Konjunktiv II Explained: Mastering the German Subjunctive Mood (Present & Past)

What is Konjunktiv II (German Subjunctive Mood)?

The Konjunktiv II is the German subjunctive mood used to talk about hypothetical or unreal situations. Unlike the indicative mood (which states facts), the subjunctive conveys that something is not real – it might be a wish, a hypothetical idea, or a polite request. In other words, we use Konjunktiv II to give our statements an element of fantasy, impossibility, or doubt. For example, compare these sentences:

• Indicative: Wenn ich Zeit habe, helfe ich dir. (When I have time, I help you.) – This is a factual statement (I will have time at some point) in the indicative mood.

• Subjunctive: Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich dir helfen. (If I had time, I would help you.) – This is a hypothetical situation (in reality, I don’t have time) using Konjunktiv II.

German actually has two subjunctive forms: Konjunktiv I (used mainly for reported speech) and Konjunktiv II (used for conditionals and unreality). As a German learner, you typically start learning Konjunktiv II at the A2 level, because it’s essential for everyday polite and hypothetical expression. Mastering Konjunktiv II will enable you to make polite requests, express wishes, talk about unreal “if” conditions, and more, much like English uses the word “would” or phrases like “I wish…”. This article will focus on the Konjunktiv II (often referred to as the German conditional), covering both its present form (würde + infinitive) and past form (hätte/wäre + past participle), with numerous examples in various contexts.

(Note: Konjunktiv I, the form for indirect speech, is a more advanced topic – at A2, you mainly need to recognise it. Active use of Konjunktiv II, however, is essential from A2.

Explaining the Konjunktiv in German

German intensive course near me

Forming the Konjunktiv II – Present vs. Past

Konjunktiv II Present (Gegenwart): The simplest way to form the present subjunctive in German is with “würde” + infinitive, which corresponds to English “would + verb”. The verb würde is actually the subjunctive form of werden (to become) and it’s used as an auxiliary. This construction is extremely common in spoken German for all verbs. For example, ich würde gehen means “I would go.” To conjugate würde, add the regular endings (similar to the simple past endings) to the stem würd-:

ich	würde
du	würdest
er, sie, es, man	würde
wir	würden
ihr	würdet
sie, Sie	würden

• ich würde – I would

• du würdest – you would

• er/sie/es würde – he/she/it would

• wir würden – we would

• ihr würdet – you (pl.) 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 common verbs have their own Konjunktiv II forms that are frequently used (especially in more formal or written German). These forms are generally derived from the simple past (Präteritum) with an added umlaut on the stem vowel (if possible) and the same endings as above. The most important ones to remember at A2 are

haben → hätte (“would have”)

sein → wäre (“would be”)

and the modal verbs like

können → könnte (“could”),

müssen → müsste (“would have to”)

dürfen → dürfte (“may/might be allowed”)

sollen → sollte (“should”).

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.

The conjugation of the Konjunktiv 2 is as follows:

ich	würde
du	würdest
er, sie, es, man	würde
wir	würden
ihr	würdet
sie, Sie	würden

Other Examples:

• Haben (to have):

  • Ich hätte (I would have)

  • Du hättest (You would have)

  • Er/sie/es hätte (He/she/it would have)

• Sein (to be):

  • Ich wäre (I would be)

  • Du wärest (You would be)

  • Er/sie/es wäre (He/she/it would be)

• Gehen (to go):

  • Ich ginge (I would go)

  • Du gingest (You would go)

  • Er/sie/es ginge (He/she/it would go)

Below, you'll find the most common verbs whose conditional form is widely used in formal writing.

Infinitive	Imperfect	Conditional
sein	waren	wären
haben	hatten	hätten
müssen	mussten	müssten
können	konnten	könnten
mögen	mochten	möchten
dürfen	durften	dürften
wollen	wollten	wollten*
sollen	sollten	sollten*
beginnen	begann	begännen
bringen	brachten	brächten
essen	aß	äßen
geben	gab	gäben
gehen	gingen	gingen*
kommen	kamen	kämen

For pronunciation reasons, wollten, sollten, and gingen 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 machen (I would do)

Let's now look at some examples of the Konjunktiv 2 in the present tense:

Ich würde meine Freunde öfter besuchen, wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte.

