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Introduction to Subjunctive I (Konjunktiv I) in German
The Subjunctive I, or Konjunktiv I, is a special verb form in German. It's like a magic tool that helps us talk about things other people say or think. This mood is often used in reported speech, which is when we tell someone else what another person said.
When to Use Subjunctive I
Important Points
Reporting what someone else said.
Writing in newspapers or formal reports.
Telling stories or fairy tales.
How to Form Subjunctive I
To make the Subjunctive I form, we take the verb and change it a little bit. For most verbs, we start with the stem of the verb (the part without 'en' or 'n') and add special endings.
Important Points
For regular verbs, add -e, -est, -e, -en, -et, -en.
For 'sein' (to be), use sei, seiest, sei, seien, seiet, seien.
Examples
Er sagt, er habe keine Zeit.
Sie meint, sie sei müde.
Er sagt, er komme später.
Examples of Subjunctive I in Sentences
Let's see how we use Subjunctive I in some sentences. Remember, it's like telling what someone else said.
Examples
Er sagt, dass er gehe.
Sie berichtet, dass sie komme.
Der Lehrer sagt, die Klasse sei fleißig.
Important Tips
Important Points
Use Subjunctive I mainly in written language.
It's often found in news reports and literature.
Remember, it's not the same as the Subjunctive II, which is for wishes or unreal situations.
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