German Tenses--An Overview Part IV.2

Here is the last part of my little German Tense Guide. I hope you enjoyed this excursion into German grammar.

Konjunktiv I == Subjunctive

Konjunktiv I (all time forms) is only used in indirect speech, wishes, religious and mathematical phrases. In indirect speech, both Konjunktiv I and Konjunktiv II are used without difference in meaning.

Examples:

Er sagt, er sei krank. = He says he is ill.

X sei die Zahl 4. = X be the number 4.

Mögen sie ihr Glück finden. = May they find their happiness.

Konjunktiv II == Conditional

Konjunktiv II is used in indirect speech, for wishes, irreal conditional sentences and comparisons, and especially polite requests.

Examples:

Würden Sie mir kurz helfen? = Would you help me for a moment?

Wenn die Sonne schiene, würden wir schwimmen gehen. = If the sun shone, we would go swimming.

Imperativ == Imperative

The Imperativ is used to give orders, recommendations or prohibitions, just like in English.

Infinitivformen == Participles

Präsens == (present)

The Partizip Präsens can be used as an adjective or adverb.

Examples:

der lachende Junge = the laughing boy

Er schrie sie wütend an. = He angrily screamed at her.

Perfekt == (past)

The Partizip Perfekt can be used as an adjective or as part of a verb.

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