(I would visit my friends more often if I had the time)

Wir kämen immer pünktlich an, wenn die U-Bahn nie Verspätung hätte.

(We would always arrive on time, if the underground were never late)

Ich würde Ihnen helfen, wenn ich es könnte.

(I would help you if I could)

Usage of the Konjunktiv II in the present tense

The present Konjunktiv II expresses:

• Hypothetical Situations:

  • Wenn ich reich wäre, würde ich um die Welt reisen. (If I were rich, I would travel around the world.)

• Polite Requests or Suggestions:

  • Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen? (Could you please help me?)

• Unreal Conditions:

  • Wenn ich Zeit hätte, käme ich mit. (If I had time, I would come along.)

Konjunktiv II Past (Vergangenheit): To talk about hypothetical or unreal situations in the past, German uses the Konjunktiv II of “haben” or “sein” + the past participle of the main verb. This is often called the conditional perfect in English, and it corresponds to English phrases like “would have done”:

• Use hätte + Partizip II for most verbs (just as you use haben in normal perfect tense).

• Use wäre + Partizip II for verbs that use sein in the perfect tense (typically verbs of motion or change of state).

In German, the choice between "haben" and "sein" as auxiliary verbs when forming the past tense depends on the type of main verb and the context of the action. This applies to the Perfekt (present perfect), the Plusquamperfekt (past perfect), and the Konjunktiv II past forms. Here's a 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 that 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.”

Just like in English, this form lets us express regrets or unreal outcomes in the past.

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.

Usage of the Konjunktiv II in the past

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.)

Key Distinctions:

• 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.)

When to Use Konjunktiv II – Key Contexts and Examples

Now that we know how to form Konjunktiv II, when do we use it? Konjunktiv II is used for a variety of situations where we talk about things that are not real. Below are the key contexts with examples (German sentences with English equivalents) to help you understand each usage. We’ll also note which of these usages are introduced at A2 level and which are expanded at B1 or higher.

Polite Requests and Questions (Höfliche Bitten) – A2 Usage

One of the first uses of Konjunktiv II you’ll learn is making polite requests or questions. Just as English uses “Could you...?” or “I would like...” to be polite, German uses Konjunktiv II forms to soften commands and question sentences. This is essential in everyday interactions.

• Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen? – Could you please help me?(Very polite request using könnten – Konjunktiv II of können. This structure is often taught early on for politeness.)

• Dürfte ich Sie bitten, das Fenster zu öffnen? – May I ask you to open the window? (Another polite phrasing: dürfte ich... is Konjunktiv II of dürfen, effectively “might I...”)

• Ich hätte gern ein Bier. – I would like a beer. (Literally “I would have gladly a beer.” This is how you politely order something – using hätte gern, meaning “would like to have”.)

• Könnten Sie mir bitte sagen, wieviel Uhr es ist? (Could you please tell me what time it is?)

• Hätten Sie kurz Zeit? (Would you have a moment?)

  
  

In these examples, the use of Konjunktiv II (könnten, dürfte, hätte) makes the request sound polite and indirect, rather than a direct command. A2 learners should master phrases like “Ich hätte gern...” (I’d like...) and questions with “Könntest du...?” or “Könnten Sie...?” to navigate everyday situations politely.

Wishes and Unreal Dreams (Wünsche) – A2 Usage

Konjunktiv II is also the go-to mood for expressing wishes, hopes or unreal dreams – things you wish were true but are not. In English, we often say “I wish I had…” or “If only…”, and in German, these statements use Konjunktiv II.

• Ich wünschte, ich hätte mehr Zeit. – I wish I had more time.(Literally “I wished I would have more time” – use wünschte as the past form of wünschen plus Konjunktiv II for the wish itself.)

• Wenn ich nur mehr Zeit hätte! – *If only I had more time!(The words "wenn nur...!" or "wenn doch...!" mean "if only...!" and are often used with Konjunktiv II to express an ardent wish.)

• Ach, wenn ich reich wäre... – Oh, if I were rich…(Classic dreaming – note how English uses “were” for an unreal wish, and German uses wäre.)

