ließe

Ließe is a German verb form derived from the verb lassen (to let, to allow). It is most clearly identified as a Konjunktiv II (present subjunctive) form, used to express hypothetical or counterfactual meanings, to report speech indirectly in a more formal or literary style, and to convey polite or tentative statements.

In practical use, ließe appears in sentences that describe imagined situations or wishes, for example: Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, ließe ich mir ein neues Auto kaufen. This translates to: If I had more time, I would buy myself a new car. Ließe also occurs in indirect speech: Er sagte, er ließe sich davon nicht abhalten. Translation: He said he would not be deterred by it. In everyday language, speakers often replace Konjunktiv II with würde, as in: Ich würde mir ein neues Auto kaufen.

Grammatical note: ließe is distinct from the Präteritum (simple past) form ließ; the Konjunktiv II form is used for hypothetical or reported content, whereas the Präteritum provides a past narrative. The form is more common in formal, literary, or careful writing and less common in casual speech, where the würde-construction is preferred.

Etymology and related forms: ließe is a stem form of lassen in the subjunctive mood. The broader family includes ich lasse, er lasse (Konjunktiv I) and the forms of Konjunktiv II that surround ließe in sentences describing unreal or imagined scenarios.

See also: lassen (the verb), Konjunktiv I and Konjunktiv II in German grammar.