Skip to content

Konjunktiv

subjunctive (grammatical mood)

noun KON-yoonk-tif Rare

Origin: from Latin coniunctivus (connecting)

Usage Note

Konjunktiv is the mood used for indirect speech (Konjunktiv I) and hypothetical or counterfactual statements (Konjunktiv II). German distinguishes the two formally, which many other languages do not.

Examples

"Im Konjunktiv II drückt man aus, was möglich oder wünschenswert wäre."

Natural Translation

In the subjunctive II one expresses what would be possible or desirable.

Literal Translation

In the subjunctive II expresses one what possible or desirable would be.

Explore German by topic