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What is the Konjunktiv 2? (Subjunctive 2)
The Konjunktiv is one of 3 moods in German (Indicative, Imperative, Subjunctive). Every verb in every sentence falls into one of these three categories. The most common (by far!) is the indicative mood.
In German, there is the Konjunktiv 1 and the Konjunktiv 2. The Konjunktiv 2 is used to express theoretical, hypothetical, and imaginary / impossible things. It can also be used to make questions, statements, suggestions, and advice more polite.
Comparison with the Indicative Mood
The Indicative describes the real world.
- „Ich bin ein Millionär.“
The Konjunktiv 2 describes the imaginary world: wishes, dreams, hypotheticals, etc.
- „Ich wäre so gern ein Millionär.“
Uses of the Konjunktiv 2 (A2 level)
As a polite request:
- „Ich hätte gern noch ein Bier.“
(= höfliche Bitte/Bestellung in einem Restaurant.) - „Würdest du bitte das Fenster zumachen? Mir ist kalt!“
(= höfliche Frage/Bitte, ob jemand etwas tun kann.)
As a wish / dream:
- „Ich hätte gern eine hübsche Freundin.“
(= Wunsch) - „Ich wünschte mir, ich wäre jetzt in der Karibik.“
(= Traum)
As a suggestion or advice:
- „Wir könnten heute Abend ins Kino gehen.“
(= Vorschlag für die Abendplanung) - „Du solltest für deine Prüfung morgen lernen.“
(= Ratschlag, Hinweis, Tipp)
Uses of the Konjunktiv 2 (B1+)
It's also used for imaginary conditions, assumptions, unreal comparisons and unreal wishes.
As unreal conditions:
Things that won't likely happen in the real world
- „Auch wenn ich reich wäre, würde ich den Ring nicht kaufen.“
(= Ich bin nicht reich. ⇒ irreal / keine Realität ⇒ Konjunktiv 2) - „Wenn du mehr Sport gemacht hättest, wärst du nicht so dick.“
(= Vergangenheit kann man nicht ändern ⇒ irreal / keine Realität ⇒ Konjunktiv 2)
Unreal dreams and wishes:
The opposite of what's really true. Often used with "bloß," "doch," or "nur":
- „Ach, wenn ich nur nicht so dick wäre!“
(= Ich werde nicht von heute auf morgen schlank ⇒ irreal / keine Realität ⇒ Konjunktiv 2) - „Ach, wenn ich doch keinen Alkohol getrunken hätte.“
(= Wunsch etwas in der Vergangenheit zu ändern ⇒ irreal / keine Realität ⇒ Konjunktiv 2)
Unreal comparisons:
Comparisons that aren't true, like in English with "as if..." They usually include "als ob" or "als wenn."
- „Ich fühle mich, als ob ich krank wäre.“
(= In der Realität bin ich nicht krank ⇒ irreal / keine Realität ⇒ Konjunktiv 2) - „Sie tut so, als ob sie mich nicht kennen würde.“
(= nicht real, da sie mich eigtl. kennt, aber wohl nicht mag. ⇒ Konjunktiv 2)
Konjunktiv 2 in the Präsens (Present Tense)
- Put the verb in the Präteritum (German Simple Past)
- Change the vowels "a", "o", "u" to „ä“, „ö“, „ü"
- Add an "e" to the end in first and third person singular (if one is not already there)
Conjugations of the most important verbs
Sollen doesn't get the „ö“ in the Konjunktiv 2.
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Konjunktiv 2 in the Past
Follow these steps:
1. Put the verb in the Perfect Tense - "Ich habe das Spiel gesehen."
2. Change the helping verb to the Konjunktiv 2 - "Ich hätte das Spiel gesehen.“
The Past Participle stays the same.
There is no simple past form of the Konjunktiv 2.
Use in Normal Speech
Normally, only the modal verbs, "sein," "haben," and "werden" get their own Konjunktiv 2 form.
For all other verbs the conjugated version of "würden" (as helping verb) + infinitive of the main verb is used.
- ⇒ „Ich ginge heute ins Kino.“ (rarely used)
- ⇒ „Ich würde heute ins Kino gehen.“
This second way to form the Konjunktiv 2 is the more common version and corresponds to the English "would" + verb. You could theoretically use this version with the modal verbs, "sein," and "haben," but it isn’t common and doesn’t sound natural at all.
