Konjunktiv II (Subjunctive Mood) in German: Würden, Hätten, Wären Explained
- Jens Olesen
- Jan 29, 2021
- 29 min read
Updated: Aug 19
The Konjunktiv II is the German subjunctive mood used to talk about situations that are not factual – typically hypothetical, unreal or wished-for conditions. In English, we often use phrases like “would/could/should” to express these ideas. For example, “If I had time, I would help you” is expressed in German as “Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich dir helfen.” In German, there are two subjunctive forms: Konjunktiv I and Konjunktiv II. Konjunktiv I is mainly used for indirect or reported speech (e.g. Er sagte, er habe…), whereas Konjunktiv II is used for conditional statements, wishes, polite requests, advice and other unreal or counterfactual scenarios. In other words, Konjunktiv II lets us introduce unreality, possibility or politeness into our statements.
Table of Contents
What is the Konjunktiv II?
German distinguishes between the first subjunctive (Konjunktiv I) and the second subjunctive (Konjunktiv II). Konjunktiv I (mostly seen in journalism or formal indirect speech) signals that a statement is being reported from another source. For example, “Er sagte, er habe keine Zeit” (He said he had no time) uses Konjunktiv I (habe). In contrast, Konjunktiv II is used when speaking about what is not real: hypothetical situations, wishes, unlikely events or polite requests. For instance, “Wenn ich reich wäre, würde ich um die Welt reisen” (If I were rich, I would travel around the world) uses Konjunktiv II (wäre, würde reisen). In comparison to the indicative mood (which states facts or actual events), the subjunctive mood conveys that something is not real. For example, compare these sentences:
Indicative (fact): Wenn ich Zeit habe, helfe ich dir. – “When I have time, I help you.” (Here I will have time at some point, so it’s a factual statement in the indicative mood.)
Subjunctive (unreal): Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich dir helfen. – “If I had time, I would help you.” (In reality, I don’t have time – this is a hypothetical situation using Konjunktiv II.)
As a learner, you typically encounter Konjunktiv II from around the A2 level because it’s so useful for everyday polite and hypothetical expressions. Mastering Konjunktiv II will enable you to make polite requests, express wishes and regrets, talk about unreal “if” conditions, and more, much like English uses the word “would” or phrases like “I wish...”.
At Olesen Tuition, we know this topic can seem daunting at first. However, our experienced tutors guide learners through Konjunktiv II step by step. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a clear understanding of how to use the German subjunctive mood confidently in your own sentences! A simple rule is: Konjunktiv I for reported speech; Konjunktiv II for hypotheticals/hypotheticals/conditionals. English does not always make this distinction, but German does. (Most modern German speakers use Konjunktiv I primarily in writing; in everyday speech, they often substitute würden + infinitive even for indirect speech.) The Konjunktiv II is by far the more frequent subjunctive form in conversation and writing when dealing with “what if” scenarios.
When it comes to forming Konjunktiv II, German has different strategies for the present (or future hypothetical situations) and the past (hypothetical situations that would have happened). We’ll look at each in turn.
Forming the Present Konjunktiv II: würde + Infinitive (Conditional Present)
The simplest way to form the present subjunctive in German is with “würde” + infinitive. This corresponds neatly to English “would + verb.” In fact, würde is itself the Konjunktiv II form of werden (“to become”), and here it acts as a helping verb (auxiliary) for the conditional. This construction is ubiquitous in spoken and informal German for all verbs. For example:
ich würde gehen – “I would go.”
wir würden das nicht machen – “we would not do that.”
To conjugate würde, you add the regular endings (similar to simple past endings) to the stem würd-:
ich würde – I would
du würdest – you (singular informal) would
er/sie/es würde – he/she/it would
wir würden – we would
ihr würdet – you (plural informal) would
sie/Sie würden – they/You (formal) would
Most of the time, you can rely on würde + infinitive for the present Konjunktiv II in colloquial German. For example: Ich würde gern mehr Zeit mit Lesen verbringen – “I would like to spend more time reading.”
However, some very common verbs have their own standalone Konjunktiv II forms that are frequently used, especially in more formal or written German. These special forms are generally derived from the simple past (Präteritum) form of the verb, often with an added umlaut on the stem vowel (if possible), plus the same -e, -est, -e, -en, -et, -en endings as above. Don’t panic – there are not too many of these to memorise! The most important ones to remember (even at A2 level) are:
German (Infinitive) | Konjunktiv II Form | Meaning (English) |
haben | ich hätte | “would have” (noun) or “I would have done…” (with past part.) |
sein | ich wäre | “would be” |
können | ich könnte | “could” (be able to) |
müssen | ich müsste | “would have to” |
wollen | ich wollte | “would want to” |
sollen | ich sollte | “should” |
(Conjugation endings follow regular patterns: hätte, wär(e)st, hätte; wäre, wär(e)st, wäre; könnte, könntest, könnte; etc.)
For example, “Ich hätte gerne einen Kaffee” means “I would like a coffee” (literally, “I would gladly have a coffee”).
For pronunciation reasons, wollten and sollten do not have an umlaut. For regular (weak) verbs, the Präteritum and Konjunktiv II forms are often identical. In such cases, or to avoid ambiguity, the construction with "würde" + infinitive is commonly used:
Example: Ich würde meine Hausaufgaben machen. (I would do my homework.) rather than Ich machte meine Hausaufgaben.