• Ich würde gern im Lotto gewinnen! (I would like to win the lottery)

• Wir würden gern in Urlaub fliegen. (We would like to go on holiday)

  
  

At A2 level, you will encounter structures like “Ich hätte gern…” (I would like…) for simple wishes, and “Ich wünschte…” or “Wenn ich … hätte/wäre…” for more hypothetical wishes. These let you talk about dreams or desires in the present. For wishes about the past (something you wish had been different), you use the past Konjunktiv II:

• 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.

Such sentences express regret about the past. These are usually introduced at B1 level, since they involve the conditional past (hätte/wäre + participle). But even at A2, understanding simple wish statements with hätte or wäre in the present context is very useful.

Hypothetical Conditions and “If-Clauses” (Unreale Bedingungen) – B1 Usage

Talking about hypothetical situations (the classic “if... then...” scenarios) is another major function of Konjunktiv II. German wenn-clauses (if-clauses) paired with würde or hätte/wäre express unreal conditions in the present or past. This is 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. 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. (This talks 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.)

• 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 wider vocabulary range)

• Ich wäre nicht nass, wenn ich einen Regenschirm mitgenommen hätte.

  (I would not be wet if I had taken an umbrella with me)

• Wenn ich mehr Vokabeln gelernt hätte, hätte ich einen breiteren Wortschatz gehabt. (If I had studied more vocabulary, I would have had a wider vocabulary range)

• Sie wäre in die Oper gegangen, wenn sie noch Karten bekommen hätte. (She would have gone to the opera if she had gotten tickets)

• Wenn ich eine Eintrittskarte für die Oper gehabt hätte, wäre ich mit dir gegangen. (If I had gotten a ticket for the opera, I would have gone with you)

• Selbst wenn ich genug Geld gehabt hätte, wäre ich nicht in Urlaub gefahren. (Even if I had had enough money, I would not have gone on holiday)

• Ich hätte Ihnen geholfen, wenn ich mehr Zeit gehabt hätte. (I would have helped you if I had had more time)

• Ich wäre bei schlechtem Wetter zu Hause geblieben. (I would have stayed at home in this bad weather)

German conditional sentences follow patterns 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 inversion in the conditional 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 the wenn is omitted. This structure is advanced (B1/B2), but it’s good to recognize it.

At A2 level, you might only touch on very simple if-clauses (perhaps using wenn + würde for suggestions). 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). It’s important to note the tense agreement: use present Konjunktiv II for a present/future hypothetical, and past Konjunktiv II for a past hypothetical.

Suggestions and Advice (Vorschläge und Ratschläge) – A2/B1 Usage

Konjunktiv II is useful 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 Konjunktiv II of modal verbs or würde-phrases to achieve the same tone.

• Wir könnten morgen ins Kino gehen. – We could go to the cinema tomorrow.(A suggestion: using könnten (could) makes it polite and tentative.)

• Du solltest mehr Wasser trinken. – You should drink more water.Advice: solltest is Konjunktiv II of sollen, expressing a recommendation.)

• An deiner Stelle würde ich früh schlafen gehen. – If I were you, 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…”)

• Wir könnten essen gehen. (We could go for a meal)

• Du könntest mich morgen besuchen.

  (You could visit me tomorrow)

• Du solltest mehr Sport treiben.

  (You should do more sports)

• An deiner Stelle würde ich mit dem Rauchen aufhören.

  (If I were you, I would quit smoking)

These forms are often introduced around late A2 or B1. Solltest (should) and könntest (could) for advice are straightforward. The phrase “An deiner Stelle würde ich…” is very useful to know for giving advice framed as a conditional (at B1 level). It’s less direct than an imperative and thus more polite or careful.

Reported Speech with Konjunktiv II (Indirekte Rede) – B2/C1 Advanced Usage

Normally, reported (indirect) speech in German uses Konjunktiv I. However, in practice, if the Konjunktiv I forms look identical to the indicative or sound odd, German speakers often use the 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 speech vs. indirect:

• Direct: Er sagte: "Ich komme morgen." – (He said: "I’m coming tomorrow.")

• Indirect (reported): Er sagte, er komme morgen. – (He said he’s coming tomorrow.) – Here komme is Konjunktiv I.

If the subjunctive I form is not distinct (e.g., ich habe is same in indicative and subjunctive I), or to avoid confusion, one might use Konjunktiv 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 it’s more common in speech.)

