Konjunktiv I in Questions

This grammar creates distance. Imagine you are at a party. Your friend Sarah asks, "Is the pizza here?" Later, you tell your brother, "Sarah asked if the pizza be here." By using Konjunktiv I, you are telling your brother: "This is Sarah’s question, not mine." In German, we use the word ob (if/whether) to start these indirect questions. The verb then moves to the very end of the sentence. It also changes its shape. Instead of the normal ist, it becomes sei. It’s like a secret code that says, "I am just the messenger!" Think of it like a grammar traffic light. The green light is the normal fact. The yellow light is Konjunktiv I, telling you to be careful because this is reported information.

1. 1Creating Konjunktiv I is actually simpler than the normal present tense. You follow these steps:
2. 2Start with the Infinitive of the verb (like kommen or haben).
3. 3Remove the -n or -en from the end to find the Stem.
4. 4Add the special Konjunktiv endings to that stem.
5. 5The endings are very consistent:
6. 6ich: -e
7. 7du: -est
8. 8er/sie/es: -e (This is the most important one!)
9. 9wir: -en
10. 10ihr: -et
11. 11sie/Sie: -en
12. 12Let's look at the verb sein (to be). It is the superstar of Konjunktiv I because it is irregular and very common. The forms are: ich sei, du seiest, er/sie/es sei, wir seien, ihr seiet, sie seien. If the Konjunktiv I form looks exactly like the normal present tense (which happens often for ich and wir), Germans usually switch to Konjunktiv II instead. But for now, focus on er sei. It’s the one you will see the most!

You use Konjunktiv I in questions when you are reporting someone else's inquiry. This happens in several real-world scenarios:

• In the News: A reporter says, "The police asked if the man sei guilty."
• In Formal Meetings: A secretary writes, "The boss asked whether the project habe enough money."
• Reporting Gossip: You tell a friend, "He asked if I komme to the party."
• Job Interviews: A recruiter might write in their notes, "I asked if the candidate spreche English."

It makes you sound professional and objective. It’s like wearing a suit made of words. You use it whenever you want to remain neutral. If you are just repeating what you heard, Konjunktiv I is your best friend. It protects you from being the source of the information.

Don't use Konjunktiv I in your everyday casual chats with friends. If you are at a cafe and ask, "Where is the bathroom?", just use normal German! If you use Konjunktiv I there, people might think you are reading from a 19th-century novel. Also, avoid it when you are 100% sure of a fact and you are the one stating it. It is strictly for reported information. If you are talking about your own feelings or direct actions, stick to the Indikativ (the normal mood). Think of it like a tuxedo. It’s great for a gala, but a bit much for a trip to the supermarket.

The biggest mistake is confusing Konjunktiv I with Konjunktiv II. Remember: Konjunktiv I is for reporting. Konjunktiv II is for wishes and dreams (like "I wish I were rich"). Another common slip-up is the ending for er/sie/es. In normal German, it usually ends in -t (er kommt). In Konjunktiv I, it must end in -e (er komme). People also forget to move the verb to the end of the sentence after ob. Remember, indirect questions are subordinate clauses. The verb is the caboose of the train! Finally, don't overthink the plural forms. Since they often look like normal German, even natives just use the normal forms or Konjunktiv II to avoid confusion.

Let's compare three ways to ask about a cat:

1. 1Direct Question: "Ist die Katze hungrig?" (Is the cat hungry?) - This is normal life.
2. 2Indirect Question (Normal): "Er fragt, ob die Katze hungrig ist." - This is common in daily speech.
3. 3Indirect Question (Konjunktiv I): "Er fragt, ob die Katze hungrig sei." - This is formal, like in a newspaper.

See the difference? The third version sounds more detached. It’s the difference between saying "The cat is hungry" and "It is claimed that the cat be hungry." It adds a layer of professional distance that is very important in German culture when handling information.