Below, you'll find other common verbs whose conditional form is widely used in formal writing at higher levels.
Infinitive | Imperfect | Conditional |
beginnen | begann | begännen |
bringen | brachten | brächten |
essen | aß | äßen |
geben | gab | gäben |
gehen | gingen | gingen* |
kommen | kamen | kämen |
These standalone Konjunktiv-II forms are often used in formal or written German. In casual speech, however, people frequently say ich würde gehen instead of ich ginge, or ich würde kommen instead of ich käme, etc., for weaker verbs. The reason is that for many weak verbs the indicative preterite is identical to Konjunktiv II (e.g. ich machte could mean both “I made” and “I would make”), so würde+Infinitiv is safer and clearer.
For example, ich hätte Zeit means “I would have time,” and wenn ich reich wäre means “if I were rich.” It’s perfectly acceptable (and very common in speech) to use würde + infinitive for most verbs, but hätte, wäre, könnte, sollte, etc. are so common that you should learn them as stand-alone forms. They will make your German sound more natural.
Conjugation examples of key verbs in Konjunktiv II (present):
haben (to have): ich hätte, du hättest, er/sie/es hätte, wir hätten, ihr hättet, sie/Sie hätten – (“I/you/he/we/etc. would have”)
sein (to be): ich wäre, du wär(e)st, er/sie/es wäre, wir wären, ihr wärt, sie/Sie wären – (“I/you/he/we/etc. would be”)
können (to be able to): ich könnte, du könntest, ... sie könnten – (“... could”)
gehen (to go): ich ginge, du gingest, er ginge... – (“... would go”).
Würden vs Hätten vs Wären: When to Use Each
A common point of confusion is when to use würden versus hätten or wären. Here’s a quick rule of thumb:
Use würden + infinitive for most verbs to say “would (do something)”: ich würde gehen (I would go), wir würden es kaufen (we would buy it). Think of würden as the general equivalent of “would.”
Use hätten + noun (or hätte as a standalone verb) to say “would have (something)”: Ich hätte gerne ein Auto (I would have a car/I’d like to have a car). Also use hätte + past participle to say “would have done something” (this is the past conditional – see the next section on Konjunktiv II Vergangenheit). Example: Ich hätte dir geholfen (I would have helped you).
Use wären to say “would be” (or wäre for “I/he/she would be”, etc.), or wäre + past participle for “would have gone/been”. For example: Er wäre jetzt gern hier (He would be here now, if he could) or Ich wäre gekommen (I would have come).
Importantly, do not mix these up: in German, you wouldn’t say “würde haben” or “würde sein” for “would have” or “would be.” Instead, use hätte and wäre. This is a common learner mistake. For example:
Incorrect: Ich würde haben keine Zeit, wenn...
Correct: Ich hätte keine Zeit, wenn... – (“I would have no time if...”)
Likewise, to say “If I were you, I would be happy,” use wäre: Wenn ich du wäre, wäre ich glücklich. Using würde sein (...würde ich glücklich sein) is understandable and sometimes heard colloquially, but strict grammarians prefer wäre.
Another pitfall to avoid is confusing hätte (would have) with hatte (had). Ich hätte gern ein Bier means “I would like a beer” (literally “I would gladly have a beer”), whereas ich hatte ein Bier means “I had a beer.” The umlaut makes all the difference! So when being polite and ordering something, don’t drop the umlaut – say ich hätte gern....
Usage Examples and Contexts
Here are some typical situations where Konjunktiv II is used, along with sample sentences. You'll find more examples below.
Hypothetical conditions (Unreal “If” clauses):
“Wenn ich reich wäre, würde ich eine Weltreise machen.” – “If I were rich, I would take a trip around the world.”
“Wenn er mehr Zeit hätte, würde er öfter Klavier üben.” – “If he had more time, he would practice the piano more often.”
Wishes:
Using wünsche, hätte gern, könnte, sollte, etc.
“Ich wünschte, ich hätte einen Plan.” – “I wish I had a plan.”
“Ich hätte so gerne ein Eis.” – “I would so like to have an ice cream.”
“Hätte ich mehr Geld, würde ich jetzt ein Haus kaufen.” – “If only I had more money, I would buy a house now.”
Polite requests (modal + Konj II):
Often formed with modal verbs in the subjunctive. For example,
“Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen?” – “Could you please help me?” (more polite than “können” in indicative).
“Würden Sie mir einen Gefallen tun?” – “Would you do me a favor?” These soften the request.
Example: “Könnten Sie mir bitte sagen, wie ich zum Bahnhof komme?” – “Could you please tell me how to get to the train station?”
Advice or suggestions:
“An Ihrer Stelle würde ich früher ins Bett gehen.” – “In your place, I would go to bed earlier.”
“Vielleicht sollte er das Angebot annehmen.” – “Maybe he should accept the offer.”
Theoretical situations or guesses:
“Es wäre schön, wenn du dabei sein könntest.” – “It would be nice if you could be there.”
“Er würde sich freuen, wenn du ihm hilfst.” – “He would be happy if you helped him.”
“Angenommen, du hättest einen Wunsch frei, was würdest du dir wünschen?” – “Suppose you had one wish, what would you wish for?”
Here are a few concrete examples of Konjunktiv II in simple sentences:
“Ich würde meine Freunde öfter besuchen, wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte.”
(I would visit my friends more often if I had more time.)
