Author name: Vaikundamoni

Every beginning is difficult The Present Tense in English: English, in contrast to German, has a variety of tenses to indicate present time, and Germans who are learning English are often at a loss in deciding which to select: “I sing,” “I do sing,” “I am singing”, or “I have been singing.” The Present Tense in German: German makes it much easier by offering only one structure to cover all of these present-time meanings. The speaker must then employ adverbs to convey the differences (see below). Note: the following discusses only the present tense in the indicative mood and active voice. The subjunctive mood and the passive voice are treated elsewhere, as are the modal auxiliaries, reflexive verbs, and constructions with the verb lassen. Here are the regular present-tense endings that are added to the verb stem:^*

ich singe	wir singen
du singst	ihr singt
	Sie singen
er/sie/es singt	sie singen

Again: German does not use grammatical forms to denote aspect, but relies on adverbs to make the distinctions that we find in English:

Ich singe jeden Morgen in der Dusche.	I sing in the shower every morning.
Er singt jetzt.	He is singing now.
Sie singt doch, aber nur wenn sie singen will.	She does sing, but only when she wants to.
Wir singen seit einer Stunde.	We have been singing for an hour.

As in English, the present tense is also frequently used to denote the future, as long as the context is clear:

Wir singen heute Abend um 8.

We are singing this evening at 8.

Variations on the regular forms: To ease pronunciation, the du form and the third person singular become -est and -et if the verb stem ends in -d, -t, -m, or -n. For example:

finden	to find	du findest	er/sie/es findet
warten	to wait	du wartest	er/sie/es wartet
atmen	to breathe	du atmest	er/sie/es atmet
segnen	to bless	du segnest	er/sie/es segnet

Verbs with stems ending in -s, -ss, -ß, or -z add only a -t in the du form. For example:

hassen	to hate	du hasst
heißen	to be named	du heißt
sitzen	to sit	du sitzt

	The average family has 1.66 children.

Irregular forms: A few common verbs, including sein (“to be”), are irregular enough in the present tense to be learned separately:

sein	“to be”	werden	“to become”
ich bin	wir sind	ich werde	wir werden
du bist	ihr seid	du wirst	ihr werdet
	Sie sind		Sie werden
er/sie/es ist	sie sind	er/sie/es wird	sie werden

haben	“to have”	wissen	“to know”
ich habe	wir haben	ich weiß	wir wissen
du hast	ihr habt	du weißt	ihr wisst
	Sie haben		Sie wissen
er/sie/es hat	sie haben	er/sie/es weiß	sie wissen

	We’re here.

The Modal Auxiliaries have irregular forms in the singular:

Infinitive	ich	du	er/sie/es	wir	ihr	Sie	sie
dürfen	darf	darfst	darf	dürfen	dürft	dürfen	dürfen
können	kann	kannst	kann	können	könnt	können	können
mögen	mag	magst	mag	mögen	mögt	mögen	mögen
müssen	muss	musst	muss	müssen	müsst	müssen	müssen
sollen	soll	sollst	soll	sollen	sollt	sollen	sollen
wollen	will	willst	will	wollen	wollt	wollen	wollen

Not all strong verbs have irregular forms in the present tense, but a number of them do change their stems in the “du” and 3rd-person singular forms. Here are some of the more common ones (N.B. with a few exceptions, this list contains only stems without separable or inseparable prefixes e.g. fangen but not anfangen, laden but not einladen, etc.). A more complete listing of the principal parts of strong verbs is also available.

Infinitive	“du”	“er/sie/es”	Meaning
essen	isst	isst	to eat
geben	gibst	gibt	to give
helfen	hilfst	hilft	to help
nehmen	nimmst	nimmt	to take
sprechen	sprichst	spricht	to speak
treffen	triffst	trifft	to meet
vergessen	vergisst	vergisst	to forget
werfen	wirfst	wirft	to throw
lesen	liest	liest	to read
sehen	siehst	sieht	to see
fahren	fährst	fährt	to drive
fallen	fällst	fällt	to fall
fangen	fängst	fängt	to catch
halten	hältst	hält	to hold
laden	lädst	lädt	to load
lassen	lässt	lässt	to let; leave
laufen	läufst	läuft	to run
schlafen	schläfst	schläft	to sleep
schlagen	schlägst	schlägt	to hit
tragen	trägst	trägt	to carry; wear
wachsen	wächst	wächst	to grow
waschen	wäscht	wäscht	to wash

Note that those irregular verbs whose stems end in -t do not add an ending in the third person singular:

Infinitive	“er/sie/es”	Meaning
halten	hält	to hold
braten	brät	to roast, fry
raten	rät	to advise; to guess
gelten	gilt	to be valid
schelten	schilt	to scold

As in the simple past tense, the finite verb might have a separable prefix, which then goes to the end of the clause:

Wir kaufen immer montags ein.	We always shop on Monday.
Sie bringt ihren neuen Freund mit.	She is bringing her new boyfriend along.
Er lädt uns dieses Mal nicht ein.	He’s not inviting us this time.
Er ruft seine Mutter nie an.	He never phones his mother.

All infinitives end in -en (e.g. springen [to jump]) or sometimes just -n (e.g. wandern [to hike]). The “stem form” of regular verbs is that which remains after the -en or -n is removed.

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The Simple Past Tense (also called the Imperfect or Preterite) in English: The simple past describes an event within a time frame that is completed (compare the simple past “I cooked twice this week” with the present perfect, “I have cooked twice this week” – the former implies that that’s all the cooking I’m going to do, while the latter leaves open the possibility that I might cook more). English forms this tense in several ways:

Weak verbs add -ed: “looked,” “wanted,” “worked,” etc.

Strong, or irregular, verbs generally change the vowel in the stressed syllable. A variety of other changes are possible, as well: “ate,” “sang,” “held,” “went,” “thought,” etc.

	Albert Einstein was active here from 1914 to 1932 as a member of the Academy of Science

The Simple Past Tense (das Präteritum, das Imperfekt) in German: In German, as in English, the simple past differs from the present perfect, in that it describes past events that are interrelated within a time frame that is separate from the present. Hence it is typically used in narratives. German speakers are not always careful in making this distinction. Indeed, they sometimes even mix the two tenses indiscriminately. Weak verbs form the simple past by adding -(e)te, -(e)test, -(e)ten, or -(e)tetto the stem:  

Ich sagte das.	I said that.
Wir machten die Tür zu.	We closed the door.
Du kauftest zu viel.	You bought too much.
Ihr wohntet neben uns.	Y’all lived next to us.
Sie arbeiteten hart.	You worked hard.
Es regnete stark.	It rained hard.
Sie redeten viel.	They talked a lot.

The irregular weak verbs, including the modal auxiliaries, add these same endings to a (usually) changed stem:

Ich wollte das hören.	I wanted to hear that.
Wir durften das nicht sagen.	We weren’t allowed to say that.
Du nanntest ihn Hans.	You named him Hans.
Ihr wusstet das schon.	Y’all knew that already.
Sie konnten das nicht wissen.	You couldn’t know that.
Sie brachte den Wein.	She brought the wine.
Sie verbrannten die Bücher.	They burned the books

	In the middle of this square on May 10, 1933, National-Socialist students burned the works of hundreds of independent writers, publicists, philosophers, and academicians

The remaining strong verbs (usually) change the stem and add either no ending or -st, -en, or -t:

Ich ging nach Hause.	I went home.
Wir sahen ihn nicht.	We didn’t see him.
Du sprachst zu schnell.	You spoke too fast.
Ihr halft uns nicht.	Y’all didn’t help us.
Sie schliefen lang.	They slept late.
Sie las das Buch.	She read the book.
Sie schrieben es auf Deutsch.	They wrote it in German.

These irregular forms fall into distinct categories. Here is a list of the most common strong verbs, arranged in those groups.

