German Verb Guide > Subjunctive I > Intro: Subjunctive II > Subjunctive II
Here are some examples of how the Subjunctive II can be used in German.
The Konjunktiv II is used in the following situations:
- As if, contrary to reality (als ob, als wenn, als, wenn)
Er gibt Geld aus, als ob er Millionär wäre.
He spends money as if he were a millionaire. - Request, obligation (being polite!)—usually with modals (i.e., können, sollen, etc.)
Könntest du mir dein Buch borgen?
Could you lend me your book? - Doubt or uncertainty (often preceded by ob or dass)
Wir glauben nicht, dass man diese Prozedur genehmigen würde.
We don't believe that they would allow this procedure. - Wishes, wishful thinking (usually with intensifying words like nur or doch - and conditional sentences)
Hätten Sie mich nur angerufen! (wishful)
If you had only called me!
Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich ihn besuchen. (conditional)
If I had time, I'd visit him. - Replacement for Subjunctive I (when the Subjunctive I form and the indictative form are identical)
Sie sagten sie hätten ihn gesehen.
They said they had seen him
The last two lines in the traditional German song, "Mein Hut," are subjunctive (conditional):
Mein Hut, der hat drei Ecken,
Drei Ecken hat mein Hut,
Und hätt' er nicht drei Ecken,
dann wär' er nicht mein Hut.
My hat, it has three corners,
Three corners has my hat,
And had it not three corners, (if it didn't have...)
then were it not my hat. (...wouldn't be my hat)
How Do You Form the Subjunctive II?
To find out how easy it is to form the Subjunctive II, go to the next part, How to Form the Subjunctive. After that you can try our self-scoring quiz on the Subjunctive II.
NEXT > How to Form the Subjunctive II
MORE > The Subjunctive I (indirect speech)