“Wir kämen immer pünktlich an, wenn die U-Bahn nie Verspätung hätte.”
(We would always arrive on time if the subway were never late.)
“Ich würde Ihnen helfen, wenn ich es könnte.” – “I would help you if I could.”
Common Mistakes to Avoid
When learning Konjunktiv II, watch out for these pitfalls:
Using würde+haben/sein instead of hätte/wäre:
Do not say “würde haben” or “würde sein” for “would have” or “would be.” Always use hätte for “would have” and wäre for “would be”.
Dropping the Umlaut on hätte/wäre:
“Ich hätte” (Konjunktiv II) vs “ich hatte” (Präteritum). The Umlaut is crucial. “Ich hätte gern ein Bier” means “I would like a beer,” whereas “ich hatte ein Bier” means “I had a beer”.
Confusing Konjunktiv II with indicative:
Remember that in a conditional “Wenn… würde…” pattern, both clauses use Konjunktiv II. In strict grammar, “Wenn” clauses can also use Konjunktiv II or would often use Konjunktiv II in the result clause. For example, “Wenn ich du wäre, würde ich mehr lernen.” A wrong but common learner phrase is *“Wenn ich du wäre, würde ich…” – the first clause “Wenn ich du wäre” is Konjunktiv II, which is correct. Avoid mixing moods incorrectly.
Using Konjunktiv I by mistake:
Sometimes learners mistakenly apply Konjunktiv I endings to non-reporting sentences. If you are not reporting speech, you likely need Konjunktiv II or würden, not Konjunktiv I forms.
Overusing würde:
While würde+Inf is very useful, try to learn irregular forms as well. In written or formal German, using “ich ginge” or “ich hätte” sounds more natural than “ich würde gehen” or “ich würde haben”. Exposure to native content will help internalise these exceptions.
Forming the Konjunktiv II in the Past – hätte/wäre + Past Participle (Conditional Perfect)
To talk about hypothetical or unreal situations in the past, German uses the Konjunktiv II of haben or sein plus the past participle of the main verb. This is often called the conditional perfect in English – it’s how we say things like “would have done”, “would have gone”, “would have been”, etc. For example:
Ich hätte gemacht – “I would have done (it).”
Ich wäre gegangen – “I would have gone.”
In a full sentence: Wenn ich mehr Zeit gehabt hätte, hätte ich dir geholfen – “If I had had more time, I would have helped you.” Both clauses are in past Konjunktiv II here (hätte gehabt, hätte geholfen). This structure lets us express regrets or unreal outcomes in the past – things that didn’t actually happen, but we imagine what would have happened if circumstances were different.
Forming this conditional past is straightforward. The only wrinkle is choosing hätte vs wäre as the auxiliary:
Use hätte + Partizip II for most verbs (just as you use haben in the regular perfect tense). For example: ich hätte gesagt (I would have said), du hättest gewonnen (you would have won).
Use wäre + Partizip II for verbs that take sein in the perfect tense – typically verbs indicating motion or a change of state. For example: ich wäre gegangen (I would have gone), sie wäre geblieben (she would have stayed). Also use wäre for the passive voice conditional (e.g. es wäre gemacht worden – “it would have been done”).
The key is not to confuse past and present.
Present Konjunktiv II: Refers to current or future unreal situations.
Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich helfen. (If I had time, I would help.)
Past Konjunktiv II: Pertains to unreal situations or conditions in the past.
Wenn ich Zeit gehabt hätte, hätte ich geholfen. (If I had had time, I would have helped.)
In German, the choice between "haben" and "sein" as auxiliary verbs when forming the past tense depends on the type of main verb. This applies to the Perfekt (present perfect), the Plusquamperfekt (past perfect), and the Konjunktiv II past forms. Here's a more detailed breakdown of when to use each:
When to Use "Haben"
"Haben" is the most common auxiliary verb and is used in the following cases:
Transitive Verbs:
Verbs that take a direct object.
Example:
Ich habe das Buch gelesen.
(I have read the book.)
Reflexive Verbs:
Example:
Ich habe mich gewaschen.
(I have washed myself.)
Modal Verbs (in compound structures):
Example:
Ich habe arbeiten müssen.
(I had to work.)
Most Verbs that Describe States or Activities (not motion or change of state):
Example:
Wir haben die ganze Nacht getanzt.
(We danced all night.)
Sie hat die Musik gehört.
(She listened to the music.)
When to Use "Sein"
"Sein" is used with a smaller subset of verbs, specifically those that indicate motion or a change of state, as well as a few exceptions. These include:
Verbs Indicating Motion or Movement from One Place to Another:
Examples:
Ich bin nach Hause gegangen.
(I went home.)
Sie ist nach Deutschland gereist.
(She travelled to Germany.)
Verbs Indicating a Change of State or Condition:
Examples:
Er ist krank geworden.
(He became sick.)
Das Eis ist geschmolzen.
(The ice melted.)
Intransitive Verbs Without a Direct Object:
Many intransitive verbs involve motion or a change of state.
Examples:
Der Vogel ist geflogen.
(The bird flew.)
Der Baum ist gewachsen.
(The tree grew.)
Certain Irregular Verbs:
Some verbs use "sein" regardless of motion or state change.
Examples:
Ich bin gewesen.
(I have been.)
Er ist geblieben.
(He stayed.)