Word Order with the Konjunktiv 2
Main Clause First:
If the Main clause is in front of the Subordinate clause, everything is like normal: the conjugated verb in the main clause is in position 2, and the conjugated verb in the subordinate clause goes to the end.
Subordinate Clause First:
If the Subordinate clause is in front of the Main clause we have two options. If we use the conjunction „wenn“, everything is normal (The verb goes to the end in the Subordinate clause, and the verb in the Main clause comes right after the comma).
In spoken language, we use this second variation: without „wenn“ the verb goes to the first position. If the main clause is front of the subordinate clause, we can not drop „wenn“.
The 2nd version is usually used in situations like this:
Anna: „Mama, ich bin durch die Deutschprüfung gefallen.“
Annas Mama: „Hättest du mal mehr gelernt.“
Anna's mom is saying that Anna should have studied for the test. This version is used to say that someone should have done something different in the past (The main clause is dropped because it’s obvious).
Why? It’s shorter than...
- „Wenn du mehr gelernt hättest, wärst du nicht durch die Deutschprüfung gefallen.“
Related Topics:
Entire lesson in German only: Konjunktiv 2
You can find more lessons on Verbs here:
- Was sind Verben? (What are Verbs?)
- Starke Verben (Strong Verbs)
- „sein“ und „haben“ ("sein" and "haben")
- Reflexive Verben (Reflexive Verbs)
- Trennbare & Untrennbare Verben (Separable & Inseparable Verbs)
- Modalverben (Modal Verbs)
- Partizip 1 (Present Participle)
- Partizip 2 (Past Participle)
- Das Verb „werden” (Verb "werden")
- Das Verb „lassen” (Verb "lassen")
- Imperativ (Imperative)
- Konjunktiv 1 (Subjunctive 1)
- Das Passiv (Passive Voice)
- Vorgangspassiv (Process Passive)
- Das Passiv in allen zeitformen (Process Passive in all tenses)
- Verben ohne Passiv (Verbs without Passive voice)
- Zustandpassiv (Status Passive)
- Das unpersönliche Passiv (Impersonal Passive)
- Verben mit Ergänzungen (Verbs with Complements)
- Verben mit Nominativ (Verbs with Nominative)
- Verben mit Akkusativ (Verbs with Accusative)
- Verben mit doppeltem Akkusativ (Verbs with double Accusative)
- Verben mit Dativ (Verbs with Dative)
- Verben mit Akkusativ & Dativ (Verbs with Accusative & Dative)
- Verben mit Genitiv (Verbs with Genitive)
- Verben mit Präpositionen (Verbs with Prepositions)
Lists on the topic of German verbs:
- Die 30 wichtigsten Verben mit Vokalwechsel (The 30 most important verbs with vowel change)
- Untrennbare Präfixe (Inseparable Prefixes)
- Wechselpräfixe (Two-case Prefixes)
- Unregelmäßige Partizip 2 Formen (Irregular Participle 2 forms)
- Nomen-Verb-Verbindungen (Noun-Verb compounds)
You can find an overview of all topics under German Grammar.
Related Topics:
You can find more lessons on Verbs here:
- What are Verbs?
- Strong Verbs
- Reflexive Verbs
- Separable & Inseparable Verbs
- Modal Verbs
- The Partizip 1 (Present Participle)
- The Partizip 2 (Past Participle)
- The Verb „werden“
- The Verb „lassen“
- Imperative
- Konjunktiv 1
- „sein“ and „haben“
- Passive (Usage & Meaning)
- Passive of Action (Vorgangspassiv)
- The Passive in all Tenses (from Active to Passive)
- Verbs without Passive
- Passive of State (Zustandspassiv)
- The Impersonal Passive
- Difference between Indication and Complements
- Verbs with Nominative
- Verbs with Accusative
- Verbs with Double Accusative
- Verbs with Dative
- Verbs with Accusative & Dative
- Verbs with Genitive
- Verbs with Prepositions
Lists on the topic of German verbs:
- The 30 Most Important Verbs with Vowel change
- Inseparable Prefixes
- Change Prefixes
- Irregular Participle 2 Forms
- Noun-Verb Compounds
You can find an overview of all topics under German Grammar.
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