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B2Verbs

Subjunctive I

Subjunctive I is mainly used in reported speech, especially in news reports and formal texts.

Take a look

Der Minister sagte, die Lage sei ernst.

The minister said the situation was serious.

Take a look

  • Der Minister sagte, die Lage sei ernst.The minister said the situation was serious.
  • Die Zeitung berichtet, der Präsident reise morgen ab.The newspaper reports that the president is leaving tomorrow.
  • Man nehme 200g Mehl und 3 Eier.Take 200g of flour and 3 eggs.
  • Er sagte, sie hätten keine Zeit.He said they had no time.

The rule

Subjunctive I is mainly used in reported speech, especially in news reports and formal texts. It is formed from the infinitive stem: stem + -e, -est, -e, -en, -et, -en. When the form is identical to the indicative, subjunctive II is used instead. Subjunctive I is formed from the infinitive stem: kommen → komm-e, komm-est, komm-e. It is used in reported speech in news reports and formal texts. When subjunctive I = indicative (e.g. 1st/3rd person plural), subjunctive II is used: sie kommen → sie kämen. Subjunctive I of 'sein' is special: sei, seist/seiest, sei, seien, seiet, seien. In recipes and instructions, subjunctive I is used as an instruction: Man nehme zwei Eier.

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The forms

Subjunctive I (Konjunktiv I)

Personseinhabenkommen
ichseihabe → hättekomme → käme
duseisthabestkommest
er / sie / esseihabekomme
wirseienhaben → hättenkommen → kämen
ihrseiethabetkommet
sie / Sieseienhaben → hättenkommen → kämen

Quick check

B2
  1. Form subjunctive I.haben (he)
  2. Insert subjunctive I.Die Sprecherin sagte, die Verhandlungen ___ gut. (to run)
  3. Choose the correct form.Der Arzt sagte, der Patient ___ mehr Wasser trinken. (should)
  4. Correct the mistake.Er sagte, er haben keine Zeit.
  5. Insert subjunctive I.Die Nachricht besagt, der Präsident ___ morgen nach Berlin. (to travel)
  6. Why subjunctive II instead of I?Er berichtet, die Studenten ___ fleißig. (to work, plural)
  7. Form subjunctive I.sein (we)

The answers appear after “Check”.

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← Grammar

Verbs

A1Sein and habenWhy is it “ich bin” but “er ist”?A1Separable verbsWhy is “auf” at the end?A2Können, müssen and wollenWhy does “sein” appear after “muss”?A2Reflexive verbsWhy is mich in “Ich freue mich auf das Wochenende”?B1Passive voiceThe passive voice is used when the action is more important than who performs it.B1Subjunctive IISubjunctive II expresses unreal situations, wishes, polite requests, and hypothetical conditions.
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