	Erich Romann lived here until 1935, when, under pressure from the Nazi regime, he took his own life

Further distinctions between the simple past and the present perfect: in spoken German, the simple past is perceived as formal. Colloquial narratives often use the present perfect tense: “Ich bin nach Hause gegangen und habe meinem Mann gesagt….”Indeed, many dialects do not have a simple past.¹ The simple past is reserved for more formal narratives; novels are one example. In ordinary conversation, then, the simple past is unusual. There are however, a few exceptions, primarily the verbs “sein,” “haben,” and the modal auxiliaries. It is quite common to say: “ich war da”, instead of “ich bin da gewesen”; “wir hatten eine Katze”, instead of “wir haben eine Katze gehabt”; or “sie konnte ihn sehen”, rather than “sie hat ihn sehen können.” This is particularly true when it serves to cut down on complexity. Even in ordinary speech it is more usual to say “ich musste einen Arzt rufen lassen” than “ich habe einen Arzt rufen lassen müssen.”

	Brothers Grimm: Snow White and Rose Red There was once a poor widow who lived in a lonely cottage. In front of the cottage was a garden in which two rose-trees stood, one of which bore white and the other red roses. She had two children who were like the two rose-trees, and one was called Snow White, and the other Rose Red.

As in the present tense, the finite verb might have a separable prefix, which then goes to the end of the clause:

Wir kauften immer montags ein.	We always shopped on Monday.
Sie brachte ihren neuen Freund mit.	She brought her new boyfriend along.
Er lud uns dieses Mal nicht ein.	He didn’t invite us this time.
Er rief seine Mutter nie an.	He never phoned his mother.

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As a result, ordinary speakers have forgotten the preterite form of some strong verbs that are traditionally used informally. The third person past of backen (“to bake”) was once buk or bük, but few Germans know that anymore, even though the past participle ofbacken remains strong: gebacken. In the 3rd person singular, both bäckt and backt are possible. The verb hauen provides another example. When it is used to mean “to hew,” its past form can still be hieb (although haute is more common). But when used with slang expressions like Ich haue dir eins auf die Fresse (“I’ll pop you one in the chops”) or hau ab!(“buzz off!”), the simple past form is haute – of course, the less formal present perfect is even more likely: Er ist endlich abgehauen(He finally left). See also mahlen (“to grind” [grain, coffee]): mahlte, gemahlen. Similarly, the ihr or even du forms, which are by definition informal, can sound a bit odd – or even poetic – in the simple past: du gingst, ihr wusstet.]]>

The Past Perfect Tense in English: The past perfect tense describes events or situations that precede another point in the past that has been established through the the present perfect or the simple past. English creates this tense with a past participle and, as the name suggests, with the auxiliary verb, “to have,” conjugated in its past-tense forms:

I had already noticed that before you called my attention to it.

She was tired because she hadn’t slept the night before.

He had been living in his car for several months before finally finding an apartment.

For a discussion of how to form the past participle, consult the explanation of the present perfect. The Past Perfect Tense (das Plusquamperfekt) in German: In German, as in English, the past perfect describes a time previous to another in the past. It is constructed just like the present perfect tense, except that the auxiliary “haben” or “sein” is in its simple past form: “hatte” or “war.”

Sie hatte gut gespielt, bis sie verletzt wurde.	She had played well until she was injured.
Er war schon einen Monat in Berlin gewesen, bevor er in die Oper gegangen ist.	He had already been in Berlin for a month before he went to the opera.
Ich hatte Chinesisch schon als Kind gesprochen, aber jetzt wollte ich Deutsch lernen.	I had already spoken Chinese as a child, but now I wanted to learn German.
Wir hatten nichts davon gewusst, bis sie endlich alles erklärte.	We hadn’t known anything about it until she finally explained everything.
Der Wolf hatte die Großmutter schon gefressen, als Rotkäppchen ins Haus kam.	The wolf had already eaten the grandmother before Little Red Riding-Hood came into the house.

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Illegally parked cars will be towed away at the owner’s expense The Passive Voice in English: In the “normal,” active voice, the subject of the sentence acts upon an object: She snubs him. Both German and English offer an alternative verb structure, the passive voice, in which the subject of the sentence receives the action: He is snubbed by her. To transform the active to the passive, we turn the direct object “him” into the grammatical subject “he” and place it in the customary first position. The active verb, “snubs,” becomes the past participle (“snubbed”), and “to be” is inserted as the auxiliary verb: thus She snubs him becomes He is snubbed. (Colloquial English sometimes uses “to get” as the auxiliary verb, as in: “He gets snubbed all the time.”) One purpose of the passive voice is avoid identifying the active subject – “Mistakes were made” – but if we do want to retain that information, we put it into a prepositional phrase: He is snubbed by her. The passive sentence’s tenses are achieved through manipulation of the auxiliary verb: He was snubbed. He is being snubbed. He had been snubbed. He will be snubbed. Etc.

	Stealing newspapers is a punishable offence and will be reported.

The Passive Voice in German: German uses a similar structure for the passive, but with “werden” as the auxiliary verb. Here the accusative object of the action becomes the nominative subject: Ich sehe dich. -> Du wirst gesehen.

Du wirst beobachtet.	You are being observed.
Hier wird nur Deutsch gesprochen.	Only German is spoken here.
Goethes Name wird mit “oe” geschrieben.	Goethe’s name is written with “oe”.
Wir werden nicht ganz verstanden.	We aren’t being totally understood.

Tenses in the Passive Voice. As is English, we change tenses through the auxiliary verb (“werden”). Of course, “werden” takes “sein” in the perfect tenses. The only difference comes in the past participle: instead of “geworden” we use “worden”:

Present	Du wirst beobachtet.	You are being observed.
	Der Wagen wird abgeschleppt.	The car is being towed.
	Der Diebstahl wird angezeigt.	The theft is being reported.
Simple Past	Du wurdest gesehen.	You were seen.
	Ein Fehler wurde begangen.	A mistake was made.
	Rom wurde nicht an einem Tag erbaut.	Rom wasn’t built in a day.

	This (subway)car was maliciously dirtied/damaged. We will fix the damages promptly.

Present Perfect	Du bist gesehen worden.	You were seen.
	Es ist alles vergessen worden.	Everything has been forgotten.
	Ihr Mann ist verhaftet worden.	Her husband has been arrested.
Past Perfect	Der Film war schon zweimal gezeigt worden.	The film had already been shown twice.
	Das Essen war schon vorbereitet worden.	The meal had already been prepared.
Future	Du wirst erwischt werden.	You’ll get caught.
	Das Buch wird gekürzt werden.	The book will be shortened.
Future Perfect	Alles wird vor Montag in Ordnung gebracht worden sein.	Everything will have been put in order by Monday.

The Passive Voice with Verbs That Take the Dative Case: Verbs that take the dative case, even when a direct action is implied, require a different structure, with the dative retained: Sie hilft mir -> Mir wird von ihr geholfen. Note that “mir” is not the grammatical subject; there is an understood “es.” In fact, the sentence could also read: Es wird mir geholfen. (See the discussion of the introductory “es” below).

	Happiness is being helped quickly. Safe, fast, and close by. The pharmacy cannot be replaced by mail order.

Modals in the Passive Voice: As is English, a modal auxiliary is normally the finite verb in the passive:

Etwas muss getan werden.	Something must be done.
Das darf nicht öffentlich gesagt werden.	That’s not allowed to be said publicly.
Er soll bestraft werden.	He ought to be punished.

And in the the simple past:

Sie wollte bewundert werden.	She wanted to be admired.
Ihm konnte nicht geholfen werden.	He couldn’t be helped.
Die Wohnung sollte geräumt werden.	The apartment was supposed to be vacated.

The future tense:

Das wird repariert werden müssen.	That will have to be fixed.
Das wird von den Kindern gemacht werden können.	That will be able to be done by the children.

It is possible to put the modal into a perfect tense, but the result can seem awkward (especially in the future perfect, for which no example will be given):

Etwas hat gesagt werden können.	Something could have been said.
Er hatte fotografiert werden müssen.	He had had to be photographed

“von” and “durch”:

	The area is under video surveillance.

If we still want to identify the active subject, we put the information into a prepositional phrase, usually with “von” – which of course takes the dative case: Du wirst von mir gesehen. The preposition “durch” can be used when the active subject is an instrument of the action, rather than an initiator: Er wird durch eine Explosion geweckt (He is awakened by an explosion). Berlin wurde durch eine Mauer geteilt (Berlin was divided by a wall). Of course durch takes the accusative, as always. As with the English “with,” “mit” can be used to indicate a tool used to carry out the action: Die Tür wurde mit einem Schlüssel geöffnet (The door was opened with a key).

