Konjunktiv II Vergangenheit (Conditional Past)
The Konjunktiv II Vergangenheit is used to express hypothetical or unreal situations in the past — things that did not happen but could have happened under different circumstances. It is also used for expressing regret, criticism, or hypothetical conditions in the past.
Mood:
The Konjunktiv II Vergangenheit uses the subjunctive mood, which expresses hypothetical or contrary-to-fact statements about past events.
- Mood: Subjunctive II (hypothetical situations in the past)
Usage:
- To talk about unreal situations in the past:
Ich hätte das Buch gelesen, wenn ich Zeit gehabt hätte. (I would have read the book if I had had time.) - To express regret:
Ich wäre lieber zu Hause geblieben. (I would rather have stayed home.) - To criticize past actions:
Du hättest mich anrufen sollen. (You should have called me.) - In polite or softened statements about past possibilities.
Formation:
The Konjunktiv II Vergangenheit is formed with the Konjunktiv II of the auxiliary verbs haben or sein, followed by the past participle of the main verb.
Using Haben:
- Most verbs form the conditional past with hätte + past participle.
- Example: ich hätte gespielt (I would have played)
- Most verbs form the conditional past with hätte + past participle.
Using Sein:
- Verbs of motion or change of state, and the verb sein, use wäre + past participle.
- Example: ich wäre gegangen (I would have gone)
- Verbs of motion or change of state, and the verb sein, use wäre + past participle.
Conjugation:
| Person | Haben (to have) – gespielt | Sein (to be) – gegangen |
|---|---|---|
| Ich | hätte gespielt | wäre gegangen |
| Du | hättest gespielt | wär(e)st gegangen |
| Er/Sie/Es | hätte gespielt | wäre gegangen |
| Wir | hätten gespielt | wären gegangen |
| Ihr | hättet gespielt | wärt gegangen |
| Sie/sie | hätten gespielt | wären gegangen |
Common Expressions:
- hätte … machen können (could have done)
- hätte … machen sollen (should have done)
- hätte … machen müssen (would have had to do)
- wäre gern … gewesen (would have liked to have been)
Examples:
- Ich hätte dir geholfen, wenn ich gekonnt hätte. (I would have helped you if I could have.)
- Wir wären ins Kino gegangen, aber es war ausverkauft. (We would have gone to the cinema, but it was sold out.)
- Du hättest früher kommen sollen. (You should have come earlier.)
- Sie wäre gern Lehrerin gewesen. (She would have liked to have been a teacher.)
