Konjunktiv II is the German subjunctive mood used to express hypothetical situations, wishes, and polite requests—situations that are not real but imagined or desired.
- Expresses hypotheticals, wishes, and unreal situations.
- Also used for polite requests and softening statements.
- Central to showing contrasts between reality and imagination.
Konjunktiv II is primarily used to express situations that are hypothetical, unreal, or wished-for.
When to Use Konjunktiv II
Konjunktiv II describes situations that are not real: things imagined, wished for, or that might happen under certain conditions.
- Hypothetical situations (“If I were rich…”)
- Wishes (“I wish I could fly…”)
- Polite requests (“Could you help me…”)
- Unreal comparisons (“If I were you…”)
Konjunktiv II is used for wishes, hypotheticals, and polite requests.
Forming Konjunktiv II
Regular Verbs
For most verbs, Konjunktiv II is formed from the simple past stem with special endings:
| Subject | Ending | Example: machen (to do) |
|---|---|---|
| ich | -e | ich machte → ich machte(hyp.) |
| du | -est | du machtest |
| er/sie/es | -e | er machte |
| wir | -en | wir machten |
| ihr | -et | ihr machtet |
| sie/Sie | -en | sie machten |
Note: For clarity in Konjunktiv II, an umlaut is often added to the stem vowel (if possible): mach- → mäch-
(→ ich machte → ich mächte)
Irregular Verbs
For strong (irregular) verbs, use the past tense stem and add an umlaut if possible:
| Infinitive | Past Stem | With Umlaut | Example: fahren (to drive) |
|---|---|---|---|
| fahren | fuhr | führ- | ich führte |
Modal Verbs
Modals follow the same pattern as irregular verbs:
| Infinitive | Past Stem | With Umlaut | Example: können (can) |
|---|---|---|---|
| können | konnt | könnt- | ich könnte |
Use the past stem with endings, and add an umlaut to the stem vowel if possible.
For 'fahren,' the stem is 'führ-' with umlaut for Konjunktiv II.
Examples
Hypothetical
- Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich reisen.
(If I had time, I would travel.)
Wish
- Ich wünschte, ich wäre am Meer.
(I wish I were at the sea.)
Polite Request
- Könnten Sie mir helfen?
(Could you help me?)
Unreal Condition
- Wenn er Geld gäbe, würde er ein Auto kaufen.
(If he gave money, he would buy a car.)
Exercises
- Match each situation to its use of Konjunktiv II: (a) Hypothetical, (b) Wish, (c) Polite request
- “If I won the lottery, I would buy a house.”
- “Could you please pass the salt?”
- “I wish I could speak French.”
- Form the Konjunktiv II stem for these verbs:
- machen
- sehen
- bleiben
- kaufen
- Create a hypothetical sentence with Konjunktiv II using the verb “reisen” (to travel).
Conclusion
Konjunktiv II is essential for expressing anything beyond reality: dreams, “what ifs,” and polite nuances.
- Use Konjunktiv II for unreal/hypothetical situations, wishes, and polite requests.
- Form Konjunktiv II with past tense stems and special endings, adding umlauts when possible.
- Mastery of Konjunktiv II opens up nuanced and expressive communication in German.