	Health insurers want to supply your medicines from other countries by mail! Do you want your future medical care to be worse? Protest with your signature in your pharmacy.

  Aspects of the Passive That Are Unique to German: Occasionally, German uses the passive voice in ways that are not easily transferred to English. The so-called introductory “es“ is often used to begin a passive main clause. It is sometimes called “the false subject,” since the true subject is the noun found in the third position. It is this noun that determines the conjugation of the finite verb. If some other element is placed in the first position, the introductory “es” normally disappears:  

Es werden viele Häuser aus Holz gebaut.	Many houses are being built of wood.
Heute werden viele Häuser aus Holz gebaut.	Today many houses are being built of wood.
Es wird nur Deutsch gesprochen.	Only German is spoken.
Hier wird nur Deutsch gesprochen.	Here only German is spoken.

The introductory “es” is particularly common with verbs that take the dative. Here it is the subject:

Es wird uns geholfen.	We are being helped.
Es wurde ihm noch eine Chance gegeben.	He was given another chance.

Even when it is the official subject, this es can be thought of as place-holder. When another element occupies the first position, the es usually disappears:

Mir wird geholfen.	I’m being helped.
Oft wurde ihr gedankt.	She was often thanked.

The so-called impersonal passive can denote general activity, often used with an intransitive verb. When the word order is inverted, the “es” normally disappears. Note that such an inversion is not possible when the finite verb is a modal auxiliary:

Es wurde die ganze Nacht getanzt. → Die ganze Nacht wurde getanzt.	There was dancing going on all night.
Es wird bei uns zu Hause viel gelacht. → Bei uns zu Hause wird viel gelacht.	At our house there is a lot of laughter.
Es wird hier selten geraucht. → Hier wird selten geraucht.	There seldom any smoking here.
Es darf nicht geredet werden.	There’s no talking allowed.

A similar use of the “introductory es” can be found in the so-called impersonal passive, which can denote general activity, often used with an intransitive verb. When the word order is inverted, the “es” normally disappears. Note that such an inversion is not possible when the finite verb is a modal auxiliary: The “Statal” Passive: The passive voice assumes that an action is taking place: “Der Laden wird geschlossen” = The store is being closed. There is also a “statal” passive, which denotes a state that has resulted from a previous action: “Der Laden ist geschlossen” = The store is closed [has the quality of closedness].

Our wares are electronically secured.	The playing of children and the parking of bicycles or baby carriages in the stairwell are strictly forbidden.	Closed today on account of the flu.

“Geboren In saying when someone was born, German uses the statal passive for people still living, the regular passive for historical figures (For another explanation of this phenomenon,

Wann sind Sie geboren? Ich bin 1984 geboren.

Wann wurde Goethe geboren? Goethe wurde 1749 geboren.

In a formal curriculum vitae, however, one might say, “Ich wurde am 17. Februar 1977 geboren.” Substitutes for the Passive: There are several ways to avoid a passive construction while achieving the same effect: “man”: This construction uses the active voice but still manages to avoid identifying the subject:

Man kann den Wagen leicht reparieren.	One can repair the car easily.
Man schleppt den Wagen ab.	One tows the car away.

“sich lassen”: This construction often implies “können:”

Der Wagen lässt sich leicht reparieren.	The car is easy to repair/can be repaired easily.
Das Problem ließ sich nur schwer erkennen.	The problem could be recognized only with difficulty.

reflexive: with some verbs, there is an English equivalent, without the reflexive, but usually not:

Der Wagen repariert sich leicht.	The car is easy to repair.
Diese Sportschuhe verkaufen sich wie warme Semmeln.	These athletic shoes sell like hotcakes [warm rolls].
Wie schreibt sich dieser Name?	How do you spell this name?
Das versteht sich von selbst.	That goes without saying.

“sein” + “zu”: This construction implies “können,” “müssen,” or “sollen,” and sometimes is equivalent to “is/are to” + passive:

Der Wagen ist leicht zu reparieren.	The car is easy to repair.
Diese Komplikationen waren nicht vorauszusehen.	These complications couldn’t be foreseen.

	Dogs are to be kept off the grass.

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The Special Subjunctive Mood in English: English, like German, has a special subjunctive, employed mostly in formulating third-person commands:

• “So be it.”
• “Long live the king!”
• “May he rot in hell.”

It may also be used in clauses that concede a point:

• “Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home.”
• “Be he alive, or be he dead, I’ll grind his bones to make my bread.”

As the examples suggest, the special subjunctive is largely obsolete and can usually be found only in set expressions from an earlier time. The Special Subjunctive Mood in German (Konjunktiv I): Just like English, German bases the special subjunctive on the stem of the present tense forms. It then adds the same endings as does the general subjunctive (Konjunktiv II):

ich mache/ habe/ fahre/ sehe	wir machen/ haben/ fahren/ sehen
du machest/ habest/ fahrest/ sehest	ihr machet/ habet/ fahret/ sehet
	Sie machen/ haben/ fahren/ sehen
er/sie/es mache/ habe/ fahre/ sehe	sie machen/ haben/ fahren/ sehen

Note that all of these forms are completely regular, regardless of whether or not the verb is strong. The only exception is “sein:”

ich sei	wir seien
du seist	ihr seiet
	Sie seien
er/sie/es sei	sie seien

With the exception of “sein,” many special subjunctive forms are indistinguishable from the ordinary present tense: e.g. ich mache, wir haben, Sie fahren, sie sehen. Indirect Discourse: The special subjunctive appears most frequently in restatements of what someone else has claimed. Let us assume, for example, that a politician asserts:

“Ich bin ein ehrlicher Mensch. Ich habe kein Geld gestohlen.”

I am an honest person. I haven’t stolen any money.

A newspaper would report this statement as follows:

Er sagte, er sei ein ehrlicher Mensch. Er habe kein Geld gestohlen.

He said that he was an honest person. He hadn’t stolen any money.

By using the special subjunctive, the newspaper is asserting its own neutrality concerning the claim’s veracity. English does not provide so elegant a means. “He said that he was an honest person” – as opposed to “He said that he is an honest person” – is a kind of modified subjunctive that provides some distance, but it cannot be sustained over longer passages as easily as German’s special subjunctive. Instead, English must rely on words like “allegedly” and frequent repetitions of “he said….” Here is part of an interview that the Bildzeitung conducted with Katherina Reiche, a politician who was expecting a baby:  

BILD: Haben Sie keine Angst, dass der Wahlkampfstress Ihnen oder Ihrem ungeborenen Kind schadet?	BILD: Aren’t you afraid that the stress of a campaign will hurt you or your unborn child?
Katherina Reiche: Nein! Ich habe eine robuste Konstitution, stehe unter ständiger ärztlicher Betreuung. Die Nottasche fürs Krankenhaus steht bereit.	Katherina Reiche: No! I have a robust constitution, am constantly under a doctor’s care. The emergency bag for the hospital is already packed.
BILD: Was wird es denn?	BILD: What is the baby going to be?
Katherina Reiche: Es wird ein Mädchen. Wir haben auch schon einen Namen, aber der wird nicht verraten.	Katherina Reiche: “It’s a girl. We already have a name, but it won’t be revealed.”

A report of this interview might read:

Die Bildzeitung fragte, ob sie keine Angst habe, dass der Wahlkampfstress ihr oder ihrem ungeborenen Kind schade. Katherina Reiche antwortete, nein, sie habe eine robuste Konstitution, stehe unter ständiger ärztlicher Betreuung. Die Nottasche fürs Krankenhaus stehe bereit. Gefragt, was es denn werde, antwortete Frau Reiche, dass es ein Mädchen werde. Sie haben auch schon einen Namen, aber der werde nicht verraten.

