German Subjunctive II
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The subjuncitve II is mostly used to express wishes that are (currently) not possible. Additionally you can use the Subjunctive to make a request more polite.
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A good way to memorize how to form the subjunctive II is to go through the simple-past-form and add the correct ending. For example
Infinitive: gehen (to walk) → Simple past: Er ging (he walked) → Subjunctive II: Er ginge (He would walk)
Infinitive | Subjunctive II |
---|---|
Gehen | Er/Sie/Es ginge |
Lassen | Er/Sie/Es ließe |
Schlafen | Er/Sie/Es schliefe |
Stehen | Er/Sie/Es stände |
For some weak and mixed verbs the Subjunctive II doesn't differ from the normal simple past form. For these cases there is the "Würde"-Variation of the Subjunctive II. You build this form by just conjugating the word würde (would) to the correct person and adding the verb in its infinitive form. A few examples
Simple past / Normal Subjunctive II | Würde-form |
---|---|
Ich arbeitete (I worked) | Ich würde arbeiten (I would work) |
Du studiertest (You studied) | Du würdest studieren (You would study) |
Sie lernte (she learned) | Sie würde lernen (She would learn) |
You can also use the subjunctive II in the past tense. For this you have to conjugate the auxiliary word "sein / haben" and combine them with the participle 2 of the verb. A few examples
Person | Sein | Haben | Fragen |
---|---|---|---|
Ich | wäre gewesen | hätten gehabt | hätte gefragt |
Du | wärst gewesen | hättest gehabt | hättest gefragt |
Er/Sie/Es | wäre gewesen | hätte gehabt | hätte gefragt |
Wir | wären gewesen | hätten gehabt | hätten gefragt |
Ihr | wärt gewesen | hättet gehabt | hättet gefragt |
Sie | wären gewesen | hätten gehabt | hätten gefragt |
Now, that you have learned about the subjunctive II you can test your knowledge in the following exercise!
Fill in the missing subjunctive II in the blank.
It is derived from the past tense of a verb in the indicative. Recap of the subjunctive II endings:
Marion die Mathe-Aufgabe ohne Problem lösen, dachte sich der Lehrer. (können)
(Marion could solve the math exercise without any problems, thought the teacher)
Meine Mutter behauptet, sie kein Problem mit Unordnung . (haben)
(My mother says, she wouldn't have a problem with a mess)
Es ihm eine Freude unsere Familie einzuladen, meint mein Vater. (sein)
(It would be a plessure for him to invite our family, says the father)
Ihre Oma 100 Jahre auf ihrem Rücken, behauptet Lea. (haben)
(Her grandma had a 100 years behind her, claims Lea)
Die Katz alleine auf den Baum, sagte die Nachbarin. (klettern)
(Cat climbed alone on the tree, says the neighbour)
Wir uns die Putzfrau sparen, wenn wir selber sauber machen würden. (können)
(We could save us the cleaning lady, if we would clean ourselves)
Marie den ganzen Tag, sagte ihre Kollegin. (arbeiten)
(Marie would work the whole day, says her coworker)
Das Telefon den Geist aufgegeben, meinte meine Mama. (haben)
(The phone broke, claims mom)
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the Subjunctive 2
Ohne die würde-Form (without the Würde-Form):
Ich wünschte, ich jetzt am Strand. (I wish I were at the beach right now)
Ich wünschte meine besten Freundinnen jetzt hier. (I wish my best friends were here right now)
Wenn du mir gesagt , dass das eine Kostümparty ist, ich verkleidet gekommen. (If you had told me, that it's a costume party, I would have come in costume)
Wenn er dir gesagt , dass er zu spät kommt, das Essen nicht kalt gewesen. (If he had told you, that he comes late, the food wouldn't have been cold)
Ich wünschte ich (können) fließend deutsch sprechen. (I wish I could speak German fluently)
(können) Sie mir bitte eine Flasche Wasser bringen? (Could you please bring me a bottle of water)
Ich wünschte du hier! (I wish you were here)
Ich habe solchen Hunger, ich (können) gleich zwei Hauptspeisen essen. (I am so hungry I could eat two meals)
Mit der würde-Form (with the Würde-Form):
Wenn du erwachsen wärst, du vermutlich genauso handeln. (If you would be mature you would probably act the same way)
ihr lieber ins Kino gehen oder an den Strand fahren? (Would you rather go to the cinema or to the beach?)
Was du machen, wenn du nur noch 100 Tage zu leben hättest? (What would you do, if you only had a 100 days to live?)
Wohin ihr in den Urlaub fahren, wenn ihr im Lotto gewinnen ? (Where would you go, if you would win the lottery)
Fill in the missing subjunctive II in the blank.
