German Phrase
Was, wenn ich mich entscheide, es nicht zu behandeln?
Meaning
The sentence asks about a possible future scenario: the speaker wonders what the consequences would be if they chose not to treat something – for example a medical condition, a problem, or a situation that needs attention.
When to use
Use this phrase when discussing decisions that could have serious or uncertain outcomes, especially in medical, technical, or personal‑well‑being contexts. It signals a thoughtful, speculative tone.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Waswennichmichentscheideesnichtzubehandeln
Was, wenn
A common way to introduce a hypothetical question, equivalent to “what if”. It is followed by a clause in the present tense.
Reflexive verb entscheiden
‘entscheiden’ is used reflexively when the subject decides for themselves: ich entscheide mich.
zu‑Infinitiv
After certain verbs and adjectives, German uses ‘zu’ + infinitive to express an action, similar to English “to …”. Here it follows ‘entscheide mich’.
Negation with nicht
‘nicht’ negates the infinitive phrase ‘zu behandeln’, meaning ‘not to treat’.
🗨In Conversation
Was, wenn ich mich entscheide, es nicht zu behandeln?
What if I decide not to treat it?
Dann sollten wir die Risiken genau abwägen und vielleicht eine zweite Meinung einholen.
Then we should weigh the risks carefully and maybe get a second opinion.
✕Common Mistakes
Was, wenn ich entscheide, es nicht zu behandeln?
The verb must be used reflexively with ‘mich’; ‘ich entscheide mich’ is correct, not ‘ich entscheide’ alone in this context.
Was, wenn ich mich entscheide, es nicht behandeln?
The infinitive needs the particle ‘zu’; dropping it makes the sentence ungrammatical.
Was, wenn ich mich entscheide, sie nicht zu behandeln?
If the antecedent is plural, you must adjust the pronoun (e.g., ‘sie nicht zu behandeln’).
↔Alternatives
Was wäre, wenn ich mich entscheide, es nicht zu behandeln?
What would happen if I decide not to treat it?
Was, wenn ich beschließe, es nicht zu behandeln?
What if I decide not to treat it?
Was, wenn ich es nicht behandele?
What if I don’t treat it?
Cultural Tip
In German, ‘Was, wenn …’ is more conversational than the more formal ‘Was wäre, wenn …’. The reflexive form ‘mich entscheiden’ is mandatory; omitting the reflexive pronoun sounds ungrammatical. In medical contexts, Germans often discuss treatment options explicitly, so using this phrase signals that you are weighing pros and cons rather than making a rash decision.