German II: Subjunctive Case
Used to talk about something that isn’t true, a wish, or to be polite.
Wenn ich nur 30 Stunden am Tag hätte! --> If I only had 30 hours in a day.
Ich wünschte, ich wäre Millionär. --> I wish I were a millionaire.
Könntest du bitte die Tür schliessen? --> Could you please close the door?
The subjunctive case is shown by using the simple past form of regular verbs.
machte --> made or would make
spielte --> played or would play
arbeitete --> worked or would work
For irregular verbs, start with the simple past form and add -e to the stem. Then, put an umlaut on the vowel if it is “a” or “u”.
ging --> went
las --> read
kam --> came
change to
ginge --> would go
läse --> would read
käme --> would come
You can also just use the subjunctive form of werden (würden) with the infinitive form of the verb at the end like you would with future tense.
Ich würde nach Hause gehen. or Ich ginge nach Hause. --> I would go home.
Du würdest mehr lesen. or Du läsest mehr. --> You would read more (but you cannot).
Wir würden Trompete spielen. or Wir spielten Trompete. --> We would play the trumpet (but we cannot).
