KonjunktivIForm

Konjunktiv I Form refers to the present subjunctive forms used in German to express indirect or reported speech. It is a grammatical mood that allows a speaker to report someone else’s words without quoting them directly, and it is frequently found in formal writing, journalism, and official documents.

Formation follows standard verb conjugation patterns. For most regular verbs the Konjunktiv I present forms are built from the verb stem with the endings: -e, -est, -e, -en, -et, -en. Examples with machen: ich mache, du machest, er mache, wir machen, ihr machet, sie machen. Some verbs add the same consonant as in the indicative, but the endings distinguish the subjunctive: ich gehe, du gehest, er gehe, wir gehen, ihr gehet, sie gehen.

Irregular verbs have specific Konjunktiv I forms. Common examples include sein: ich sei, du seist, er sei, wir seien, ihr seiet, sie seien; haben: ich habe, du habest, er habe, wir haben, ihr habet, sie haben; werden: ich werde, du werdest, er werde, wir werden, ihr werdet, sie werden.

Usage and stylistic notes. Konjunktiv I is mainly used to report someone’s speech or statements (Er sagt, er komme morgen). It helps keep the reporting verb in focus and distinguishes reported content from the speaker’s own assertions. In practice, some forms—especially in the second person singular and plural—sound archaic or are rarely used in everyday speech. When clarity is needed or in informal contexts, speakers often replace Konjunktiv I with Konjunktiv II or with wie würde + infinitive (er würde kommen).

Overall, Konjunktiv I forms a key tool for formal indirect speech in German, with a set of standard endings and a small set of widely used irregular forms.