Conditional
The conditional mood (der Konjunktiv II) expresses what would happen, softens requests, and marks unreal or polite scenarios. It often draws on past forms for added distance.
Formation
The conditional normally forms with würde + infinitive, but strong verbs and common modals have native Konjunktiv II forms from the imperfect or the auxiliary sein/haben.Using würde is safe for weaker verbs and clear for learners.
| German Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🌧️ Wenn es morgen regnet, würde ich zu Hause bleiben. | If it rains tomorrow, I would stay at home. | Conditional with wenn clause |
| 🌇 Ich würde ins Café gehen, wenn die Sonne untergeht. | I would go to the café if the sun sets. | Time setting in condition |
| 🌬️ Falls der Wind zu stark ist, würde ich das Fenster schließen. | If the wind is too strong, I would close the window. | Conditional response to weather |
| 🗑️ Wenn die Straße voll Müll wäre, würde ich nicht dort entlang gehen. | If the street were full of trash, I would not walk there. | Subjunctive for hypothetical |
Usage
Use the conditional for hypothetical results, polite requests, and imagined actions. For counterfactuals, pair Konjunktiv II with relevant time markers or use the conditional perfect to show an unreal past.
| German Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🌧️ Ich würde das Spiel verschieben, wenn es regnet. | I would postpone the game if it rains. | Conditional polite notice |
| 🧺 Wir würden später was essen, wenn ihr zuerst die Wäsche macht. | We would eat later if you do the laundry first. | Conditional with condition on another action |
| 📬 Könntest du mir sagen, ob das Paket angekommen wäre? | Could you tell me if the package would have arrived? | Conditional polite request |
| 🛠️ Man würde das Problem leichter lösen, wenn alle zusammenarbeiten. | One would solve the problem more easily if everyone worked together. | General conditional statement |
Konjunktiv II vs. Würde
Konjunktiv II is more concise and stylistically elevated when you use the verb's special form; würde works universally and sounds more natural in speech for complex or less common verbs.Learn to recognize when each is preferred.
| German Example | English Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 🌧️ Wäre das Wetter schöner, gingen wir wandern. | If the weather were nicer, we would go hiking. | Direct subjunctive |
| 🌧️ Wenn das Wetter schöner wäre, würden wir wandern gehen. | If the weather were nicer, we would go hiking. | würde + infinitive |
| 🌪️ Der Wind käme aus Osten, würde das Meer ruhiger sein. | The wind would come from the east if the sea were calmer. | Inversion with würde |
| 🌪️ Würde der Wind aus Osten kommen, wäre das Meer ruhiger. | If the wind came from the east, the sea would be calmer. | Alternative word order |
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Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs in the conditional come from their Konjunktiv II stems, which typically alter the vowel and add an Umlaut where possible.These forms appear in high-register conditionals and in set phrases.
sein / haben
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌧️ Wäre ich heute nicht krank, könnte ich draußen spielen. | If I were not sick today, I could play outside. |
| ☂️ Hätte ich einen Regenschirm, würde ich länger spazieren gehen. | If I had an umbrella, I would go for a longer walk. |
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können / müssen / dürfen
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌧️ Könntest du mir die Decke reichen? | Could you pass me the blanket? |
| ⏰ Müssten wir bei Regen früher nach Hause gehen? | Would we have to go home earlier if it rains? |
| 🌳 Dürften wir im Park auch bei leichtem Regen spielen? | Would we be allowed to play in the park even with light rain? |
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würden / wissen / geben
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🗺️ Würden Sie mir den Weg zum nächsten Café zeigen? | Would you show me the way to the nearest café? |
| ❓ Wüsste ich, wann der Regen aufhört, würde ich den Rasen gießen. | If I knew when the rain stops, I would water the lawn. |
| 🧴 Würde mir jemand etwas Wasser geben? | Would someone give me some water? |
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Signal Words
Signal words like falls, wenn, ansonsten, and time adverbs help determine whether to use the conditional, the subjunctive, or the indicative in each clause.They guide listeners on real versus imagined scenarios.
| German Example | English Translation |
|---|---|
| 🌧️ Wenn es regnet, bleiben wir drinnen. | If it rains, we stay inside. |
| ☀️ Falls die Sonne scheint, gehen wir zum See. | In case the sun shines, we go to the lake. |
| 🌈 Wäre das Wetter besser, könnten wir Picknick machen. | If the weather were better, we could have a picnic. |
| ⏳ Nachdem es aufgehört hatte zu regnen, gingen wir spazieren. | After it stopped raining, we went for a walk. |
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Summary
The conditional (Konjunktiv II) frames hypotheticals, polite requests, and unreal situations.Master key signal words and practice both native subjunctive forms and würde per your level.
Last updated: Sun Sep 14, 2025