German can also use the general subjunctive in indirect discourse: “sie hätte keine Angst”; “Die Nottasche fürs Krankenhaus stände bereit.” This form is more colloquial, however. Depending on the context, it can also imply disbelief. But even a formal, neutral report might employ the general subjunctive when the special subjunctive form is ambiguous, i.e. when there is no distinction between the special subjunctive and indicative forms. Instead of “sie haben schon einen Namen,” which might or might not be subjunctive, one might write the unambiguous “sie hätten schon einen Namen.” It is thus possible to use both the special and general subjunctives within the same sentence: “Sie hätten auch schon einen Namen, aber der werde nicht verraten.” If the original quotation contained a general subjunctive form, it is retained:

“Ich würde es tun, wenn ich könnte, aber ich bin jetzt zu krank.”

I would do it if I could, but now I am too sick.

This becomes:

Er würde es tun, wenn er könnte, aber er sei jetzt zu krank.

Tenses in the Special Subjunctive: While the general subjunctive offers only two tenses, the special subjunctive has four:

present:
	Er wolle uns helfen, aber er könne es heute nicht tun.		[he says that] He wants to help us, but he can’t do it today.
	Sie sei kein Kind mehr.		[she says that] She is no longer a child.
	Sie schlafe gern auf dem Balkon.		[she says that] She likes to sleep on the balcony.
past:
	Er habe nicht gewusst, dass er seinen Hut vergessen habe.		[he says that] He didn’t know that he had forgotten his hat.
	Sie habe einen Unfall gehabt, weil sie zu schnell gefahren sei.		[she says that] She had an accident because she was driving too fast.
future:
	Er werde in Zukunft mehr arbeiten.		[he says that] He will work more in the future.
	Sie werde uns bald besuchen.		[she says that] She will visit us soon.
future perfect:
	Er werde es vor Freitag fertig gemacht haben.		[he says that] He will have finished it before Friday.
	Sie werde bis dann alles gelesen haben.		[she says that] She will have read everything by then.

Note that the three indicative past tenses (imperfect, present perfect, and past perfect) are reduced in both subjunctives to one perfect tense: habe/hätte gesehen, sei/wäre gelaufen. Some Other Uses of Special Subjunctive: 1) As in English, the special subjunctive can be used for third-person commands:

Es lebe der König!	Long live the king!
Gott gebe, dass wir sicher ankommen.	May God grant that we arrive safely.
Hole ihn der Teufel!	The devil take him!
Möge sie glücklich sein.	May she be happy.
Er komme!	Let him come!
Gott sei Dank.	Thanks be to God.

2) Somewhat more common in third-person commands is “mögen” in the special subjunctive:

Möge sie glücklich sein.	May she be happy.
Möge dir Gott helfen.	May God help you.

3) Consistent with such commands, recipes in old-fashioned cookbooks are often written in the special subjunctive:

Man erhitze die Artischockenherzen in etwas Olivenöl.

Heat the artichoke hearts in some olive oil.

4) German has no word for “unless.” It can – albeit rarely – use “außer dass” or“außer wenn”, but most common is the special subjunctive phrase, “es sei denn,…”:

Wir fahren morgen früh, es sei denn, du willst länger schlafen.	We’re leaving tomorrow morning, unless you want to sleep late.
Wir fahren mit deinem Wagen, es sei denn, dass du etwas dagegen hast.	We’ll go in your car, unless you have something against that.
Sie kommt bald, es sei denn, dass sie den Bus verpasst hat.	She’s coming soon, unless she missed the bus.

5) As in English, the special subjunctive can be used to concede a point, although such constructions are largely obsolete:

Sei der Berg auch noch so hoch, wir werden ihn ersteigen.	However high the mountain may be, we’ll climb it.
Er möge schreien, soviel er will, wir kaufen es ihm nicht.	He can yell as much as he wants, but we won’t buy it for him.

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The Modal Auxiliaries in English: English features a group of “helping verbs” that function differently from most others: can, may, must, shall, should, and will. They do not describe an action, but express an attitude toward an action usually represented by an infinitive. Their present-tense conjugations resemble the simple past of strong verbs (“the truth will out”), and they do not use “to” when combining with infinitives (“she can go home”). They form past and future tenses in various ways: “I can,” “I could,” “I had been able to,” “I will be able to”). Note also that “to” is omitted when citing the auxiliary verb itself; we do not say “to must.” The Modal Auxiliaries in German: The German modal auxiliaries likewise express an attitude toward, or relationship to, an action:  

dürfen	to be permitted to, “may”
können	to be able to, “can”
mögen	to like
müssen	to have to, “must”
sollen	to be supposed to, “should”
wollen	to want, “will”

Their present tense conjugations resemble the simple past forms of strong verbs:

Infinitive	ich	du	er/sie/es	wir	ihr	Sie	sie
dürfen	darf	darfst	darf	dürfen	dürft	dürfen	dürfen
können	kann	kannst	kann	können	könnt	können	können
mögen	mag	magst	mag	mögen	mögt	mögen	mögen
müssen	muss	musst	muss	müssen	müsst	müssen	müssen
sollen	soll	sollst	soll	sollen	sollt	sollen	sollen
wollen	will	willst	will	wollen	wollt	wollen	wollen

With the exception of “mögen”, the modals generally combine with an infinitive (without “zu”). Some examples:

Darf man hier rauchen?	Is one allowed to smoke here?
Sie kann es nicht finden.	She can’t find it.
Ihr müsst langsamer sprechen.	You have to speak more slowly.
Willst du jetzt nach Hause gehen?	Do you want to go home now?
Mir dürfen Sie alles sagen.	You may tell me everything.
Ihr könnt das in der Drogerie kaufen.	You can buy that in the drugstore.
Das sollst du wissen.	You should know that.
Ich will jetzt schlafen.	I want to sleep now.

It is also possible to combine two modals this way:

Das sollst du können.	You should be able to do that.
Ich darf das wollen.	I’m allowed to want that.
Sie müssen uns sehen können.	They have to be able to see us.
Wir müssen nur wollen.*	We just have to want. [see below].

*”Müssen nur wollen” is the title of a song by the group Wir sind Helden (We Are Heroes). Here are the lyrics. “mögen” normally does not combine with another verb, except in its subjunctive form, “möchte”. In the indicative, it means “to like [something]” (although see “special meanings”:)

Ich mag diese Musik nicht.	I don’t like this music.
Wer möchte mit mir Tennis spielen?	Who would like to play tennis with me?
Sie möchte lieber über etwas anderes sprechen.	She would prefer to talk about something else.

The modals do not require an infinitive, however. Sometimes it is only implied:

Ich kann das.	I can do that.
Wir müssen jetzt nach Hause.	We have to go home now.
Was soll das?	What’s that supposed to mean?
Ich will noch ein Stück Kuchen.	I want another piece of cake.

Sometimes the infinitive is dispensed with in order to avoid an indelicate phrase:

Mutti, ich muss mal!	Mommy, I have to go (to the bathroom)!
Du kannst mich mal!	You know what you can do (= ~ kiss my ass).

To find out about using modal auxiliaries in the passive voice, click here. Models in the Past Tenses: The modals’ past forms resemble those of the other “irregular strong verbs”, although there are two forms of the past participle, as explained below:

Infinitive	Simple Past	Past Participle	Subjunctive
dürfen	durfte	gedurft/dürfen	dürfte
können	konnte	gekonnt/können	könnte
mögen	mochte	gemocht/mögen	möchte
müssen	musste	gemusst/müssen	müsste
sollen	sollte	gesollt/sollen	sollte
wollen	wollte	gewollt/wollen	wollte

Examples of the Simple Past Tense with Modals:

Sie durfte nicht zu Hause rauchen.	She wasn’t allowed to smoke at home.
Ich konnte ihn nicht hören.	I couldn’t hear him.
Mochtest du das nicht?	Didn’t you like that?
Ich musste aufs Klo.	I had to go to the bathroom.
Sie sollte die Bücher mitbringen.	She was supposed to bring the books along.
Er wollte etwas Billigeres kaufen.	He wanted to buy something cheaper.

Forming the Present Perfect and Past Perfect Tenses with Modals: There are two ways in which modals form past participles. When there is no accompanying infinitive, the modals act like irregular strong verbs:

Unsere Eltern waren sehr streng, wir haben nichts gedurft.	Our parents were very strict; we weren’t permitted to do anything.
Einmal habe ich das gekonnt.	Once I could do that.
Sie hat ihn gemocht.	She liked him.
Du hast das gemusst.	You had to do that.
Ich habe es gesollt.	I was supposed to.
Du hast es so gewollt.	That’s how you wanted it.