In everyday conversation, you will hear a lot of reported speech just using würde or Konjunktiv II forms. For instance: Er sagte, er würde später kommen (He said he would come later). This is essentially the English style (“would come”), and it’s acceptable in less formal contexts. At B2 or C1, if you delve into news or formal writing, you’ll see more of Konjunktiv I, but using Konjunktiv II in speech is very common to report statements.

Unreal Comparisons and Consecutive Clauses in Konjunktiv II

In more advanced usage of Konjunktiv II, German frequently employs unreal comparisons and unreal consecutive clauses. These structures help describe situations that seem, appear, or result in something that is not (or not yet) real. You’ll also see how modal verbs behave in these contexts — especially in the past subjunctive, which many learners find challenging.

Let’s explore each structure with clear examples and usage notes.

🤔 Unreal Comparisons (Unwirkliche Vergleiche mit als ob)

German uses “als ob” or “als wenn” to make unreal comparisons — expressions like “as if…” or “as though…” in English. These are common when describing impressions or appearances that aren’t real, often used with scheinen, aussehen, or wirken.

These comparisons usually trigger the subjunctive mood (Konjunktiv II) in a subordinate clause.

📌 Present Unreal Comparison

• Du siehst so aus, als ob du nicht viel geschlafen hättest.You look as if you hadn't slept much.

✅ Use Konjunktiv II Past (hättest geschlafen) to show the action is unreal but imagined — even in the present.

• Sie macht den Eindruck, als würde sie einen Urlaub brauchen.She gives the impression that she needs a holiday.

✅ Use würde + infinitive to express a present unreal situation.

📌 Past Unreal Comparison

• Es schien, als ob du gestern schlecht geschlafen hättest.It seemed as if you hadn’t slept well yesterday.

• Sie machte den Eindruck, als hätte sie einen Urlaub gebraucht.She gave the impression as if she had needed a holiday.

🧠 Grammar Tip: Even though the main verb is in the past (schien, machte), the subjunctive remains in Konjunktiv II Vergangenheit (e.g. hätte gebraucht) in the subordinate clause.

✅ Use “als ob” + Konjunktiv II (present or past) to express the unreal nature of the comparison.

📚 This usage typically appears from B1 level onward, but A2 learners can start recognising phrases like “als ob er krank wäre” (as if he were sick) in context.

📈 Unreal Consecutive Clauses (Unwirkliche Folgesätze mit als dass)

These sentences describe hypothetical consequences that are too extreme, unlikely, or impossible. They typically use the construction:

🔹 „…zu [Adjektiv], als dass + Konjunktiv II“(…too [adjective] for something to be possible.)

✅ Examples:

• Es ist zu spät, als dass wir noch die U-Bahn benutzen könnten. It is too late to use the underground.

• Das Essen ist zu teuer, als dass man es wegwerfen könnte.The food is too expensive to throw away.

• Er hat so viel Zeit, dass er im Sommer länger verreisen könnte.He has so much time that he could travel longer in the summer.

🧠 Note: These constructions often reflect a judgment or assessment that an action is not feasible or realistic under the circumstances.

🎯 At B1 and B2 levels, learners are encouraged to build sentences with “zu …, als dass…” for stylistic variety. You’ll frequently see Konjunktiv II of modal verbs (e.g. könnte, dürfte, müsste) in these clauses.

🛠️ Modal Verbs in Konjunktiv II – Present and Past

One of the trickiest areas for learners is forming the Konjunktiv II with modal verbs – especially in the past tense. Here's how it works:

💬 Present Subjunctive with Modal Verbs

You use:

• Konjunktiv II of the modal verb (e.g. könnte, müsste)

• Infinitive of the main verb

✅ Examples:

• Ich könnte mehr auf Deutsch sagen, wenn ich mehr Wörter lernen würde.I could say more in German if I learned more words.

• Ich müsste leider absagen.I would have to cancel, unfortunately.

⏳ Past Subjunctive with Modal Verbs

To express “would have had to / could have / might have”, German uses:

• hätte + modal verb in infinitive + main verb in infinitive

⚠️ Unlike standard perfect tense, you do not use participles.

✅ Examples:

• Ich hätte mehr auf Deutsch sagen können, wenn ich mehr Wörter gelernt hätte.I would have been able to say more in German if I had learned more vocabulary.