Examples of the Konjunktiv 2 in the Past:
Machen (to do):
Ich hätte gemacht (I would have done)
Du hättest gemacht (You would have done)
Er/sie/es hätte gemacht (He/she/it would have done)
Kommen (to come):
Ich wäre gekommen (I would have come)
Du wärest gekommen (You would have come)
Er/sie/es wäre gekommen (He/she/it would have come)
For example: Ich hätte gemacht = “I would have done (it)”, and Ich wäre gegangen = “I would have gone”. In a full sentence:
Wenn ich mehr Zeit gehabt hätte, hätte ich dir geholfen – “If I had had more time, I would have helped you.”
If you’re unsure whether a verb uses haben or sein normally, here’s a quick recap of the rule: most verbs use haben, but verbs that involve movement from one place to another or a change of state use sein (along with a few exceptions). For example, fahren (to drive) uses sein (motion), sterben (to die) uses sein (change of state), whereas machen (to do) or lernen (to learn) use haben. This same rule carries into the conditional perfect (hätte vs wäre).
Examples of Conditional Perfect:
Wenn ich früher gegangen wäre, hätte ich den Zug erreicht. – “If I had left earlier, I would have caught the train.”
Hätte ich das gewusst, wäre ich nicht gegangen. – “Had I known that, I wouldn’t have gone.”
Wenn wir mehr geübt hätten, hätten wir gewonnen. – “If we had practiced more, we would have won.”
Usage of the Konjunktiv II in the past (more on this below):
The past Konjunktiv II conveys:
Hypothetical Situations in the Past:
Wenn ich früher gegangen wäre, hätte ich den Zug erreicht. (If I had left earlier, I would have caught the train.)
Unreal Past Conditions:
Hätte ich das gewusst, wäre ich nicht gegangen. (Had I known that, I wouldn't have gone.)
Bear in mind that in subordinate clauses (like those starting with wenn or dass), the conjugated verb goes to the end. So in Wenn ich mehr Zeit gehabt hätte..., the verb hätte comes at the end of the wenn-clause. In the main clause following a conditional, the verb is at position 2 as usual (e.g. hätte ich dir geholfen, where hätte is the second element because the wenn-clause counts as element 1). I suggest you read our post on German sentence structure if you don't feel confident with this. If you drop the wenn (see below), you need inversion: Hätte ich mehr Zeit gehabt, hätte ich dir geholfen.
Modal Verbs in the Conditional Past (Advanced)
Expressing things like “would have been able to...” or “should have done...” requires a special construction in German. If you want to say could have, would have had to, should have, etc., German uses a double-infinitive construction:
hätte + [modal infinitive] + [main verb infinitive].
For example:
*Ich hätte mehr lernen müssen – “I would have had to study more.” (Literally: I would have to study more.)
*Wir hätten früher gehen können – “We could have left earlier.”
*Er hätte das sagen sollen – “He should have said that.”
Notice that we do not use a participle for the modal verb here (we say hätte... müssen not hätte gemusst). Also, in subordinate clauses, hätte doesn’t move to the very end but comes before the two infinitives (e.g. ...weil wir früher hätten gehen können.) This double-infinitive structure is a quirk of German, but you will get used to it with practice.
Konjunktiv II Quick Reference Table
To summarise the key forms of Konjunktiv II, here is a quick reference. The table shows the conjugation of würden, hätten (subjunctive of haben), and wären (subjunctive of sein) for reference:
Person | würde + Infinitiv (would ...) | hätte + Partizip (would have ...) | wäre + Partizip (would have ...) |
ich (I) | ich würde gehen I would go | ich hätte gelernt I would have learned | ich wäre gegangen I would have gone |
du (you sg.) | du würdest gehen you would go | du hättest gelernt you would have learned | du wärest gegangen you would have gone |
er/sie/es | er würde gehen he would go | er hätte gelernt he would have learned | er wäre gegangen he would have gone |
wir (we) | wir würden gehen we would go | wir hätten gelernt we would have learned | wir wären gegangen we would have gone |
ihr (you pl.) | ihr würdet gehen you all would go | ihr hättet gelernt you all would have learned | ihr wäret gegangen you all would have gone |
sie/Sie (they/You) | sie würden gehen they would go | sie hätten gelernt they/You would have learned | sie wären gegangen they/You would have gone |
Note: The forms hätte, wäre, könnte, sollte, müsste, etc. are used very often and are important to know. The form würde + Infinitiv can be used for any verb and is the go-to structure for conditional sentences in spoken German. The special Konjunktiv forms (like ginge, käme, wüsste, etc.) are more common in formal writing or literature, but not required at A2 level. At higher levels (B1+), you should recognise them, but you can almost always replace them with würde + infinitive in conversation.
Key Uses of Konjunktiv II (with Examples)
Now that we know how to form Konjunktiv II, when do we use it? Konjunktiv II is used in a variety of situations whenever we talk about things that are not reality. Below are the key contexts with examples (German sentences plus English translations) to illustrate each usage. We’ll also point out which of these uses typically appear at GCSE/A2 level (basic usage) and which ones are expanded at B1/B2 (intermediate) or C1 (advanced).
1. Polite Requests and Questions (Höfliche Bitten) – A2 Usage
One of the first uses of Konjunktiv II you’ll likely learn is making polite requests or questions. Just as English uses “Could you...?” or “I would like...” to soften commands, German uses Konjunktiv II forms to be polite and indirect. This is essential in everyday interactions – it’s the difference between sounding blunt and sounding courteous.
