I. Theory
In German, the subjunctive mainly appears in two instances: in written news reports and in reported indirect speech. Where tenses convey the time in which an action occurs, moods are used to show the manner: commands, doubts, etc. The Konjunktiv 1 is equated to the English subjunctive where the Konjunktiv 2 is equated to the English conditional tense- which is discussed in another lesson. It is used to show alleged events in the past, present, or future. However, it is usually not found in oral conversation.| Er ist krank (indicative). He is sick. Er sagt, er sei krank (subjunctive). He says that he is sick. Das Unternehmen wird verkauft (indicative). The company will be sold. Der Vorstandsvorsitzende hat angekündigt, dass das Unternehmen verkauft werde (subjunctive). The CEO has announced that the company will be sold. Der Brand ist um Mitternacht ausgebrochen (indicative). The fire broke out at midnight. Zeugen sagten aus, der Brand sei um Mitternacht ausgebrochen (subjunctive). Witnesses say that the fire broke out at midnight. |
II. Formation
The formation of the Konjunktiv 1 involves adding the following endings to the verb’s stem: -e, -st, -en, or -et. Unless the verb’s stem vowel changes in the present tense conjugation (seen with tragen, fahren, sehen, etc.) or the verb is irregular, the subjunctive does not appear any different than the indicative mood in most situations. However, in the third person singular, the distinct -e ending appears.Here, we see haben conjugated in the subjunctive:
| ich | habe | wir | haben |
| du | habest | ihr | habet |
| er/sie/es | habe | sie/Sie | haben |
| Du hast kein Geld (indicative). You have no money. Er spricht nicht mit ihr (indicative). He doesn’t speak with her. Sie sagte mir, dass ihre Stelle aufgegeben habe (subjunctive). She told me that she left her job. Er sagt, dass er nicht mit ihr spreche (subjunctive). He says he doesn’t speak to her. |
III. Sein
The verb to be is the only German verb that has a full set of forms for the subjective:| ich | sei | wir | seien |
| du | seist | ihr | seiet |
| er/sie/es | sei | sie/Sie | seien |
Sein is found in the subjunctive in many expressions:
| Gott sei Dank! Thank God! Wir wandern morgen, es sei denn, es schneit. We are hiking tomorrow, unless it snows. So sei es! So be it! |
IV. Past, Future, and Modals
Auxiliary verbs can also be put into the subjunctive. These are also formed by taking the verb’s stem and adding the endings corresponding to each subject.| Sie erzählte mir, dass sie ihn gestern gesehen habe. She told me that she saw him yesterday. Er müsse arbeiten und kann daher nicht kommen. He (apparently) has to work and thus cannot come. Der Chef sagte ihm, dass die Firma einen neuen Rechtsanwalt anstellen werde. The boss told him that the firm is will be hiring a new lawyer. |