• Ich hatte leider keine Zeit. Es hätte Ihnen leider ein Kollege helfen müssen.Unfortunately, I didn't have time. A colleague would have had to help you.

• Ich hätte meine Arbeit gekündigt, wenn ich noch mehr hätte arbeiten müssen.I would have quit my job if I had had to work more.

• Sie wäre essen gegangen, wenn die Restaurants nicht hätten schließen müssen.She would have gone out to eat if the restaurants hadn’t had to close.

🧠 Important Word Order Note: In these double-infinitive constructions, the conjugated verb (hätte, wäre) does not move to the very end of the subordinate clause, as German normally requires. Instead, it comes before the two infinitives – an exception to standard subordinate clause word order.

📌 Summary Table – Modal Verbs in Konjunktiv II

Time	Structure	Example (English)	Example (German)
Present	Konj. II modal + infinitive	I could do that.	Ich könnte das machen.
Past	hätte + [modal verb] + main verb (inf.)	I could have done that.	Ich hätte das machen können.
Past (with obligation)	hätte + modal + infinitive	I would have had to go.	Ich hätte gehen müssen.

✨ Final Tips for Learners

• Start by mastering würde + infinitive for present hypotheticals and hätte/wäre + past participle for past unreal scenarios.

• At A2 level, focus on polite requests (könnte ich…?, ich hätte gern…), basic wishes (wenn ich … hätte), and present modal verbs in context.

• From B1 onward, explore more advanced uses like als ob, als dass, and past modal constructions.

• Practice is key: these forms can look complex, but with regular exposure and speaking, they’ll become natural.

📘 Need help mastering these tricky topics?

Join one of our German classes or intensive German courses — all taught by fully trained native speakers with at least 10 years of experience. We offer personalised tuition for all levels, including tailored support with Konjunktiv II, conditionals, and exam prep.

Don’t forget to check out our German language blog “Auf Deutsch, bitte!” for hundreds of free grammar and vocabulary posts, from A1 to C2.

Konjunktiv II at Different Levels: A2 vs. B1/B2/C1

To recap and clarify progression: what do you need to know at A2, and what comes later?

• A2 Level: Focus on the basics of Konjunktiv II in the present tense. Learn to use würde + Infinitiv for simple conditional statements and common irregular forms like hätte, wäre, könnte, sollte. Typical A2 contexts include polite requests (Könnten Sie...?, Ich hätte gern…), basic wishes and dreams (Ich wünschte..., Wenn ich ... hätte/wäre... for present unreal situations), and simple suggestions/advice (Du solltest..., Wir könnten...). Don’t worry about the complex forms or the past tense at this stage – recognising hätte and wäre in context is usually enough.

• B1 Level: Build on this by practising conditional sentences (if-clauses) more intensively. At B1, you’ll learn to formulate unreal conditions in both present and past (using hätte/wäre + Partizip for the latter). You’ll also expand your use of Konjunktiv II with modal verbs (e.g. Ich könnte/du müsstest…) and see it in 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 hindsight) as well as the present/future.

• B2/C1 Level: At upper-intermediate and advanced levels, you will refine your use. This includes understanding the nuance between using würde vs. specific subjunctive forms (choosing käme instead of würde kommen in formal writing, for example), 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. You’ll also encounter fixed expressions and more subtle uses of Konjunktiv II (for example, “Man hätte es ahnen können.” – “One could have foreseen it.”). By C1, using Konjunktiv II correctly helps make your German sound more fluent and nuanced.

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), it becomes much easier to handle.

Conclusion: Practice Makes Perfect!

Konjunktiv II opens up a whole new realm of expression in German – from politely asking for things to sharing your wildest dreams. Start with the basics: get comfortable using würde, hätte, and wäre in simple sentences. Use English as a guide (think “would” or “could”) but be mindful of the German specifics we covered. 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. 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 (both online and in London) and intensive courses to boost your skills. For personalised attention, you can also opt for private tuition, perfect for mastering tricky grammar like the subjunctive. And don’t forget to explore our blog “Auf Deutsch, bitte!” – it’s full of useful articles and free resources to help you on your German language journey. Viel Erfolg und bis bald! (Good luck and see you soon!)

#konjunktiv2 #konjunktivII #conditionaltensegerman