Wishes and hypothetical situations in German are expressed using the Konjunktiv II (subjunctive II) form of the verb. This mood shows things that are contrary to reality, desired, or imagined.
Formation Rules
Step 1: Start with Simple Past Stem
Use the simple past (preterite) stem of the verb.
- For example: haben → hatt-, sein → wär-, gehen → ging-
Step 2: Add Umlaut (if possible)
If the stem vowel is a, o, or u, add an umlaut.
- Example: hatt- → hätt-, ging- → gäng-
Step 3: Add Konjunktiv II Endings
Add single-letter endings: -e, -est, -e, -en, -et, -en
- Example: hätte, hättest, hätte, hätten, hättet, hätten
Step 4: Use Modal or Auxiliary Verbs for Complex Tenses
- For past wishes, use hätte + past participle or wäre + past participle
- For polite wishes or hypotheticals, use würde + infinitive (especially in spoken German)
Using "wenn" (if) for Hypotheticals
- Form clauses with wenn + Konjunktiv II.
- Main clause can also be in Konjunktiv II or use würde + infinitive.
- Example:
- Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, würde ich reisen.
- Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, käme ich mit.
Key Patterns for Wishes and Hypotheticals
| Example Type | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|
| Simple Wish | Ich wünschte, ich hätte mehr Zeit. | I wish I had more time. |
| Hypothetical If | Wenn ich reich wäre, kaufte ich ein Haus. | If I were rich, I would buy a house. |
| Past Regret | Wenn ich früher gekommen wäre, hätte ich dich gesehen. | If I had come earlier, I would have seen you. |
| Polite Request | Ich hätte gern ein Stück Kuchen. | I would like a piece of cake. |
Summary
- Use Konjunktiv II for all wishes and hypothetical statements.
- Use hätte/wäre + past participle for past regrets or impossible conditions.
- Use würde + infinitive as a flexible alternative (especially in speech).
- Use wenn to introduce conditional/hypothetical clauses.
Flashcards (1 of 4)
- Example Type: Simple Wish
- English Example: I wish I had more time.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