Common examples:
Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen? – “Could you please help me?”(Very polite request using könnten – Konjunktiv II of können, “could.”)
Könntest du das Fenster schließen? – “Could you close the window?” (informal du form)
Dürfte ich Sie bitten, mir das zu zeigen? – “May I ask you to show me that?”(Uses dürfte ich... – Konjunktiv II of dürfen, literally “might I.” This is another polite way to ask permission.)
Ich hätte gern ein Bier. – “I would like a beer.”(Literally, “I would have gladly a beer.” This is how you politely order something in German – using hätte gern to mean “would like to have.”)
Hätten Sie kurz Zeit? – “Would you have a moment (to talk)?”
In all these examples, the use of Konjunktiv II (könnten, dürfte, hätte, etc.) makes the request sound polite and indirect, rather than like a direct demand. Even at A2 level, learners should master handy phrases like “Ich hätte gern...” (I’d like...) and questions with “Könntest du...?” / “Könnten Sie...?” – these will help you navigate daily situations in German with politeness and ease.
Note: Another very common phrase is “Ich würde gern...” which also means “I would like to...” when followed by an infinitive. For example, Ich würde gern besser Deutsch sprechen – “I’d like to speak German better.” This is slightly different from hätte gern, which is usually followed by a noun (Ich hätte gern einen Kaffee). Both are polite ways to express wants.
2. Wishes and Dreams (Wünsche) – A2 Usage
Konjunktiv II is the go-to mood for expressing wishes, hopes, or unreal dreams – basically, things you wish were true but aren’t. In English, we often use phrases like “I wish I had...” or “If only...”. In German, these statements also use Konjunktiv II.
Examples:
Ich wünschte, ich hätte mehr Zeit. – “I wish I had more time.”(Literally “I wished I would have more time” – using wünschte (simple past of wünschen, “to wish”) plus Konjunktiv II form hätte.
Wenn ich nur mehr Zeit hätte! – “If only I had more time!”(Here wenn nur...! means “if only...!” It’s often used with Konjunktiv II to express an ardent wish or regret.)
Ach, wenn ich doch reich wäre... – “Oh, if only I were rich...”(The classic dream scenario – note how English uses “were” for an unreal wish (“if I were rich”), and German uses wäre.)
Ich würde so gern im Lotto gewinnen! – “I would love to win the lottery!”
Wir würden gern eine Weltreise machen. – “We’d like to travel the world.”
At A2 level, you’ll usually start with expressions like “Ich hätte gern…” (I would like…) for simple wishes (which we covered above), and maybe “Ich wünschte…” or “Wenn ich… hätte/wäre…” for expressing slightly more hypothetical desires in the present. These let you talk about dreams or unreal present situations.
For wishes about the past (things you wish had been different), German uses the past Konjunktiv II form:
Hätte ich doch mehr gelernt! – “If only I had studied more!” (Literally: “Had I only studied more!”)
Ich wünschte, ich wäre gestern zu Hause geblieben. – “I wish I had stayed home yesterday.”
Those sentences express regret about the past. They typically come up at B1 level and beyond, since they involve the conditional perfect (hätte/wäre + participle). But even at A2, understanding simple wish statements with hätte or wäre in the present context is very useful.
3. Hypothetical “If-Clauses” (Unreale Bedingungen) – B1 Usage
Talking about hypothetical conditions – the classic “if... then...” scenarios – is another major function of Konjunktiv II. In German, wenn-clauses (if-clauses) paired with würde or hätte/wäre express unreal conditions in the present or past. This is directly comparable to English sentences with “would” and “would have.”
Present Unreal Condition: Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich dir helfen. – “If I had time, I would help you.”(In reality I don’t have time, so I can’t help – purely hypothetical. Note both clauses use Konjunktiv II: hätte and würde helfen.)
Past Unreal Condition: Wenn ich Zeit gehabt hätte, hätte ich dir geholfen. – “If I had had time, I would have helped you.”(Talking about a past situation that didn’t happen – I didn’t have time, so I didn’t help. Notice the use of hätte... gehabt and hätte... geholfen to indicate the unreal past.)
Additional examples:
Wenn ich reich wäre, würde ich um die Welt reisen. – If I were rich, I would travel around the world.
Wenn wir ein Auto hätten, würden wir dich besuchen. – If we had a car, we would visit you.
Wenn ich mehr Vokabeln lernen würde, hätte ich einen breiteren Wortschatz. – If I were to study more vocabulary, I would have a broader vocabulary. (Here one clause is present hypothetical and the second uses hätte for the hypothetical result.)
Ich wäre nicht nass, wenn ich einen Regenschirm mitgenommen hätte. – I wouldn’t be wet if I had taken an umbrella with me.
Selbst wenn ich genug Geld gehabt hätte, wäre ich nicht in Urlaub gefahren. – Even if I’d had enough money, I wouldn’t have gone on holiday.
German conditional sentences follow patterns very similar to English. You can start with the wenn-clause (comma, then the result clause), or reverse the order (result clause + wenn-clause). Often, Germans even drop the wenn and use an inversion in the conditional sentence for a more concise expression. For example:
Hätte ich einen Regenschirm mitgenommen, wäre ich jetzt nicht nass. – “Had I brought an umbrella, I wouldn’t be wet now.”
