Konjunktiv I (Present Subjunctive)
The Konjunktiv I is primarily used to report indirect speech or express hypothetical actions in a neutral or non-assertive manner. It is rarely used in everyday conversation but is common in formal writing, journalism, and literature.
Mood:
The Konjunktiv I is used with the subjunctive mood, which expresses indirect speech, hypothetical scenarios, or statements of possibility or uncertainty.
- Mood: Subjunctive (expresses hypotheticals, indirect speech, or possibilities)
Usage:
- To report indirect speech: Er sagt, er habe das Buch gelesen. (He says he has read the book.)
- To express hypothetical or unreal situations: Man nehme zwei Eier. (One takes two eggs.)
- Common in formal writing, journalism, and legal language when reporting statements without taking responsibility for their accuracy.
Formation:
The Konjunktiv I is formed by using the verb’s stem and adding the appropriate subjunctive endings.
Conjugation (Regular Verbs):
| Person | Verb: sprechen (to speak) |
|---|---|
| Ich | spreche |
| Du | sprechest |
| Er/Sie/Es | spreche |
| Wir | sprechen |
| Ihr | sprechet |
| Sie/sie | sprechen |
Irregular Verbs:
Irregular verbs follow a similar pattern but with changes in their stem. For example:
- Sein (to be): ich sei, du seiest, er sei, wir seien, ihr seiet, sie seien
- Haben (to have): ich habe, du habest, er habe, wir haben, ihr habet, sie haben
Common Time Expressions:
- Er sagt, dass (He says that)
- Man behauptet, dass (It is claimed that)
Examples:
- Er sagt, er habe den Test bestanden. (He says he passed the test.)
- Man sagt, sie sei nach Hause gegangen. (It is said that she went home.)
