UNIT TWENTY-THREE
Unit 23 Subjunctive forms
What is the subjunctive?
The subjunctive ‘mood’ of a verb stands in contrast to a verb in the indica-
tive ‘mood’. While the indicative form states facts: ‘I am at home’, the
subjunctive is often used in imagined situations, such as wishful thinking:
‘If only I wereat home’.Two subjunctive forms in German
There are two different subjunctive forms in German, Konjunktiv IIand
the less common Konjunktiv I:- Konjunktiv Iis based on the infinitiveform of the verb and usually
occurs in indirect speech to indicate what somebody has said:
Er sagte, er seikrank.
He said he was ill. - Konjunktiv IIderives its form from the simple past tenseand is often
used in hypothetical situations and conditional sentences:
Dannhätteich mehr Zeit.
Then I’d have more time.
Wenn ich reich wäre,müssteich nicht arbeiten gehen.
If I were rich I wouldn’t have to go to work.
It can also be used to express wishes and to add a degree of politeness:
Ichwünschte,duwäresthier.
I wish you were here.