Intermediate German: A Grammar and Workbook

The formation and usage of Konjunktiv Iwill be explained in the following

sections.

Konjunktiv I– formation

No stem change

TheKonjunktiv Iof both regular and irregular verbs is constructed with

thestemof the verb in the infinitive+ theappropriate endings. Irregular

verbs in this construction do notchange their stem vowel.

leben fahren haben sein

leb- fahr- hab- sei-

ich -e lebe fahre habe sei

du -(e)st lebest fahrest habest sei(e)st

er/sie/es -e lebe fahre habe sei

wir -en leben fahren haben seien

ihr -(e)t lebt fahr(e)t habt seiet

Sie/sie -en leben fahren haben seien

Note that seindoesn’t add an -ein the ichander/sie/esforms.

Konjunktiv I– usage

Konjunktiv Iin use

Konjunktiv Iis mainly used in written texts such as newspaper articles,

reports, essays etc. to signal indirect speech.

Here are some examples of how direct speechcan be transformed into

indirect speech, using a Konjunktiv Iconstruction:

Direct speech Madonna sagte:„Ich wohne gern in London.“

Indirect speech Madonna sagte, sie wohne gern in London.

Madonna said she liked living in London.

Direct speech Sie betonten: „Wir sind nur gute Freunde.“

Indirect speech Sie betonten, sie seien nur gute Freunde.

They emphasised they were only good friends.

Note that in German, there is always a commaseparating the two parts

of the sentence in indirect speech.

Unit 24: Indirect speech 181

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