In this lesson I will explain to you the German subjunctive 2. You will learn what the subjunctive actually is and how you form it. I will write about irregularities and how the subjunctive 2 is used in spoken language.
The Subjunctive 2?
- The subjunctive 2 form describes the unreal world.
- It is mainly used when you want to imagine or wish for something that is not possible right now.
- It is also used for polite questions and statements, recommendations, suggestions, and advice.
Comparison to the Indicative
The indicative form describes the real word. What is actually happening.
- „Ich bin ein Millionär.“
The subjunctive 2 describes the unreal world. This world doesn‘t exist. It contains wishes and dreams.
- „Ich wäre so gern ein Millionär.“
Use: Subjunctive 2
For polite requests:
- „Ich hätte gern noch ein Bier.“
(= polite request/order in a restaurant.)
- „Würdest du bitte das Fenster zu machen? Mir ist kalt!“
(= polite question/request, if someone can do something.)
For wishes/dreams:
- „Ich hätte gern eine hübsche Freundin.“
(= wish)
- „Ich wünschte mir, ich wäre jetzt in der Karibik.“
(= dream)
For recommendations and suggestions:
- „Wir könnten heute Abend ins Kino gehen.“
(= suggestion for what to do tonight)
- „Du solltest für deine Prüfung morgen lernen.“
(= advice, recommendation)
Construction: Subjunctive 2
- Put the verb in simple past
- Change any „a“, „o“, „u“ to: „ä“, „ö“, „ü“
- Put an „e“ on the end for 1st and 3rd person singular (if it isn‘t already there)
| Present | Simple Past | Subjunctive 2 |
|---|---|---|
| ich bin | ich war | ich wäre |
| ich habe | ich hatte | ich hätte |
Conjugation of the most important verbs
| haben | sein | werden | können | sollen | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | hätte | wäre | würde | könnte | sollte |
| du | hättest | wär(e)st | würdest | könntest | solltest |
| er/sie/es | hätte | wäre | würde | könnte | sollte |
| wir | hätten | wären | würden | könnten | sollten |
| ihr | hättet | wäret | würdet | könntet | solltet |
| sie/Sie | hätten | wären | würden | könnten | sollten |
*“Sollen“ doesn´t get the „ö“. It keeps the regular vowel „o“.
Construction: Made Easy!
Normally, only the modal verbs, „sein“, „haben“, and „werden“ get there own subjunctive 2 form.
For all other verbs, the form „würden“ (as a helping verb) + infinitive form of the main verb is used.
- ⇒ „Ich ginge heute ins Kino.“ (rarely used)
- ⇒ „Ich würde heute ins Kino gehen.“
The second version to form the subjunctive 2 is the most used one and corresponds to the English „would“ + infinitive. Theoretically you can use this version as well for the modal verbs, „sein“ and „haben“. But it isn´t common and sounds really strange.
Further Information
- There are more possibilities to use subjunctive 2. It can be used in the past as well. Because that requires much more background knowledge of vocabulary and the different tenses I separated it into a second lecture: Subjunctive 2 Level: B1.
- You can form the subjunctive 2 with the help of the verb „werden“.
- The base of the regular construction of the subjunctive 2 is the Simple Past.
- In the past you can used the subjunctive 2 only in the perfect tense.
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