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Learn to Speak German Online:
German Grammar Guidebook

One important use of the subjunctive is in requests. To make a request sound more polite, use subjunctive forms. Compare:

"REAL"

Können Sie die Hemden stärken und bügeln?

Can you wash and iron these shirts?

"HYPOTHETICAL", MORE POLITE

Könnten Sie die Hemden stärken und bügeln?

Could you wash and iron these shirts?

Hypothetical Subjunctive

An essential use of the subjunctive is to talk about a hypothetical situation, one that depends on a contrary-to-fact assumption or condition.

Wish you were here.

Compare:

REAL

Das wird DM 7,50 extra kosten.

That will cost an extra 7.50 marks.

CONTRARY-TO-FACT

Das würde DM 7,50 extra kosten.

That would cost an extra 7.50 marks. (implied: if you were to choose this option)

These sentences from the story show the subjunctive at work.

Ginge es schon heute nachmittag?

Would this be possible by this afternoon?

Das wäre mit unserem Schnelldienst möglich.

That would be possible with our express service.

Und diese Sachen wären zu reinigen.

And these things would be for cleaning.

Könnten Sie auch ein paar Flickarbeiten machen?

Could you also do a few repairs?

Bis wann müßten Sie diese Sachen zurückhaben?

When would you have to have these back?

Ich hätte sie gerne übermorgen.

I’d like to have them the day after tomorrow.

Examples of Subjunctive to Express Politeness