When the modal is associated with another verb, the two combine in the perfect tenses to form a double infinitive:

Ich habe nichts sagen dürfen.	I wasn’t allowed to say anything.
Wer hat das wissen können?	Who could have known that?
Alle Kinder haben helfen müssen.	All the children had to help.
Er hat mehr tun sollen.	He was supposed to do more.
Ich habe so etwas immer machen wollen.	I always wanted to do something like that.

The double infinitive can easily become awkward, and most speakers prefer to use the simple past. In dependent clauses, the double infinitive stays at the end, and the finite verbs slips into the second-the-last position

Er ist unglücklich, dass er erst nach dem Konzert hat essen dürfen.	He is unhappy that he wasn’t allowed to eat until after the concert.
Bist du sicher, dass du das so gut hättest schreiben können?	Are you sure, that you could have written that so well?
Ich weiß nicht, wer das hat machen müssen.	I don’t know who had to do that.
Wir haben geschlafen, obwohl wir eigentlich hätten arbeiten sollen.	We slept, although we were actually supposed to work.
Es ist schade, dass du das nicht mehr hast machen wollen.	It’s too bad that you didn’t want to do that any more.

In the above examples, the modal was put into a perfect tense. As in English, the modal can have a different meaning when combined with another verb that is in the past. Note the distinctions:

Sie hat das sagen dürfen.	She was allowed to say that.
Sie darf das gesagt haben.	She may have said that. [see next section on Special Meanings]
Er hat mir einen Brief schreiben können.	He was able to write me a letter.
Er kann mir einen Brief geschrieben haben.	He may have written me a letter. [see next section on Special Meanings]
Sie haben mich nach Hause tragen müssen.	They had to carry me home.
Sie müssen mich nach Hause getragen haben.	They must have carried me home.
Ihr habt mir helfen sollen.	You were supposed to help me.
Ihr sollt mir geholfen haben.	You are supposed to have helped me.
Er hat es finden wollen.	He wanted to find it.
Er will es gefunden haben.	He claims to have found it. [see next section on Special Meanings]

Special Meanings of the Modal Auxiliaries: “dürfen” has several meanings: 1) Usually it expresses permission or a right to do something (“may”).

Darf ich jetzt essen?	May I eat now?
Jeder darf seine Meinung äußern.	Everyone may express his or her opinion.
Darf ich bitte zu Ende reden?	May I please finish what I’m trying to say?

2) In the negative, “dürfen” can refer to a moral obligation, corresponding to “müssen” in the positive:

Wir dürfen nicht zu laut sein.

We mustn’t be too loud.

3) Although the use is now somewhat old-fashioned, “dürfen” can mean ‘need only’:

Du darfst nur anrufen, und ich komme sofort.

You need only call, and I’ll come right away.

4) The subjunctive form (“dürfte”) can be used to express mild conviction:

Das dürfte wohl wahr sein.	That may well be/is probably true.
Das Radio dürfte jetzt funktionieren.	The radio probably works now.
Die Polizei dürfte Sie fragen, wo Sie waren.	The police will probably ask you where you were.

“können” also has a variety of meanings: 1) To have the ability or power:

Kannst du Klavier spielen?	Can you play the piano?
Er kann ziemlich hoch springen.	He can jump pretty high.

2) As a transitive verb, meaning to know how to do something or to know something thoroughly:

Sie kann gut Deutsch.	She speaks German well.
Er kann das Gedicht auswendig.	He can say the poem by heart.

3) To be able to bear or endure:

Ich kann kein Blut sehen.

I can’t stand the sight of blood.

4) To be possible or likely:

Das kann wahr sein.	That could/may be true.
Das kann nicht sein.	That can’t be true.
Es könnte wohl regnen.	It could well rain.

5) As a mild form of command:

Sie können jetzt gehen.	You can go now.
Ihr könntet uns mal helfen.	You could give us a hand. [Note that this is in the subjunctive]

6) As a form of permission, indicating that there is nothing in the way:

Meinetwegen kann sie mitspielen.	As far as I’m concerned, she can play, too.
Ihr könnt gern mitkommen.	Y’all are welcome to come along.
Sie können es ruhig nehmen.	You’re welcome to take it.

7) As an indication of an opportunity or good reason to do something:

Sie können stolz auf ihr Kind sein.	You can be proud of your child.
Wir können jetzt essen.	We can eat now.

“mögen”: 1) To like something:

Ich mag keine Eier.	I don’t like eggs.
Sie mag ihn nicht.	She doesn’t like him.

2) “mögen” is frequently used in the subjunctive to shape requests or wishes:

Ich möchte ein Glas Leitungswasser.	I’d like a glass of tap water.
Möchtest du etwas anderes machen?	Would you like to do something else?

3) “mögen” can be used in the special subjunctive for third-person commands:

Möge sie glücklich sein.	May she be happy.
Möge Gott dir helfen.	May God help you.

4) To indicate possibility or probability. In this sense, “mögen” is always used positively. To deny a possibility, use “können” (“Das kann nicht sein”):

Es mag jetzt zu spät sein.	It may be too late.
Das möchte wohl ein Problem werden.	That might well become a problem.

5) To grant or concede a point:

Er mag so viel von seinen Leistungen reden, wie er will, ich finde ihn trotzdem doof.	He can talk all he wants about his accomplishments – I still think he’s stupid.
Er möge schreien soviel er will, wir kaufen es ihm nicht.	He can yell as much as he wants, but we won’t buy it for him.

1) To indicate necessity or obligation:“müssen”:

Muss ich das tun?	Do I have to do that?
Muss das sein?	Is that necessary?
Jeder muss irgendwann sterben.	Everybody has to die sometime.
Ich musste lachen.	I had to laugh.

2) With “müssen”, a strong obligation is expressed only in the positive. In contrast, “nicht müssen” means “don’t have to.” To translate “must not” use “nicht dürfen” or “nicht sollen”:

Du musst mehr essen.	You must eat more.
Du musst nichts sagen.	You don’t have to say anything.
Sie muss nicht mitsingen.	She doesn’t have to sing along.

3) The necessity can be implied in an expression of strong probability:

Du musst sehr enttäuscht gewesen sein.	You must have been very disappointed.
Das muss weh tun.	That must hurt.

4) There can be an implication that the necessity is unfortunate:

Gerade mich musste er sehen.	He had to see me, of all people.
Das musste kommen!	Of course that had to happen!

1) To indicate moral constraint (compare #7 below):“sollen”:

Du sollst nicht töten.	Thou shalt not kill.
Sie sollen sich besser benehmen!	You should behave better!

2) In contrast to the use cited above, “sollen” frequently appears in the subjunctive (but not with würde) when an English-speaker might not expect it to. In that form it implies a less strict obligation (and often precedes an admission that the obligation will not be fulfilled):  

Ich sollte meine Mutter anrufen, aber ich habe jetzt keine Zeit.	I ought to call my mother, but I don’t have any time right now.
Ich sollte eigentlich keinen Nachtisch bestellen.	I really shouldn’t order desert [but I’m going to].

3) As a command:

Sie sollen sofort kommen.	You are to come right away.
Er soll um fünf da sein.	He should be there at five.

4) To indicate an intent:

Dieser Computer sollte die Arbeit leichter machen.	This computer was supposed to make my work easier.
Soll das ein Witz sein?	Is that supposed to be a joke?

5) To indicate a logical probability:

Eigentlich soll das eine größere Zahl ergeben.

That should actually produce a higher number.

6) To ascertain someone’s will:

Sollen wir jetzt essen?

Shall we eat now?

7) Other senses of “supposed to be”:

Dresden soll sehr schön sein.	Dresden is supposed to be [is said to be] very beautiful.
Er sollte schon längst hier sein.	He was supposed to be here long ago.
Ich soll das Geld am ersten des Monats erhalten.	I’m supposed to get the money on the first of the month.

8) In the simple past tense, “sollen” can mean “would” or “to be to” to indicate that a further development will later take place in a narrative:

Er sollte bald sein blaues Wunder erleben.	He would soon get the shock of his life.
Sie sollte später lernen, was wirklich mit dem Geld geschehen war.	She would later learn what had really happened to the money.
Es sollten dann viele Menschen an dieser Krankheit sterben.	Many people were then to die of this disease.

