Transcript Document
The subjunctive mood is not a tense, but a verb form used to
express uncertainty, doubt or a contrary to reality condition. It is
also frequently used to reflect politeness and good manners. The
Subjunctive mood can be used in various tenses. (similar to the
passive voice) – As in English, German builds off the past tense of
verbs to form the subjunctive.
haben – to have (infinitive form of verb)
hatte – had (imperfect tense / simple past)
hätte – would have / had (subjunctive mood)
sein – to be (infinitive form of verb)
war – was (imperfect tense / simple past)
wäre – would have / were (subjunctive mood)
We will be focusing on the present perfect tense using the
subjunctive mood. The subjunctive forms of haben and sein
(hätten und wären) operate as helping verbs when used with a
past participle of the main verb.
Ich habe Deutsch gelernt.
I have learned German.
Ich hätte Deutsch gelernt.
I would have learned German.
Ich bin nach Atlanta gefahren.
I have driven to Atlanta.
Ich wäre nach Atlanta gefahren.
I would have driven to Atlanta.
Today, we will focus on how these two verbs are used in
the subjunctive as they are the most often forms used.
hätten
ich hätte
du hättest
er/sie/es hätte
wir hätten
ihr hättet
sie hätten
wären
ich wäre
du wärest
er/sie/es wäre
wir wären
ihr wäret
sie wären
It’s helpful to think of both of these forms as meaning
“would have” in English when forming the perfect
tense with them.
Now, you need to be able to determine when a verb uses
haben (or hätte in the subjunctive mood) and when it uses sein
(or wäre in the subjunctive mood) as the helping verb.
Use wären when….
1) Verb indicates motion to a new location.
Beispiele = fahren, gehen, fliegen
2) Verb indicates a change in a state of being.
Beispiele = wachsen, sterben, werden
3) Certain verbs which always use a form of sein
as a helping verb in the perfect tense.
sein (gewesen)
werden (geworden)
hätten / wären
_______
hätten __gesagt (said)
hätten / wären
_________geworden
(become)
wären
hätten / wären
_________geweint
(cried)
hätten
hätten / wären
_________gegangen
(gone)
wären
hätten / wären
_________geflogen
(flown)
wären
hätten / wären
_________gestorben
(died)
wären
hätten / wären
hätte
Er ___________
dich gesehen (He would
have seen you)
hätten / wären
Wir _______________
nicht da gewesen.
wären
(We would have not been there)
hätten / wären
hättest die Frage geantwortet.
Du _______________
(You would have answered the question.)
Write in German
I would have gone to the school. (zur Schule
– to the school / gegangen – gone)
Ich wäre zur Schule
gegangen.
Write in German
Would you have played soccer?
Hättest du Fussball
gespielt?
with hätten as helping verb
1) I would have seen you.
Ich hätte dich gesehen.
2) He would have done that.
Er hätte das gemacht.
3) We would have heard the music.
Wir hätten die Musik gehört.
with wären as helping verb
1) I would have gone.
Ich wäre gegangen.
2) She would have driven with you.
Sie wäre mit dir gefahren.
3) Would you have gone?
Wärest du gegangen?
If you want to say would have been (gewesen),
you will always use a form of wären
1) That would have been good.
Das wäre gut gewesen.
2) I would have been there.
Ich wäre da gewesen.
3) He would have been arrested. (verhaften- to
arrest)
Er wäre verhaftet gewesen.
1) I would have said that.
Ich hätte das gesagt.
2) Would you have bought that?
Hättest du das gekauft?
3) She would have been with us.
Sie wäre mit uns gewesen.
4) Would she have gone to school?
Wäre sie zur Schule gegangen?
5) He would have been sick.
Er wäre krank gewesen.
6) What would you have done?
Was hättest du gemacht?
7) I would have drank the water.
Ich hätte das Wasser getrunken.
8) Where would you have gone?
Wo wärest du gegangen?