244. The Subjunctive in German (I)

244.  The Subjunctive in German (I)   

As opposed to the Indicative form of the verb (the Normal Form),  the Subjunctive of German verbs is used when there is an element of doubt involved. There are 2 areas where we see verbs used in this form - in Conditional Clauses (wenn clauses) and in Reported Speech. The Subjunctive, however, is a relatively 'literary' usage rather than in spoken language except for some common everyday expressions like ich möchte, könnte etc.).

In the Present & Past Subjunctive forms, endings used for the Subjunctive are as follows:  -e, -est, -e, -en, -et, -en, -en. These endings are placed on the stem of the verb so theoretically, the verb   haben  would have the following forms:  ich habe, du habest, er habe,  wir haben, ihr habet, Sie/sie haben. The 3rd person singular is usually the only form of the verb seen in situations where someone makes a statement that is likely to be doubtful. Indeed the only exception is with the verb  sein  which has the following forms: ich sei, du sei(e)st, er/sie/es sei, wir seien, ihr seiet, sie seien. Again, however, use will almost certainly be restricted to the 3rd person.

In the Imperfect Tense, the stem of the verb will usually add an Umlaut if possible plus the endings above and look like this ...  ich wäre, ich hãtte, ich käme, ich sähe, ich könnte, ich möchte, ich ginge.

Reported Speech.

If we look at the following statements, the first using the Subjunctive and the next the Indicative (Normal form), the Subjunctive sentences cast doubt on the statement made. Because the actual statement made was I have not stolen your money - Present Tense of haben - the Present Subjunctive can be used.

Der Mann hat gesagt, dass er mein Geld nicht gestohlen habe. (Subjunctive - Doubt!)
Der Mann hat gesagt, dass er mein Geld nicht gestohlen hat. (Indicative - Credible!)

Der Schüler hat behauptet, er habe schon seine Hausaufgaben gemacht. (Subjunctive -Doubt)
Der Schüler hat behauptet, er hat schon seine Hausaufgaben gemacht (Indicative - No Doubt)

The general rule regarding choice of the Subjunctive used is that should the Present Tense Subjunctive form be the same as the Indicative ( See haben in the 3rd person plural - they form), the Subjunctive form must revert to the Past Tense form - hätten.

Die Diebe haben berichtet, sie hätten nichts gestohlen (Doubt - haben can't be used)

Die Polizisten haben berichtet, die Diebe hatten nichts gestohlen (Thieves have an alibi)

Equally, with a verb requiring sein (Verbs with Motion and Change of State) wäre(n) can be substituted with sei(en)......

Die Diebe sagten, sie seien nie ins Haus eingebrochen (Still More Doubt)

View through the Columns of Brandenburg Gate