Konjunktiv I & II (Subjunctive Mood)
What is Konjunktiv I and when do I use it?
Konjunktiv I (subjunctive I) is primarily used for reported speech (indirect discourse) to indicate that the speaker is reporting someone else's statement without necessarily endorsing its truth. It's more common in formal writing and news reports.
Formation: Use the stem of the infinitive + Konjunktiv I endings:
ich: -e
du: -est
er/sie/es: -e
wir: -en
ihr: -et
sie/Sie: -en
Example
Er sagt, er habe keine Zeit. (He says he has no time.)
Sie behauptet, sie sei krank. (She claims she is sick.)
Note If Konjunktiv I is identical to the indicative, Konjunktiv II is used instead for clarity (e.g., wir/sie/Sie forms).