Key points about the conditional tense in German
- The Is used to talk about what might happen in the future, ambitions and intentions. is used to express what might happen in the future, as well as ambitions or intentions. For example:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. – I would like to pass my exams.
It is called the conditional because the action depends on certain conditions being met. It describes something that is not definite, as it relies on factors such as cost, weather, or time.
This is different from the future tense, which expresses something certain or factual. For example:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. – The sun will rise tomorrow.
Check your understanding
Using möchten to form the conditional tense
Form the conditional tense by using the Is a doing word.möchten + the Is the form of the verb you will find in a dictionary before the verb is conjugated. It is the basic form of the verb. In German in infinitive ends in -en or -n and the equivalent in English is (to) to play, to go, to listen. at the end of the sentence to express ‘would like to’.
For example:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. – I would like to study German, Maths and Geography in Sixth Form.
It is important to know how to Means changing the verb ending to match the person doing the action eg ich spiel, du spielst, wir spielen. the key verb möchten in German.
Here are some key phrases:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | I would like |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you would like |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | he/she/it would like |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | we would like |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (plural) would like |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (polite) would like |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | they would like |
Mini quiz
1: What is the German translation of:
I would like to travel to Australia.
Answer: Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
2: What is the English translation of:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again..
Answer: I would like to reserve/book a table.
Quiz
Higher - Expressing would, should and could
| Subject Pronoun | Conditional Verb | Further details | Infinitive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. |
It is important to know how to Means changing the verb ending to match the person doing the action eg ich spiel, du spielst, wir spielen. the verbs würden, können and sollen in the conditional forms:
| Subject Pronoun | would | could | should |
|---|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. (I) | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. (you) | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. (he/she/it) | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. (you plural) | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. (you polite) | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. (they) | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. (they) | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. + infinitive |
More on Verbs
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