Other Uses of the Subjunctive II Flashcards Preview

Question 1

1

Being Polite:

Answer

Question 2

2

Mögen and Wollen:

Answer

In modern German, the subjunctive forms of mögen has become almost a synonym of wollen.

Was willst du? = What do you want?

Was möchtest du? = What would you like?

Question 3

3

Hätte gern:

Answer

Hätte gern is also becoming common as a synonym for "would like" especially when ordering food.

Wir hätten gern zwei Colas, bitte. = We would like two colas, please.

Question 4

4

Note:

Answer

Note that these polite forms are only limited to the modal verbs, sein, haben and werden. For this reason, you may hear Würden Sie mir helfen? but never Hülfen Sie mir?

Question 5

5

Expressing Wishes:

Answer

The subjunctive II is also used to express wishes. These phrases generally begin with "I wish" or "If only" in English. Wenn (if) can be omitted from these statements, but then you must move the conjugated verb in the subjunctive II to the place of wenn at the beginning of the phrase. When expressing wishes, the present and past tenses of the subjunctive II can be used.

Wenn ich nur noch jung wäre! = Wäre ich nur noch jung! I wish I were still young! / If only I were still young!

Wenn er nur früher gekommen wäre! = Wäre er nur früher gekommen! If only he had come earlier!

Wenn sie doch mehr Zeit gehabt hätten! = Hätten sie doch mehr Zeit gehabt! If only they had had more time!

Ich wünschte and ich wollte (I wish) are fixed expressions followed by the subjunctive II or würde + infinitive. Another expression always followed by the subjunctive is an deiner Stelle (in your place / If I were you) when giving advice.

Other Uses of the Subjunctive II Flashcards Preview

German Basics > Other Uses of the Subjunctive II > Flashcards

Being Polite:

Mögen and Wollen:

In modern German, the subjunctive forms of mögen has become almost a synonym of wollen.

Was willst du? = What do you want?

Was möchtest du? = What would you like?

Hätte gern:

Hätte gern is also becoming common as a synonym for "would like" especially when ordering food.

Wir hätten gern zwei Colas, bitte. = We would like two colas, please.

Note:

Note that these polite forms are only limited to the modal verbs, sein, haben and werden. For this reason, you may hear Würden Sie mir helfen? but never Hülfen Sie mir?

Expressing Wishes:

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Other Uses of the Subjunctive II Flashcards Preview

German Basics > Other Uses of the Subjunctive II > Flashcards

Being Polite:

Mögen and Wollen:

In modern German, the subjunctive forms of mögen has become almost a synonym of wollen. Was willst du? = What do you want? Was möchtest du? = What would you like?

Hätte gern:

Hätte gern is also becoming common as a synonym for "would like" especially when ordering food. Wir hätten gern zwei Colas, bitte. = We would like two colas, please.

Note:

Note that these polite forms are only limited to the modal verbs, sein, haben and werden. For this reason, you may hear Würden Sie mir helfen? but never Hülfen Sie mir?

Expressing Wishes:

Key Links

Subjects

Company

Find Us

Brainscape's Knowledge Genome^TM

In modern German, the subjunctive forms of mögen has become almost a synonym of wollen.

Was willst du? = What do you want?

Was möchtest du? = What would you like?

Hätte gern is also becoming common as a synonym for "would like" especially when ordering food.

Wir hätten gern zwei Colas, bitte. = We would like two colas, please.