Bildung Des Konjunktiv 1 Und 2

The German subjunctive mood, or Konjunktiv, is a grammatical tool used to express hypothetical situations, indirect speech, wishes, and polite requests. It differs from the indicative mood (Indikativ), which describes factual statements. Understanding the Konjunktiv is crucial for achieving fluency and nuance in German, particularly in formal settings and written communication.

The Two Forms: Konjunktiv I and Konjunktiv II

There are two main forms of the subjunctive in German: Konjunktiv I and Konjunktiv II. They serve distinct purposes and are formed using different methods.

Konjunktiv I: Indirect Speech and Formal Contexts

Konjunktiv I is primarily used for indirect speech (indirekte Rede). It indicates that you are reporting what someone else said or thought, without necessarily agreeing with or endorsing the information. It is also found in formal announcements, reports, and sometimes in recipes or instructions for a more distanced and objective tone.

Formation of Konjunktiv I:

The Konjunktiv I is derived primarily from the infinitive stem of the verb, with added subjunctive endings. The endings are:

• ich: -e
• du: -est
• er/sie/es: -e
• wir: -en
• ihr: -et
• sie/Sie: -en

Let's look at some examples with the verb sagen (to say):

• ich sage (Indikativ Präsens) -> ich sage (Konjunktiv I Präsens)
• du sagst (Indikativ Präsens) -> du sagest (Konjunktiv I Präsens)
• er sagt (Indikativ Präsens) -> er sage (Konjunktiv I Präsens)
• wir sagen (Indikativ Präsens) -> wir sagen (Konjunktiv I Präsens)
• ihr sagt (Indikativ Präsens) -> ihr saget (Konjunktiv I Präsens)
• sie/Sie sagen (Indikativ Präsens) -> sie/Sie sagen (Konjunktiv I Präsens)

Important Notes on Konjunktiv I Formation:

• Irregular Verbs: Many verbs that are irregular in the indicative present tense retain their infinitive stem in the Konjunktiv I. For example, sein (to be) becomes ich sei, du seiest, er sei, wir seien, ihr seiet, sie seien. Similarly, haben (to have) becomes ich habe, du habest, er habe, wir haben, ihr habet, sie haben.
• Stem Changes: Verbs that have a stem vowel change from a to ä, o to ö, or u to ü in the present indicative generally do *not* change in the Konjunktiv I. For example, "laufen" (to run) is "er läuft" in the present indicative, but in the Konjunktiv I, it's "er laufe."
• Konjunktiv I Perfekt: The Konjunktiv I Perfekt is formed with the Konjunktiv I of haben or sein (depending on the verb) and the past participle. For example: Er habe gesagt (He supposedly said).
• Konjunktiv I Futur: The Konjunktiv I Futur is formed with the Konjunktiv I of werden (to become) and the infinitive. For example: Er werde sagen (He will supposedly say).

Using Konjunktiv I for Indirect Speech:

The main clause often uses verbs like sagen (to say), meinen (to think), glauben (to believe), or behaupten (to claim). The reported speech follows, usually introduced by dass (that). Example:

Er sagt, dass er krank sei. (He says that he is sick.)

In this example, sei is the Konjunktiv I form of sein. The speaker is reporting what "he" said, but doesn't necessarily believe it to be true.

Replacement with Konjunktiv II:

If the Konjunktiv I form is identical to the indicative present tense, it is usually replaced with the Konjunktiv II form to avoid ambiguity. For example, the Konjunktiv I of "ich bin" (I am) is "ich sei," but the Konjunktiv I of "ich mache" (I do) is "ich mache," which is identical to the indicative. In this case, one would use the Konjunktiv II: "ich machte." This ensures that the indirect speech is clearly identified.

Konjunktiv II: Hypothetical Situations, Wishes, and Politeness

Konjunktiv II expresses hypothetical situations, unreal conditions, wishes, polite requests, and suggestions. It’s often translated into English using "would" or "could." This form is generally considered more common in everyday conversation than Konjunktiv I.

Formation of Konjunktiv II:

Konjunktiv II is usually formed by taking the past tense (Präteritum) stem of the verb and adding the Konjunktiv II endings. The endings are:

• ich: -e
• du: -est
• er/sie/es: -e
• wir: -en
• ihr: -et
• sie/Sie: -en

Important: If the past tense stem has the vowels a, o, or u, these vowels are usually umlauted (ä, ö, ü).

Let's look at some examples:

• haben (to have): ich hatte (Präteritum) -> ich hätte (Konjunktiv II)
• sein (to be): ich war (Präteritum) -> ich wäre (Konjunktiv II)
• gehen (to go): ich ging (Präteritum) -> ich ginge (Konjunktiv II)
• kommen (to come): ich kam (Präteritum) -> ich käme (Konjunktiv II)
• können (can): ich konnte (Präteritum) -> ich könnte (Konjunktiv II)

würde + Infinitive:

For verbs whose Konjunktiv II form is identical to the Präteritum (past tense) or is considered awkward, a substitute form is used: würde + infinitive. This is particularly common with weak (regular) verbs. For example, the Konjunktiv II of machen (to do) *could* be machte, but this is identical to the Präteritum. So, it’s more common to say ich würde machen (I would do).

Examples:

• ich würde arbeiten (I would work)
• du würdest essen (You would eat)
• er würde reisen (He would travel)

Using Konjunktiv II:

Hypothetical Situations:

Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich ins Kino gehen. (If I had time, I would go to the cinema.)

Wishes:

Ich wünschte, ich wäre reich. (I wish I were rich.)

Polite Requests:

Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen? (Could you please help me?)

Suggestions:

Wir sollten das zusammen machen. (We should do that together.)

Konjunktiv II Perfekt: Formed with the Konjunktiv II of haben or sein and the past participle. For example: Ich hätte das gern gesehen (I would have liked to see that).

Konjunktiv II Futur: Formed with the Konjunktiv II of werden (i.e., würde) and the infinitive. For example: Ich würde das machen. (I would do that.)

Summary: Key Differences and Usage

Here's a table summarizing the key differences:

In Conclusion:

Mastering the Konjunktiv I and Konjunktiv II is an essential step towards achieving a high level of German proficiency. While the rules might seem complex at first, with practice and exposure, you will become more comfortable using these moods to express nuanced meanings and navigate formal and informal communication effectively. Remember to pay close attention to context and choose the appropriate form based on the intended message. Don't be afraid to practice, make mistakes, and learn from them. Viel Erfolg! (Good luck!)