Grammar — B2
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Konjunktiv I (Reported Speech)
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Konjunktiv I is primarily used in indirect (reported) speech, especially in formal writing and journalism. It signals that the speaker is reporting what someone else said without asserting its truth. It is formed from the infinitive stem plus special endings.
- • Formation: infinitive stem + -e, -est, -e, -en, -et, -en (e.g. er sage, er habe, er sei)
- • If Konjunktiv I is identical to the indicative, use Konjunktiv II instead (e.g. 'sie haben' → 'sie hätten')
- • 'sein' is the most distinct: ich sei, du sei(e)st, er/sie/es sei, wir seien, ihr seiet, sie seien
- • Common in newspapers: 'Der Minister sagte, er sei zuversichtlich.' (The minister said he was confident.)
Er sagte, er sei krank.
He said he was sick.
Sie behauptete, sie habe nichts gewusst.
She claimed she had known nothing.
Der Sprecher erklärte, die Lage sei unter Kontrolle.
The spokesperson stated that the situation was under control.
Tip: Konjunktiv I is rare in everyday speech but essential for reading newspapers and academic texts. In conversation, Germans usually use 'würde + infinitive' or Konjunktiv II instead.
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