I. Recap
The conditional in German is expressed through the Konjunktiv II also known as the second subjunctive. There are two ways to convey the conditional in German: using the modal verb würden with an infinitive (the method used most of the time), or by using the specific conditional conjugation of the verb (the subjunctive II form). The würden option is discussed further in another lesson.| Ich würde es wissen (conditional conveyed with würden). I would know it. Das wüsste ich nicht (subjunctive II). I wouldn’t know that. |
II. Subjunctive II vs. Würden
A. Most verbs, especially in the spoken language, use würden to express the conditional. This is mainly due to the fact that the subjunctive II forms of regular verbs are indistinguishable from their simple past forms because both take the endings: (-e, -est, -e, -en, -et, -en). Subjunctive II forms may be found in older texts, but the use of würden is becoming more and more popular even in writing.| Ich tanzte im Nachtclub (simple past). I danced at the nightclub. Ich *tanzte, wenn ich mir nicht das Bein gebrochen hätte (conditional). I would dance, had I not broken my leg. *although technically correct, this would not be used in most situations as to avoid ambiguity. Als er schnell arbeitete, hat er viele Fehler gemacht (simple past). When he was working quickly, he made a lot of mistakes. Wenn er schnell arbeitete, würde er viele Fehler machen (conditional). If he worked quickly, he would make many mistakes. |
B. Here, we see the difference between the tenses with a strong verb. Although in spoken language, würden is still often used, forms like this can still be found in writing although würden continues to gain frequency in both writing as well as in the oral language:
| Er kam nach der Arbeit nach Hause (simple past). He came home after work. Er käme früh nach Hause, wenn er nicht so viel Arbeit hätte (conditional). He would come home early, if he didn’t have so much work. Das Mädchen blieb zu Hause, weil sie krank war (simple past). The girl stayed home because she was sick. Wäre das Mädchen krank, bliebe sie zu Hause (conditional). Were the girl sick, she would stay home. |
C. Sein, haben, and gehen are almost always found in the subjunctive II form.
| Wenn ich reich wäre (sein), würde ich eine Weltreise machen. If I were rich, I would take a trip around the world. Hätte (haben) ich Zeit, würde ich Französisch lernen. If I had time, I would learn French. Wenn sie uns einladen würde, gingen (gehen) wir zur Party. If she would invite us, we would go to the party. |