Day 75 - Subjunctive: Konjunktiv II Part 3

Question 1

Like other verbs, the Konjunktiv II of modal verbs is the same as the simple past, but UMLAUTS are only added IF THE INFINITIVE ALSO HAS AN UMLAUT.

Study the following list:

Infinitive / Simple Past / Konjunktiv II

wollen / wollte / wollte
sollen / sollte / sollte
müssen / musste / müsste
dürfen / durfte / dürfte
können / konnte / könnte
mögen / mochte / möchte

Note that since wollen and sollen have the same simple past and Konjunktiv II, sentences can have two possible translations. You should be able to understand which in context.

Study the following example:

I wanted to go. I would want to go.
Ich wollte gehen.

Also note that directly translating the Konjunktiv II of sollen (would shall) makes no sense in English, so a better translation, depending on context, is ought to or be supposed to.

Study the following example:

I ought to go. I was supposed to go.
Ich sollte gehen.

Have you heard the famous slang phrase shoulda woulda coulda (should have would have could have)? To make a modal verb sentence with this grammar, German uses the Konjunktiv II of haben and then a double infinitive of the main verb and the modal verb at the end of the sentence.

Study the following examples:

I should have gone to the supermarket.
Ich hätte zum Supermarkt gehen sollen.

We would have wanted to buy it.
Wir hätten es kaufen wollen.

He could have eaten everything.
Er hätte alles essen können.

He would have been able to eat everything.
Er hätte alles essen können.

Question 2

Day 75 Grammar Cards

1. Konjunktiv II modal verbs without umlaut sollen / wollen
2. Konjunktiv II modal verbs with (haben) hätten + end of sentence (main infinitive) + (modal infinitive)

https://www.verbformen.com/conjugation/konjunktiv/praeteritum/senden.htm

Question 3

1. DIENEN…to serve dat.
2. AUS.WEICHEN…to dodge dat. aus’weichen |wich aus, ausgewichen|
3. BEMERKEN…to notice
4. DREHEN…to turn / rotate
   *Drehen takes an object. To turn oneself, use sich drehen.
5. BEWEISEN…to prove beweisen |bewies, bewiesen|
6. PACKEN…to pack
   *Packen can also add the separable prefix ein- to mean wrap or pack up, or aus- to mean unpack or unwrap.
7. ERHÖHEN…to increase
8. VERRINGERN…to decrease
9. FORDERN…to demand / require
10. BEGLEITEN…to accompany / escort

Question 4

1. I was supposed to serve them.

Answer 4

Ich sollte ihnen dienen.

Question 5

2. He couldn’t have dodged the bullets.

Answer 5

Er hätte den Kugeln nicht ausweichen können.

Question 6

3. She should have noticed it.

Answer 6

Sie hätte es bemerken sollen.

Question 7

4. We would like to turn the wheel.

Answer 7

Wir möchten das Rad drehen.

Question 8

5. They should have proved it.

Answer 8

Sie hätten es beweisen sollen.

Question 9

6. I should have packed my bags.

Answer 9

Ich hätte meine Koffer packen sollen.

Question 10

7. Would we be able to increase it?

Answer 10

Könnten wir es erhöhen?

Question 11

8. Would we have to decrease it?

Answer 11

Müssten wir es verringern?

Question 12

9. They couldn’t have demanded that.

Answer 12

Sie hätten das nicht fordern können.

Question 13

10. She should have accompanied him.

Answer 13

Sie hätte ihn begleiten sollen.