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Tense guide
Konjunktiv I (Subjunctive I)

Language: German
Tense:
Person:

Practice conjugation drills

Introduction

This special verb form is mainly used to report what someone else has said, written, or thought. It shows that you are passing on information, not stating your own opinion. Think of it as a formal way of quoting someone without using their exact words.

The most common use is for reporting speech. You will see it often in formal writing like news articles, official reports, and announcements. It creates a neutral distance, making it clear that the information comes from another source.

Der Politiker sagt, er habe keine Zeit.
(The politician says he has no time.)
Die Sprecherin erklärte, die Lage sei unter Kontrolle.
(The spokesperson explained that the situation is under control.)
Er schreibt in seinem Brief, er komme nächste Woche.
(He writes in his letter that he is coming next week.)
Der Wetterbericht meldet, es werde morgen sonnig.
(The weather report announces it will be sunny tomorrow.)
Laut dem Zeugen gebe es keine weiteren Details.
(According to the witness, there are no further details.)
Sie behauptet, sie wisse nichts davon.
(She claims she knows nothing about it.)

You might see this verb form in very formal instructions, such as in recipes or technical manuals. This usage is less common today and can sound a bit old-fashioned.

Man nehme 200g Mehl und zwei Eier.
(One takes 200g of flour and two eggs.)
Danach füge man eine Prise Salz hinzu.
(After that, one adds a pinch of salt.)
Man erhitze die Mischung langsam.
(One heats the mixture slowly.)

This verb form also appears in some fixed expressions and formal wishes. These are set phrases that are usually learned as a whole.

Es lebe die Freiheit!
(Long live freedom!)
Gott sei Dank!
(Thank God!)
Der Friede sei mit dir.
(Peace be with you.)

IMPORTANT: In everyday spoken German, this verb form is very rare. When reporting what someone said, people usually just use the normal present or past tense. Using this special form in a casual conversation can sound overly formal or stiff.

Conjugation patterns