“wollen”: 1) To express want, desire, or intention:

Ich will dich nie wieder sehen.	I don’t ever want to see you again.
Was willst du jetzt?	What do you want now?
Sie will nur das Beste für ihr Kind.	She only wants the best for her child.
Wir wollen ihren Geburtstag feiern.	We want to celebrate her birthday.
Er wollte es heute vorbeibringen.	He was going to bring it by today.
Wir wollen nicht weiter davon sprechen.	We won’t mention it any more.

2) To claim or profess:

Sie will nichts gehört haben.	She claims to have heard nothing.
Er will das Geld gefunden haben.	He claims to have found the money.
Dieses Buch will die umfassendste Studie sein.	This book professes to be the most complete study.

3) To be about to:

Ich wollte dich gerade anrufen.	I was just about to call you up.
Er ist gekommen, als wir gehen wollten.	He came as we were about to leave.

4) Some other meanings:

Wie wollen Sie das tun?	How do you expect to do that?
Wie haben stundenlang gewartet, aber er wollte nicht kommen.	We waited for hours, but he didn’t show up.
Bücher wollen gelesen werden.	Books are supposed to be read.
Das will nicht viel sagen.	That doesn’t mean much.

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The Subjunctive Mood in English: English, like German, has the general subjunctive, a system for talking about hypothetical situations:

• “If I were you, I wouldn’t do that.”
• “Had she known that, she wouldn’t have gone out with him.”
• “Let’s pretend that we were pirates.”
• “If you lived here, you would be home now.”
• “I would go, but I’m too tired.”
• “If only I hadn’t said that!”

These forms are very common, but speakers are not always conscientious about using them correctly: we hear toughs say, “If I was you, I’d keep my mouth shut,” and sports commentators claim, “If I’m the coach, I’m happy with the way the game is going.” Colloquial speech is most comfortable with constructions employing “would” (the subjunctive form of “will”): “I would do it if I could.” The general subjunctive is sometimes called the “past subjunctive” because it builds off past tense forms, but it does not necessarily refer to the past. In fact, “If I were rich…” refers to an undetermined time not in the past – it could be in the present or the future. To talk about an unreal situation in the past, we would have to say, “If I had been rich….” The General Subjunctive Mood in German (Konjunktiv II). Just like English, German uses the simple past forms as a basis for the general subjunctive. In fact, the subjunctive form of weak verbs is indistinguishable from the simple past:

Wenn ich diesen Wagen haben wollte, kaufte ich ihn sofort.

If I wanted to have this car, I would buy it immediately.

The strong verbs also use the simple past, adding an umlaut where possible, together with the same endings that follow the “-t-” of the weak simple past:

ich wäre	wir wären
du wärest	ihr wäret
	Sie wären
er/sie/es wäre	sie wären

The irregular weak verbs add an umlaut to the imperfect form: brächte, dächte, hätte, wüsste, although some of them substitute an “-e-” for the “-ä-“: brennte, kennte, nennte, rennte, sendete, wendete. Modals also add an umlaut to the imperfect form – if there was one in the infinitive: dürfte, könnte, möchte, müsste. “Sollen” and “wollen,” however, do not add an umlaut: sollte, wollte. (Some verbs have retained subjunctive forms that reflect archaic constructions. Thus “helfen” traditionally becomes “hülfe.” However, these forms now seem pedantic, and we increasingly find “hälfe.” You can click here for a listing of the subjunctive forms of the more common strong verbs). Thus we can construct sentences like:

Wenn ich dieses Lied wüsste, sänge ich es.	If I knew this song, I would sing it.
Wenn es nicht regnete, gingen wir schwimmen.	If it weren’t raining, we’d go swimming.
Ich kaufte das Buch, wenn ich Italienisch lesen könnte.	I’d buy the book if I could read Italian.
Ich brächte Blumen mit, wenn die Geschäfte nicht zu hätten.	I’d take flowers along if the stores weren’t closed.
Wenn das Wörtchen “wenn” nicht wär’, wär’ mein Vater Millionär.	If it weren’t for the little word “if,” my father would be a millionaire (~ “If wishes were horses, then beggars could ride.”).
Wenn ich ein Vöglein wär’,/ Und auch zwei Flüglein hätt’/ flöge ich zu dir’.	If I were a little bird,/ And had two little wings,/ I’d fly to you. [from a folksong].
Wenn deine Großmutter Räder hätte, wäre sie eine Straßenbahn.	If your grandmother had wheels, she’d be a trolleycar [= Yiddish proverb].

	If my boyfriend broke as many promises as the chancellor, I’d throw him out.

Similar to English’s use of “would,” colloquial German most comfortably employs “würde”, the subjunctive form of “werden”. In conditional sentences (“if…then”), “würde” is normally part of the “then-clause”:  

Wenn ich dieses Lied wüsste, würde ich es singen.	If I knew this song, I would sing it.
Wenn es nicht regnete, würden wir schwimmen gehen.	If it weren’t raining, we would go swimming.

  Tenses in the General Subjunctive: Note that constructions with “würden” resemble the future tense (i.e. “werden” + infinitive), but a future meaning is not necessarily implied. In contrast to the special subjunctive, the general subjunctive has in fact only two tenses – the non-past and the past – but we can construct each of these tenses in several ways. The non-past, an indeterminate time in the present or future, can be constructed with or without“”würde”:

Wenn ich schneller führe, hätte ich bestimmt einen Unfall.

Wenn ich schneller führe, würde ich bestimmt einen Unfall haben.

If I drove faster, I would surely have an accident.

To create a past tense, an indeterminate time before the present, we employ a perfect construction, using the subjunctive forms of “haben” or “sein” as the auxiliary verbs:

Wenn ich schneller gefahren wäre, hätte ich bestimmt einen Unfall gehabt.

Wenn ich schneller gefahren wäre, dann würde ich bestimmt einen Unfall gehabt haben.

If I had driven faster, I would surely have had an accident.

When the sense calls for it, both tenses might be used:

Wenn ich das damals gewusst hätte, wäre ich jetzt ein reicher Mann.

Wenn ich das damals gewusst hätte, würde ich jetzt ein reicher Mann sein.

If I had known that then, I would now be a rich man.

Note that only the “unreal” portion of the sentence is in the subjunctive:

Wenn ich damals gewusst hätte, was ich jetzt weiß, wäre ich ein reicher Mann.

If I had known then what I know now, I would be a rich man.

Other forms of “if-then” clauses: Inverted word order can replace “wenn” (compare the English, “Had I known…”):

Hätte ich gewusst, wer ihr Vater ist, hätte ich etwas anderes gesagt.	Had I known who her father is, I would have said something else.
Regnete es, gingen wir nach Hause.	Were it to rain, we’d go home.

	You’re afraid of growing old… A TB-patient in the Third World would be delighted by it.

Other Uses of the Subjunctive: 1) Much as in English, requests or other claims can be softened by the general subjunctive:

Ich hätte gern das große Frühstück.	I’d like the large breakfast.
Ich möchte einen Döner ohne Soße.	I’d like a Döner without sauce.
Könnten Sie mir bitte auch etwas Brot geben?	Could you please give me some bread, as well?
Hätten Sie vielleicht etwas Salz?	Would you happen to have some salt?
Würden Sie mir bitte Ihren Bleistift leihen?	Would you please lend me your pencil?
Wie wäre es mit einer Tasse Kaffee?	How would a cup of coffee be?
Dürfte ich sie bitten, das Fenster aufzumachen?	Might I ask you to open the window?
Es wäre jetzt Zeit, dass du gingest.	It would be time for you to go now.
Ich müsste eigentlich jetzt gehen.	I really ought to go now.
Ich wüsste nicht, was ich dir sagen könnte.	I don’t know what to tell you.
Das dürfte richtig sein.	That is probably right.
Ich hätte noch einen Wunsch.	I have one more request.
Das wäre alles.	That would be all [I have no more requests].
Sie möchten bitte nach Hause anrufen.	Please call home.
Jetzt wären wir am Ende.	Now we’re finished.

