentence, you put very much attention to that fact. You may not want this and put another thing into focus.

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