This is equivalent to Wenn ich einen Regenschirm mitgenommen hätte, wäre ich jetzt nicht nass, but it omits the wenn and instead starts the sentence with the conjugated verb (hätte), followed by the subject (ich). This structure is a bit more advanced (B1/B2), but it’s good to recognise it. English does the same in formal language (“Had I known... I wouldn’t have...”).
At A2 level, you might only encounter very simple if-clauses (perhaps using wenn + würde for making suggestions like Wenn du Zeit hast, würdest du... etc., though strictly speaking that’s a bit advanced). By B1, you’ll practice a range of conditional sentences: present unreal conditions and also past unreal conditions (often called conditional II or Konjunktiv II Vergangenheit). The key is to keep tenses consistent – use present Konjunktiv II for present/future hypotheticals, and past Konjunktiv II (hätte/wäre + Partizip) for past hypotheticals.
Word Order & Comma: Remember that wenn-clauses are subordinate clauses, so the verb goes to the end in the wenn-clause. Also, a wenn-clause is separated by a comma. Example: Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich dir helfen. If you start with the result: Ich würde dir helfen, wenn ich Zeit hätte. (No inversion needed in the second version beyond the normal subordinate clause order.)
4. Suggestions and Advice (Vorschläge und Ratschläge) – A2/B1 Usage
Konjunktiv II is very handy for giving suggestions or advice in a polite, non-forceful way. In English we might say “You could do this” or “You should do that” or “If I were you, I would...”. German uses the Konjunktiv II of modal verbs or würde-phrases to achieve the same tone.
Examples:
Wir könnten morgen ins Kino gehen. – “We could go to the cinema tomorrow.”(Suggestion: using könnten (Konj. II of können) makes it a polite, tentative suggestion rather than Wir können... which is more matter-of-fact.)
Du solltest mehr Wasser trinken. – “You should drink more water.”(Advice: solltest is Konjunktiv II of sollen, expressing a recommendation. It’s softer than an imperative Trink mehr Wasser!.)
An deiner Stelle würde ich früh schlafen gehen. – “If I were in your place, I would go to bed early.”(Literally “In your place, I’d go to bed early.” This is a common way to give advice: An deiner Stelle würde ich....)
Du könntest mich morgen besuchen. – “You could visit me tomorrow.” (friendly suggestion)
An deiner Stelle würde ich mit dem Rauchen aufhören. – “If I were you, I’d quit smoking.” (advice)
These forms are often introduced toward the end of A2 or during B1. Solltest (should) and könntest (could) for advice are straightforward once you know those forms. The phrase “An deiner Stelle würde ich…” is extremely useful to know for giving advice framed as a conditional. It’s less direct than using the imperative and thus comes across more polite or considerate.
5. Würden in Reported Speech (Indirect Speech) – B2/C1 Usage
Normally, reported (indirect) speech in German uses Konjunktiv I. However, in practice, if the Konjunktiv I forms are identical to the indicative or sound too unusual, German speakers often use Konjunktiv II to report what someone said. This is more of an advanced usage, but it’s good to be aware of it as you progress.
For example, direct vs. indirect speech:
Direct: Er sagte: “Ich komme morgen.” – (He said: “I’m coming tomorrow.”)
Indirect (textbook style): Er sagte, er komme morgen. – (He said he’s coming tomorrow.) Here komme is Konjunktiv I of kommen.
If the subjunctive I form is not distinct from the indicative (e.g., ich habe is the same in indicative and Konjunktiv I), or simply to avoid confusion, one might use Konjunktiv II instead:
Indirect (using Konj. II): Sie sagte, sie hätte keine Zeit. – (She said she had no time.)(Using hätte instead of Konjunktiv I habe, to clearly indicate it’s reported speech, not a fact.)
Der Politiker behauptete, er wüsste von nichts. – (The politician claimed he knew nothing.)(wüsste is Konjunktiv II of wissen, used here instead of Konjunktiv I wisse, perhaps to emphasise uncertainty or because wisse might sound odd in speech.)olesentuition.co.uk
In everyday conversation, you will very often hear reported speech using würde or Konjunktiv II forms, because Konjunktiv I can sound formal or can be confusing if it coincides with normal verb forms. For instance: Er sagte, er würde später kommen – “He said he would come later.” This is essentially using würde like “would” in English to report speech, and it’s acceptable in all but the most formal contexts.
For learners, the takeaway is: don’t be surprised if you encounter würde or hätte in reported speech instead of the expected Konjunktiv I forms – it’s normal. At B2 or C1, if you read news or formal writing, you’ll see more strict use of Konjunktiv I, but in spoken German, Konjunktiv II is commonly used as a fallback for indirect speech.
6. “As if…” Comparisons (Unwirkliche Vergleiche mit als ob) – B1+ Usage
German often uses the construction “als ob” (or sometimes “als wenn” or “als würde”) to say “as if...” or “as though...” when making unreal comparisons. These phrases describe something that appears one way, but in reality, it’s not so. Such comparisons usually trigger the subjunctive mood (Konjunktiv II) in the subordinate clause, because you’re describing an unreal scenario.
Examples:
Du siehst so aus, als ob du nicht viel geschlafen hättest. – “You look as if you hadn’t slept much.”(Literally: “You look so (tired) as if you hadn’t slept much.” Even though we’re talking about a present appearance, we use hättest geschlafen (Konjunktiv II past) to indicate the unreality of the comparison – you did sleep, presumably, but you look like you didn’t.)