2) “als ob”, “als wenn”: When “as if” implies an unreal condition, it requires the subjunctive. “als ob” is the most usual form, but “als wenn” is also possible. You can also use “als” with inverted word order.

Er tut, als ob er die Antwort wüsste.	He acts as if he knew the answer.
Sie tun, als ob sie kein Wort verstanden hätten.	They act as if they hadn’t understood a word.
Die Amerikaner sprechen, als ob sie heiße Kartoffeln im Munde hätten.	Americans talk as if they had a mouthful of hot potatoes.
Er sieht aus, als ob er zu lange in der Sonne gelegen hätte.	He looks as if he had been lying in the sun too long.
Sie redet, als wenn sie meine beste Freundin wäre.	She talks as if she were my best friend.
Sie tut, als hätte sie das Pulver erfunden.	She acts as if she had invented gunpowder [~ “were a rocket scientist”].

3) Wishes can be expressed in the subjunctive. Note that the verbs expressing the desire are, in contrast to English, also in the subjunctive:

Ich wünschte, ich könnte fliegen.	I wish I could fly.
Ich wollte, er würde den Mund halten.	I wish he’d keep his mouth shut.

4) The subjunctive alone can also imply the wish:

Das wäre der Wagen für mich!	That’s the kind of car I’d want!
Man müsste jung sein!	Oh, to be young!

5) “If only” (or inverted word order) + subjunctive:

Wenn du nur hier wärest!	If only you were here!
Wenn ich nur ihren Namen wüsste!	If I only knew her name!
Wenn sie nur anrufen würde!	If only she would call!
Regnete es nur!	If only it would rain!
Hätten sie nur die richtige Größe!	If only they had the right size!

6) Using the subjunctive to contradict a previous claim:

Wann hätte ich so was gesagt?	When am I supposed to have said such a thing?
Wie sollte er es gefunden haben?	How is he supposed to have found it?
Schön wäre es!	That would be nice [if it were true].
Nicht dass ich wüsste.	Not that I’m aware of.

7) To assert something fanciful:

Ich dachte, ich wäre im Kino.	I thought I must be dreaming [“at the movies”; i.e. the situation was ridiculous]
Wir hatten Angst, dass er vor Wut platzen würde.	We were afraid he would explode with anger.

8) Using the general subjunctive in indirect discourse, especially when doubtful about the speaker’s veracity:

Er sagt, dass sein Wecker nicht geklingelt hätte.	He says that his alarm didn’t go off.
Sie behauptet, dass sie die ganze Zeit zu Hause gewesen wäre.	She claims that she was home the whole time.
Der Hund hätte Ihre Arbeit gefressen?	[Are you saying that] The dog ate your paper?

9) Some other examples:

Er wäre der letzte, den ich um Hilfe bitte würde.	He would be the last person I would ask for help.
Das Buch is so teuer, wie es sein könnte.	The book is as expensive as it could be.
Ich habe Angst, dass ich das Spiel verlieren könnte.	I’m afraid that I could lose the game.
Wo ist einer, der das tun wollte?

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Future Tense (das Futur)

The Future Tense in English: English forms the future tense in several ways:

1) by using the progressive present tense when the context makes the future meaning clear:

“I’m seeing her tomorrow.”

“We’re taking the test on Friday.”

2) by combining the verbs “will” or, less frequently, “shall” with the infinitive, not including “to”:

“I will do it tomorrow.”

“We shall see.”

3) by combining the verb “to go” in the progressive present form with the infinitive, including “to”:

“I am going to pay you back when I get my allowance.”

“Someday she’s going to get her comeuppance.”

The future tense can also indicate a present likelihood:

“I am going to pay you back when I get my allowance.”

“Someday she’s going to get her comeuppance.”

English has a future perfect tense to talk about a past event from the perspective of the future:

“I will have finished the paper by Monday.”

“By the time you get this letter I will have gone to Rio.”

The future perfect tense is also used to indicate a past likelihood, one that has consequences for the present or future:

“As you will have already heard, the gym will be closed today”

“You will have noticed that we no longer have a convertible.”

The Future Tense in German: Like English, German can talk about future events in the present tense when the context is clear:

Wir essen heute Abend in der Küche.	We’re eating in the kitchen tonight.
Wir sehen uns morgen.	We’re meeting tomorrow.
Er macht das erst Samstag.	He’s not doing that until Saturday.

Otherwise German uses the auxiliary verb “werden” with the infinitive:

Sie wird dir alles sagen.	She’ll tell you everything.
In zehn Jahren werde ich zu alt sein.	In ten years, I’ll be too old.
Die Kinder werden das nicht sehen wollen.	The children won’t want to see that.

Like English, German can also express present probability with the future tense, often in combination with adverbs such as “bestimmt” (certainly), “sicher” (certainly), “vielleicht” (perhaps), “wahrscheinlich” (probably), or “wohl” (probably):

Die Kinder werden wohl schon zu Hause sein.	The children will probably already be home.
Du wirst uns vielleicht besuchen wollen.	You will perhaps want to visit us.
Er wird jetzt bestimmt vorm Fernseher sitzen.	He’ll surely be sitting in front of the television now.

The Future Perfect Tense in German (Futur II): Like English, German has a future perfect tense that is used to talk about what will in the future be a past event. It is constructed by putting the auxiliary verb of the perfect tense (“haben” or “sein”) into a future form:

Bevor wir nach Hause kommen, werden sie alles aufgegessen haben.	Before we get home they will have eaten everything up.
Sie wird schon weggegangen sein.	She will have already gone.
Werden Sie das gemacht haben, bevor wir Sie abholen?	Will you have already done that before we pick you up?

The future perfect can also express a past probability:

Sie werden das sicher gründlich gelesen haben.	You will surely have read that thoroughly.
Er wird das wohl gewusst haben.	He probably will have known that.
Du wirst das bestimmt schon gehört haben.	You will certainly have already heard that.

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Reflexive Pronouns, Verbs (Reflexivpronomen, reflexive Verben) If the subject and direct or indirect object are the same person or thing, English uses a special set of pronouns:The Reflexive in English:

myself	ourselves
yourself	yourselves
himself
herself	themselves
itself

Thus:

I could kick myself.

Did he really kill himself?

Suit yourself.

We bought ourselves a new car.

She found herself a new friend.

Some verbs are reflexive by convention, even though the meaning is not logically reflexive:

Behave yourselves.

He conducted himself with dignity.

She seems to be enjoying herself.

Note that not all words ending in -self are reflexive. They can be an adverb meaning “without others,” as in “I’d rather do it myself” (For this function, German uses “selbst” [or “selber”]: “Ich mache es lieber selbst”). The Reflexive in German: The reflexive pronouns are different only in the third person and in the formal “Sie” (which is historically derived from the third person plural)

Nom.	Acc.	Dat.		Nom.	Acc.	Dat.
ich	mich	mir		wir	uns	uns
du	dich	dir		ihr	euch	euch
				Sie	sich	sich
er	sich	sich
sie	sich	sich		sie	sich	sich
es	sich	sich

Most transitive verbs can be used reflexively when the meaning calls for it. Note the differences:

Er sieht mich im Spiegel. He sees me in the mirror.

Er sieht sich im Spiegel. He sees himself in the mirror.

Sie wäscht das Kind gründlich. She washes the child thoroughly.

Sie wäscht sich gründlich. She washes herself thoroughly.

Ich liebe nur dich. I love only you.

Ich liebe nur mich. I love only myself.

Setzen Sie es auf den Stuhl. Set it down on the chair.

Setzen Sie sich auf den Stuhl. Sit down on the chair.

Sie verzeiht mir. She forgives me.

Ich kann mir nicht verzeihen. I can’t forgive myself.

Sie widerspricht ihrem Chef. She contradicts her boss.

Du widersprichst dir. You’re contradicting yourself.

Ich gönne dir ein zweites Stück Kuchen. I’ll allow (grant) you a second piece of cake.

Ich gönne mir einen Ruhetag. I’ll allow myself (treat myself to) a day off.

In the plural, the reflexive form can also mean “each other” (“one another”):

	We’ve come to an agreement. Our contribution to unemployment: cutting governmental positions.

Wir lieben uns. We love each other.

