What is the German Conditional Tense?
Ok, let’s deal first with what the German conditional tense means. It is one of more specialised tenses as it deals with a specific situation. This situation is something that would happen, or would be true under certain conditions (hence conditional tense).
For example:
Ich würde ins Kino gehen, wenn ich Zeit hätte – I would go to the cinema if I had the time.
Was würdest du mit einer Millionen Euro machen? – What would you do with a million Euros?
When is the German Conditional Tense used?
The situation for when the German conditional tense is used is quite easy to identify. In English it is identifiable by the word would or an abbreviation e.g. we’d (we would).
How is the German Conditional Tense used?
The German conditional tense is formed in 2 parts.
- The first part is the created by the würde form of the verb werden. You may see this referred as the Subjunctive but it is easier to remember würde.
- The second part is the full form of the main verb in the sentence (the infinitive). This is as usual placed at the end of the sentence.
Verb Table for the German Conditional Tense
| Pronoun | würde form of werden (subjunctive) |
| ich | würde |
| du | würdest |
| er/sie/es | würde |
| wir | würden |
| ihr | würdet |
| sie/Sie | würden |
Examples of the German Conditional Tense
Ich würde einen Ferrari kaufen, wenn ich Geld hätte. – I would buy a Ferrari if I had more money
Wir würden zum Strand gehen, wenn es sonnig wäre – We would go to the beach if it was sunny
Würdest du jemals ein Motorrad fahren? – Would you ever ride a motorcycle?
Thanks so much for another entry about conditional tense ^^.
Another blog well done. You guys are the best
Thank you Paul and Purple Lover
If you or anyone have any suggestions you would like to see in future blogs just let us know and we will try and include them
very good but needs a few more examples
Hello Spenser,
A few more examples are:
Er würde dir gerne helfen, wenn er mehr Zeit hätte.
(He would like to help you if he had more time.)
Was würden Sie an meiner Stelle tun?
(What would you do in my shoes?)
Würdet ihr euren Job wechseln, wenn ihr mehr Mut hättet?
(Would you change your job if you had the courage to?)
Ich habe nicht gewussen, dass Deutsch Leute so nett und witzig sind. Diese Übungen sind sehr hilfreiche.
“Wir würden zum Strand gehen, wenn es sonnig wäre – I would go to the beach if it was sunny”
Isn’t it: we would go to the beach..?
@Star: Well spotted. I’ve just changed it
Thank you.