Sie tut so, als würde sie das nicht wissen. – “She acts as if she didn’t know that.”(Here als würde sie das nicht wissen literally “as if she would not know that,” is a colloquial way to say “as if she didn’t know it.” You could also say als ob sie das nicht wüsste with the same meaning. Both würde + infinitive or the specific Konjunktiv II form can be used after als ob.)
Er benimmt sich, als ob er der Chef wäre. – “He behaves as if he were the boss.”(He isn’t the boss in reality, hence wäre.)
Es war, als ob die Zeit stehen bliebe. – “It was as if time stood still.” (In a narrative, you might see Konjunktiv I bliebe, but Konjunktiv II stehen bliebe is also used to emphasize the unreality.)
The structure is: Hauptsatz + als ob + Konjunktiv II. You can use als ob for present unreal comparisons (often with Konjunktiv II Vergangenheit as in als ob du nicht geschlafen hättest above) or for past unreal comparisons (also usually Konjunktiv II in the subordinate clause).
For instance:
(Vergangenheit) Es schien, als ob sie einen Fehler gemacht hätte. – “It seemed as if she had made a mistake.” (In reality, perhaps she didn’t.)
This usage typically appears from B1 level onward, but even A2 learners might encounter fixed phrases like “als ob nichts passiert wäre” (“as if nothing had happened”) or “als ob er krank wäre” (“as if he were ill”) in context. Just remember that als ob (as if) will often be followed by a clause in subjunctive II to show that it’s not a real situation.
7. Zu… als dass Clauses (Unreal Consequences) – B2 Usage
Another advanced structure using Konjunktiv II is sentences with “...zu [Adjektiv], als dass...”. These are consecutive clauses that express a hypothetical or impossible consequence, often translated with “too... to...”. For example:
Es ist zu spät, als dass wir noch die U-Bahn benutzen könnten. – “It’s too late for us to use the underground now.” (Literally: “It is too late, for us to still be able to use the subway.”)
Das Essen ist zu teuer, als dass man es einfach wegwerfen könnte. – “The food is too expensive to just throw away.” (Literally: “... too expensive such that one could throw it away.”)
Er hat so viel Zeit, als dass er im Sommer länger verreisen könnte. – “He has so much time that he could travel for an extended period in the summer.”
In these sentences, the als dass... könnten part is effectively saying “for it to be possible that...”. It’s a formal written style, and you see Konjunktiv II (like könnten) in the second part. Many learners don’t actively use this structure, but it’s good to recognise it. If you continue to B2, you may practice building sentences with zu ... als dass for more stylistic variety.
8. Quick Note on Modal Verbs in Konjunktiv II
We touched on this earlier, but to summarise:
In the present hypothetical, modal verbs themselves take Konjunktiv II forms: ich könnte helfen (I could help), du solltest bleiben (you should stay), er müsste gehen (he would have to go).
In the past hypothetical, use the hätte + double infinitive construction: ich hätte helfen können (I could have helped), sie hätte bleiben sollen (she should have stayed), wir hätten gehen müssen (we would have had to go). No participles for modals in this case, just the infinitive form.
German modal verbs in Konjunktiv II past can be tricky because of that double infinitive. Always remember to put hätte before the two infinitives (e.g. …weil wir früher hätten fahren können – “because we could have left earlier”).
✅ Practical Tips & Common Pitfalls
By now, you’ve seen that Konjunktiv II has a lot of moving parts. Here are some practical tips and common pitfalls to help you master this topic:
Start with the basics: Master the core forms würde, hätte, and wäre first. These three will cover most situations: würde for most “would” statements, hätte for “would have”, wäre for “would be”. For example, Ich würde nach Berlin fliegen, wenn ich genug Geld hätte. (I would fly to Berlin if I had enough money.) In that sentence, you used all three: würde, hätte, and an if-clause!
Politeness pays off: Using Konjunktiv II for politeness (Ich hätte gern..., Könnten Sie...?) makes a huge difference in everyday interactionsk. Germans are generally polite, and as a learner, you’ll come across much better if you use these forms instead of blunt imperatives. Compare “Gib mir das.” (Give me that.) with “Könntest du mir das geben?” (Could you give me that?) – the latter is much more polite.
Watch your umlauts: As mentioned, hätte vs hatte or wäre vs war are not the same! The umlaut in Konjunktiv II forms (where applicable) is important. Würde vs wurde is another one: würde (with umlaut) = “would”, wurde (no umlaut) = simple past “became” or “got”. Don’t confuse “würde” and “wurde” – the umlauted würde is your conditional form.
Word order in wenn-clauses: Remember that a wenn-clause sends the verb to the end. Wenn ich Zeit hätte, käme ich mit. (If I had time, I’d come along.) Also, if you begin with the wenn-clause, put a comma between the clauses. If you begin with the result clause, no comma is needed before the wenn-clause.
No double würde: In a sentence with two clauses, avoid using würde in both if one is an if-clause. For example, not: Wenn ich Zeit würde haben, würde ich dir helfen. Instead, one side will use hätte or the specific form, and the other side würde. The correct sentence: Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich dir helfen..