It is derived from the past tense of a verb in the indicative. Recap of the subjunctive II endings:
Marion die Mathe-Aufgabe ohne Problem lösen, dachte sich der Lehrer. (können)
(Marion could solve the math exercise without any problems, thought the teacher)
Meine Mutter behauptet, sie kein Problem mit Unordnung . (haben)
(My mother says, she wouldn't have a problem with a mess)
Es ihm eine Freude unsere Familie einzuladen, meint mein Vater. (sein)
(It would be a plessure for him to invite our family, says the father)
Ihre Oma 100 Jahre auf ihrem Rücken, behauptet Lea. (haben)
(Her grandma had a 100 years behind her, claims Lea)
Die Katz alleine auf den Baum, sagte die Nachbarin. (klettern)
(Cat climbed alone on the tree, says the neighbour)
Wir uns die Putzfrau sparen, wenn wir selber sauber machen würden. (können)
(We could save us the cleaning lady, if we would clean ourselves)
Marie den ganzen Tag, sagte ihre Kollegin. (arbeiten)
(Marie would work the whole day, says her coworker)
Das Telefon den Geist aufgegeben, meinte meine Mama. (haben)
(The phone broke, claims mom)
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the Subjunctive 2
Ohne die würde-Form (without the Würde-Form):
Ich wünschte, ich jetzt am Strand. (I wish I were at the beach right now)
Ich wünschte meine besten Freundinnen jetzt hier. (I wish my best friends were here right now)
Wenn du mir gesagt , dass das eine Kostümparty ist, ich verkleidet gekommen. (If you had told me, that it's a costume party, I would have come in costume)
Wenn er dir gesagt , dass er zu spät kommt, das Essen nicht kalt gewesen. (If he had told you, that he comes late, the food wouldn't have been cold)
Ich wünschte ich (können) fließend deutsch sprechen. (I wish I could speak German fluently)
(können) Sie mir bitte eine Flasche Wasser bringen? (Could you please bring me a bottle of water)
Ich wünschte du hier! (I wish you were here)
Ich habe solchen Hunger, ich (können) gleich zwei Hauptspeisen essen. (I am so hungry I could eat two meals)
Mit der würde-Form (with the Würde-Form):
Wenn du erwachsen wärst, du vermutlich genauso handeln. (If you would be mature you would probably act the same way)
ihr lieber ins Kino gehen oder an den Strand fahren? (Would you rather go to the cinema or to the beach?)
Was du machen, wenn du nur noch 100 Tage zu leben hättest? (What would you do, if you only had a 100 days to live?)
Wohin ihr in den Urlaub fahren, wenn ihr im Lotto gewinnen ? (Where would you go, if you would win the lottery)
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My name is Christina and I provide German & French language lesson for children and adult beginners or intermediate who want to strengthen their language skills, improve the grammar knowledge, enrich the vocabulary and get into the German culture! I can teach in English or French!
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Fantastic opportunity to improve your German with a Native speaker. Christina is really helpful, very friendly and I would fully recommend to anyone!
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Thanks a lot Padraig ..... good luck Thank you very much Padraig and good luck
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I am a great fan of new cultures and languages.
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Don't be shy and write to me before you book a trial lesson. Together we will work out a syllabus that is tailored to your needs and goals. We will learn what is important for you at this stage and where I see room for improvement. I adapt each lesson individually to you.
Due to my eight-year stay abroad in Ireland, I have a very good knowledge of English and can also explain something to you in English or Spanish, but in my lessons we almost only speak German together.
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Hello =)
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My name is Christina and I provide German & French language lesson for children and adult beginners or intermediate who want to strengthen their language skills, improve the grammar knowledge, enrich the vocabulary and get into the German culture! I can teach in English or French!
I had experince in teaching German, English and French to foreign people so I do have a lot of useful learning material I can provide you to make it easier!
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Christina is amazing. From our first lesson I could tell that she really cared and wanted to help me prepare for my exam. I look forward to every lesson! I can't recommend her enough, she is perfect!
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Thank you dear Luke
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My name is Christina and I provide German & French language lesson for children and adult beginners or intermediate who want to strengthen their language skills, improve the grammar knowledge, enrich the vocabulary and get into the German culture! I can teach in English or French!
I had experince in teaching German, English and French to foreign people so I do have a lot of useful learning material I can provide you to make it easier!
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Fantastic opportunity to improve your German with a Native speaker. Christina is really helpful, very friendly and I would fully recommend to anyone!
Christina F.
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Thanks a lot Padraig ..... good luck Thank you very much Padraig and good luck
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So with me you can learn all the tipps to improve or learn German. I also worked as an Engineer for several years so we can as well work on your vocabulary in a technical level.
I am a great fan of new cultures and languages.
Feel free to contact me for a class :)
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Olivia has been amazing in helping learn German in a crash course fashion. She has materials for exactly the things I needed to know and helped me understand the bare minimum (which is what I was going for) to help me get my ideas across and understand the structure of what people are saying. She is a fantastic teacher.
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Montse is always energetic and interesting, she always tailor the lections on the attendants level, always keeping an eye on trying to be original and fun. Easily a 5 Star Teacher.
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Hi, I am Christin!
After training as a pastry chef and studying business administration, I traveled a lot and discovered my interest in languages. To find out more about teaching languages, I decided on further training at the Goethe Institute and completed it. During the Goethe Institute "Learn to teach German" course I was able to give individual language lessons and actively support the examination preparation for the Goethe certificate.
My lessons are needs-oriented. That means that learning goals are discussed with you and based on your level of knowledge. Whether grammar, sentence structure, pronunciation, expression or the practice of communication situations: German as a foreign and second language classes are flexible and take place in a group or one-to-one lessons with individual support and are based on your wishes and requirements. The teaching of content and topics takes place according to the respective language level. Building vocabulary, grammar and means of speaking are structured and conveyed logically building on each other. Let's get to know each other in a free trial class. I am looking forward to meeting you!
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Hello, Wie gehts? Ich heiße Anna! What can I say? Learning German language isn´t easy but I´m happy to say that I´ve chosen the right teacher for me. She is very nice and patient. She happily answered all my questions and explain things in a way you can understand easily. She gives you different homeworks in which sometimes I can´t submit on time because I´m currently undergoing surgery and therapy but she is so understanding about it. Now, I somewhat understand some German writings I´ve read without translating it, and i´m just so happy that I am making progress. Thanks Christin!
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