Sie küssen sich. They kiss each other.

Wir hassen uns. We hate each other.

Ihr vertragt euch gut. Y’all get along well with each other.

Wir treffen uns jeden Tag. We meet every day.

Sie streiten sich um die Erbschaft. They are fighting with each other over the inheritance.

Not all German reflexives have a corresponding construction in English:

Sie ziehen sich schnell an. They get dressed quickly.

Er kämmt sich. He combs his hair.

Ich rasiere mich morgens. I shave in the morning.

Sie schminkt sich nur am Wochenende. She puts on make-up only on the weekend.

The dative reflexive can be used to indicate that the action takes place for the subject’s benefit:

Kaufen Sie sich einen neuen Wagen? Are you buying yourself a new car?

Ich will mir etwas Schönes finden. I want to find something nice for myself.

Sie setzt sich die Kontaktlinsen ein. She puts in her contacts.

Mach dir keine Sorge darüber. Don’t worry yourself about it.

Du sollst dir eine wärmere Jacke anziehen. You should put on a warmer jacket.

To indicate parts of one’s own body, one shows possession with the dative reflexive:1  

Ich habe mir den Finger verletzt. I injured my finger.

Er rasiert sich den Kopf. He shaves his head.

Er kämmt sich die Haare. He combs his hair.

Sie färbt sich die Haare. She dyes her hair.

Du sollst dir die Zähne putzen. You ought to brush your teeth.

Ich wasche mir die Hände in Unschuld. I will wash my hands in innocency (Psalms 26: 6)

Some verbs take on a different meaning in the reflexive (dative or accusative). Note the following contrasts:

Ich erinnere ihn an seinen Onkel. I remind him of his uncle.

Ich erinnere mich an seinen Onkel. I remember his uncle.

Ich habe ihm meine Frau vorgestellt. I introduced my wife to him.

Kannst du dir so etwas vorstellen? Can you imagine such a thing?

Dein Besuch hat uns gefreut. We were delighted by your visit.

Wir freuen uns über deinen Besuch. We are happy about your visit.

Wir freuen uns auf deinen Besuch. We are looking forward to your visit.

Ich fühle den Wind. I feel the wind.

Ich fühle mich nicht wohl. I don’t feel well.

Sie trifft ihn in der Stadt. She meets (or: encounters) him in town.

Sie trifft sich mit ihm. She meets him (by arrangement).

Was ärgert dich jetzt? What’s annoying you now?

Ärgern Sie sich immernoch darüber? Are you still mad about that?

Du langweilst mich. You’re boring me.

Langweilst du dich? Are you bored?

Deine Probleme interessieren mich nicht. Your problems don’t interest me.

Ich interessiere mich für Geschichte. I’m interested in history.

Sein Fall beschäftigt uns sehr. His case is very much on our minds.

Ich beschäftige mich mit meinen Briefmarken. I occupy myself with my stamps.

Seine Antwort wundert mich. His answer surprises me.

Sie wundert sich über seine Antwort. She is surprised by his answer.

Seine Probleme kümmern mich nicht. His problems don’t concern me.

Sie kümmert sich um ihr Kind. She attends to her child.

Er unterhält uns mit seinen Geschichten. He entertains us with his stories.

Ich unterhalte mich gern mit ihr. I like to talk (have a discussion) with her.

Er hat seine Familie verlassen. He left his family.

Ich verlasse mich auf dich. I put my trust in you.

Sie amüsieren uns mit ihren Skizzen. They amuse us with their sketches.

Wir haben uns auf der Party gut amüsiert. We enjoyed ourselves at the party a lot.

	Relax. You’re on the island for every season. Cyprus

And then there are a number of verbs that are (almost) always reflexive. Here are some that take the accusative:

Ruhen Sie sich zuerst aus. Rest up first.

Ich bedanke mich bei ihm. I thank him.

Ich muss mich beeilen. I have to hurry.

Sie bewerben sich um eine Stelle. They’re applying for a position.

Das Kind benimmt sich erstaunlich gut. The child behaves itself surprisingly well.

Du sollst dich bei ihr entschuldigen. You should apologize to her.

Ich brauche eine Woche, mich zu erholen. I need a week to recover.

Wie hast du dich erkältet? How did you catch cold?

Fürchtest du dich vor dem Hund? Are you afraid of the dog?

Ich gewöhne mich langsam an seine Stimme. I’m slowly getting used to his voice.

Wo kann ich mich hinlegen? Where can I lie down?

Ich kenne mich hier gut aus. I know my way around here well.

Die Reise hat sich nicht gelohnt. The trip wasn’t worth it.

Er räuspert sich. He clears his throat.

Sie sollen sich schämen! You should be ashamed!

Ich will mich nur umsehen (umschauen). I just want to look around.

Der Zug hat sich verspätet. The train was late.

Hast du dich nicht mit ihm zum Tennis verabredet? Didn’t you make a date with him to play tennis?

Ich habe mich in meine Kusine verliebt. I’ve fallen in love with my cousin.

And some that take the dative:

Ich will es mir ansehen. I want to take a look at it.

Er bildet sich ein, ein großer Intellektueller zu sein. He (falsely) imagines that he is a great intellectual.

Ich muss mir das überlegen. I’ll have to think that over.

Sie hat es sich anders überlegt. She changed her mind.

Ich kann mir keine teueren Bücher leisten. I can’t afford any expensive books.

	Either we change ourselves, or the climate will change even faster

Some verbs always require an object, even when no actual object is implied. Then the verb becomes reflexive. This structure is less common in English than in German, but you do get things like: “The answer suggested itself very quickly.” Note the following contrasts:

Sie öffnete die Tür. She opened the door.

Die Tür öffnete sich plötzlich. The door opened suddenly.

Er bewegt das Bein. He moves his leg.

Etwas hat sich bewegt. Something moved.

Wir ändern unsre Pläne. We’re changing our plans.

Alles hat sich geändert. Everything has changed.

Sie dreht den Spiegel gegen die Wand. She turns the mirror to the wall.

Die Erde dreht sich um ihre Achse. The earth turns on its axis.

Sie verkaufen viele Bücher. They sell a lot of books.

Diese Bücher verkaufen sich wie warme Semmeln. These books sell like hotcakes.

	The new pension legislation: For younger people, much will improve. For most pensioners, everything will stay as it was.

The reflexive construction “sich lassen” can be used as a substitute for the passive when saying that something can or cannot be done:

Eine Lösung lässt sich finden. A solution can be found.

Das lässt sich leicht machen. That can be done easily.

Die Tür lässt sich nicht aufmachen. The door can’t be opened.

Der Wagen lässt sich schnell reparieren. The car can be fixed quickly.

Ein Skandal lässt sich nicht vermeiden. A scandal can’t be avoided.

	The Jeep Cherokee in a new design. One more reason to be seen more often in civilization.

The prefix “ver-“, combined with the reflexive, can often mean that the action is performed wrongly:

Ich habe mich verlaufen. I got lost (on foot).

Ich habe mich verfahren. I got lost (while driving).

Sie hat sich verschluckt. She swallowed the wrong way.

Du hast dich vertippt. You made a typing error.

Haben Sie sich nicht verzählt? Didn’t you count wrong?

Er hat sich versprochen. He misspoke.

Wir haben uns verrechnet. We miscalculated.

The prefix “hin-“, combined with the accusative reflexive phrase “vor sich”, can mean that the action is without thought or purpose, often rendered in English as “to oneself,” “away,” or “along”:

Er pfeift vor sich hin. He whistles to himself.

Die alte Frau brummt vor sich hin. The old lady grumbles to herself.

Du murmelst vor dich him. You’re mumbling to yourself.

Sie quatschen vor sich hin. They blather away.

Er duselt (döst) vor sich hin. He’s dozing (nodding) away (is half asleep).

Der Jobmarkt kriecht vor sich hin. The job-market crawls along.

	Which of our four seasons are you most looking forward to?

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The dative is also used to show possession, especially of body parts, even when the action is not reflexive:

Er hat ihr die Nase gebrochen. He broke her nose.

Ich wasche ihm den Kopf. “I’ll wash his head” (= I’m going to give him a piece of my mind).

Sie putzt ihm die Zähne. She brushes his teeth.

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