Konjunktiv II vs Konjunktiv I: Don’t worry too much about Konjunktiv I (e.g. er komme, sie habe) until you’re at a higher level. Focus on Konjunktiv II usages. Just be aware not to use Konjunktiv mistakenly I forms for wishes or conditionals. For instance, Ich sei müde is Konjunktiv I (used in reported speech), not a wish. To say “I wish I were tired” (a strange wish, but for example), you’d say Ich wäre müde.
Practice out loud: A great way to get comfortable is by practising out loud. Try making up little hypothetical scenarios for yourself: Was würdest du machen, wenn du im Lotto gewinnen würdest? (What would you do if you won the lottery?), Wenn ich heute frei hätte, würde ich... etc. The more you use these forms, the more natural they’ll feel.
Common learner mistake: Using würde for haben or sein. We covered this, but to drill it in: use hätte for “would have” and wäre for “would be.” So it’s Es wäre schön, dich zu sehen (It would be nice to see you), NOT Es würde sein schön.... And Ich hätte mehr Zeit (I’d have more time), not Ich würde haben mehr Zeit.
Another common mistake: Forgetting to use Konjunktiv II at all! Beginners might say “Ich will ein Bier” when ordering, which literally means “I want a beer” – it’s grammatical, but it can sound a bit direct or rude. The polite way: “Ich hätte gern ein Bier.” Similarly, instead of “Kannst du mir helfen?” (Can you help me? – which is okay), you can soften it: “Könntest du mir helfen?” (Could you help me?). Small changes, big difference in politeness.
Finally, don’t be intimidated by the tables and rules. Practice is key: these forms might look complex, but with regular use and exposure, they’ll become second nature. Even if you make mistakes, German speakers will understand you; using Konjunktiv II correctly just takes your German to the next level of fluency and politeness.
Konjunktiv II at Different Learning Levels
To recap, here’s what to focus on at various stages of learning:
A2 Level (GCSE foundation): Stick to the basics of Konjunktiv II in the present tense. Learn to use würde + Infinitiv for simple conditional statements and master the common irregular forms like hätte, wäre, könnte, sollte. Typical A2 contexts are polite requests (Könnten Sie...? Ich hätte gern...), basic wishes and dreams (Ich wünschte... Wenn ich ... hätte/wäre... for present unreal situations), and simple suggestions (Du solltest... Wir könnten...). Don’t worry about the fancy stuff or the past tense at this stage – recognising hätte and wäre in context is usually enough in beginner exams.
B1 Level (Intermediate/GCSE higher to A-Level): Now you’ll build on this by practising conditional sentences (if-clauses) more intensively. At B1, you learn to formulate unreal conditions in both present and the past. You’ll also expand your use of Konjunktiv II with modal verbs (e.g. Ich könnte mehr lernen, du müsstest früher kommen) and use it for giving advice (An deiner Stelle würde ich...). By the end of B1, you should be comfortable talking about hypothetical situations in the past (expressing regrets or “would have” scenarios) as well as present/future hypotheticals.
B2/C1 Level (Upper Intermediate to Advanced): At these levels, you refine and add nuance to your Konjunktiv II usage. This includes knowing when to use a specific subjunctive form instead of würde in formal writing (e.g. saying er käme in a story instead of er würde kommen), mastering idiomatic structures like als ob comparisons (Er tut so, als ob er der Chef wäre – He acts as if he were the boss), and handling indirect speech with the appropriate subjunctive (deciding between Konjunktiv I and II). You’ll also encounter fixed expressions and subtle uses (e.g. “Man hätte es ahnen können.” – One could have foreseen it.). By C1, using Konjunktiv II correctly will make your German sound much more fluent, natural, and precise.
No matter the level, remember that Konjunktiv II is your friend for anything that’s not reality – be it a polite request, a wish, or a what-if scenario. It might seem complex at first, but with practice (and by comparing it to the English “would/could/should” structures you already know), it becomes a lot easier.
Conclusion: Übung macht den Meister! (Practice Makes Perfect)
Konjunktiv II opens up a whole new realm of expression in German – from politely asking for things to sharing your wildest hypothetical dreams. Start with the basics: get comfortable using würde, hätte, and wäre in simple sentences. Use English as a rough guide (think “would” or “could”), but be mindful of the specific German patterns we’ve covered (like not saying würde haben or remembering the correct word order).
As you progress to higher levels, you’ll add finesse to your subjunctive usage, but even at A2 you can communicate a lot with just a few key forms. Keep practising by crafting your own “what if” sentences and wishes in German. For example, try writing a few sentences about what you would do if you won the lottery, or polite ways to ask for help in a shop (Was würden Sie machen, wenn…? / Könnten Sie mir bitte…?). The more you use Konjunktiv II, the more natural it will feel.
Weiter so! (Keep it up!) If you need more guidance and practice, consider joining one of Olesen Tuition’s German courses. We offer weekly German classes (small group courses in London or online with 4–8 students) and intensive German courses to boost your skills. For personalised attention, you can also opt for private German lessons – perfect for mastering tricky grammar like the subjunctive with one of our experienced tutors. We even provide live online German lessons via Zoom, so you can learn from anywhere in the world with the help of our native-speaking instructors.
And don’t forget to explore our German learning blog “Auf Deutsch, bitte!” on the Olesen Tuition website – it’s full of useful articles and free resources (from A1 to C2 level) to help you on your German language journey. Check out the blog for more grammar explanations, vocabulary tips, and answers to common learner questions.
Viel Erfolg! (Good luck!)
