Subjunctive II
Subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II) is used for hypothetical situations, wishes, polite requests, and conditional sentences.
It's also sometimes used instead of Subjunctive I in indirect speech for clarity.
This lesson covers how to form and use Subjunctive II in German.
Explanation
Subjunctive II is often formed from the simple past stem with umlauts and specific endings: 'ich wäre' (I would be), 'ich hätte' (I would have), 'ich käme' (I would come).
For weak verbs, Subjunctive II looks like simple past: 'ich lernte' (I learned/would learn).
Common forms: 'wäre' (would be), 'hätte' (would have), 'könnte' (could), 'müsste' (would have to), 'sollte' (should), 'würde' (would).
Subjunctive II is used in conditional sentences: 'Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich lernen' (If I had time, I would learn).
'Würde' + infinitive is often used instead of Subjunctive II forms, especially in spoken German: 'Ich würde lernen' (I would learn).
Subjunctive II - Common Forms
| Verb | Subjunctive II | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| sein | wäre | Ich wäre glücklich | I would be happy |
| haben | hätte | Ich hätte Zeit | I would have time |
| können | könnte | Ich könnte kommen | I could come |
| müssen | müsste | Ich müsste lernen | I would have to learn |
| sollen | sollte | Ich sollte gehen | I should go |
| werden | würde | Ich würde lernen | I would learn |
Examples
Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich lernen.
If I had time, I would learn.
Ich wäre gerne in Berlin.
I would like to be in Berlin.
Könntest du mir helfen?
Could you help me? (polite request)
Ich würde es tun, wenn ich könnte.
I would do it if I could.
Common Mistakes
Wenn ich Zeit habe, lerne ich
Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich lernen
For hypothetical situations, use Subjunctive II: 'hätte' and 'würde lernen', not present tense.
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding with interactive exercises. Practice makes perfect!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which article to use?
German articles (der, die, das) depend on the gender of the noun. While there are some patterns, many nouns must be memorized. Practice and exposure to German will help you learn them naturally.
What's the difference between definite and indefinite articles?
Definite articles (der, die, das) mean 'the' and refer to specific things. Indefinite articles (ein, eine) mean 'a/an' and refer to non-specific things. Both must match the noun's gender: use 'ein' for masculine/neuter and 'eine' for feminine.
Are there rules for determining noun gender?
While there are some helpful patterns (e.g., words ending in -ung are usually feminine), there are many exceptions. The best approach is to learn nouns with their articles from the beginning.
What happens if I use the wrong article?
While using the wrong article is a common mistake, native speakers will usually still understand you. However, using the correct article is important for sounding natural and fluent in German.