German · Upper intermediate (B2) · Chapter 6 of 12
Public life
Aus dem Stadtrat
Report what politicians and others said in German: the Konjunktiv I for reported speech, the Konjunktiv II instead, and neutral formal language.
In this chapter you'll learn to
- Report statements in a neutral, formal way
- Form the Konjunktiv I: sei, habe, werde, könne
- Use the Konjunktiv II when the Konjunktiv I looks like the present
- Know when everyday speech uses dass instead
Listen
At a regional newspaper in Saarbrücken, editor Petra Lang (54) goes through an article with trainee reporter Jonas Schmitt (25). Listen to the whole dialogue first, then line by line.
Petra
Jonas, ich habe deinen Artikel über die Sitzung im Stadtrat gelesen. Der ist gut, aber bei den Zitaten müssen wir noch etwas ändern.
Jonas, I've read your article about the city council meeting. It's good, but we need to change a few things in the quotes.
Jonas
Was denn? Ich habe genau aufgeschrieben, was gesagt wurde.
What's wrong with them? I wrote down exactly what was said.
Petra
Das Problem ist dieser Satz: „Die Oberbürgermeisterin sagte, die neue Straßenbahnlinie ist gut für die Stadt.“ In der Zeitung schreiben wir: „… sie sei gut für die Stadt.“
The problem is this sentence: “The mayor said the new tram line is good for the city.” In the paper we write: “… that it was good for the city”, using sei.
Jonas
Ach so, der Konjunktiv I. Aber warum ist der so wichtig?
Oh, I see, the Konjunktiv I. But why does it matter so much?
Petra
Damit zeigen wir, dass wir nur wiedergeben, was jemand gesagt hat. Wir sagen nicht, dass es stimmt. Bei politischen Themen ist das besonders wichtig.
It shows that we're only reporting what someone said. We're not saying it's true. With political topics that's especially important.
Jonas
Verstehe. Dann schreibe ich: „Die Oberbürgermeisterin betonte, die Linie werde bis 2030 fertig sein und koste rund 200 Millionen Euro.“
I see. Then I'll write: “The mayor stressed that the line would be finished by 2030 and cost around 200 million euros.”
Petra
Genau. Und was hat die Opposition gesagt?
Exactly. And what did the opposition say?
Jonas
„Die Opposition kritisierte, die Kosten seien viel zu hoch. Die Stadt habe zu wenig an die Busse in den Vororten gedacht.“
“The opposition criticised the costs as far too high. The city had given too little thought to the buses in the suburbs.”
Petra
Sehr gut. Aber pass auf: Bei „die Anwohner haben Angst“ hilft der Konjunktiv I nicht, weil „sie haben“ genau wie das Präsens aussieht. Da nimmst du den Konjunktiv II.
Very good. But be careful: with “the residents are afraid”, the Konjunktiv I doesn't help, because sie haben looks exactly like the present. So you use the Konjunktiv II.
Jonas
Also: „Ein Sprecher einer Bürgerinitiative sagte, viele Anwohner hätten Angst vor dem Lärm.“
So: “A spokesman for a citizens' action group said many residents were afraid of the noise.”
Petra
Perfekt. Unter Freunden sagt natürlich niemand „sie sei“. Da sagt man einfach: „Sie hat gesagt, dass die Linie 2030 fertig ist.“
Perfect. Of course, nobody says sie sei among friends. There you just say: “She said the line will be finished in 2030.”
Jonas
Gut zu wissen. Dann ändere ich die Zitate gleich und schicke dir den Text in einer halben Stunde.
Good to know. Then I'll change the quotes right away and send you the text in half an hour.
Understand
The Konjunktiv I: sie sei, er habe
In B1 you learned to recognise in the news. Now you can use it. The Konjunktiv I reports what someone said without saying whether it's true. It's typical of newspapers, news on radio and TV, and formal reports.
In practice you mainly need the er / sie / es form: take the infinitive stem and add -e: → , → , → , → . There's no vowel change: , . is irregular: .
For the past, use or + participle: For the future, use + infinitive:
| Infinitive | Present () | Konjunktiv I () |
|---|---|---|
When the Konjunktiv I looks like the present: use the Konjunktiv II
In many forms, especially the plural, the Konjunktiv I is the same as the normal present: , . The reader couldn't see that it's reported speech, so German uses the Konjunktiv II instead: (not ). For most verbs that means + infinitive:
is the exception: is always clear, so it stays:
| Direct speech | Reported (formal) |
|---|---|
| „“ | |
| „“ | |
| „“ | |
| „“ |
Formal reports and everyday speech
Formal reports use verbs that show how something was said: (to stress), (to explain, to state), (to criticise), (to claim). With (according to), no verb is needed:
In conversation the Konjunktiv I sounds stiff. People say … with the normal verb, or use the Konjunktiv II: Both are fine in speech; in formal writing, use the Konjunktiv I.
- Der Sprecher behauptete, das Projekt sei zu teuer.The spokesman claimed the project was too expensive.
- Sie hat gesagt, dass sie später kommt.She said she'd come later.
More in the grammar: The Konjunktiv II: würde, hätte, wäre, könnte · The Konjunktiv I: reported speech (er sei, sie habe)
New words
- der Stadtratcity council · masculine; = meeting, session; = article
- das Zitatquotation, quote · neuter, plural:
- ändernto change · Perfekt:
- der Satzsentence · masculine, plural:
- der Oberbürgermeister / die Oberbürgermeisterinmayor (of a larger city) · = line; = tram line
- wiedergebento report, to reproduce · separable: ; Perfekt:
- besondersespecially, particularly · = political; , = topic
- betonento stress, to emphasise
- fertigfinished, ready
- der Vorortsuburb · masculine, plural: ; = too little
- aufpassento be careful, to pay attention · separable: = Be careful!
- der Anwohner / die Anwohnerinresident (of a street or area) · plural: /
- die Angstfear · feminine, plural: ; + dative = to be afraid of
- der Sprecher / die Sprecherinspokesperson; speaker · = citizen; = citizens' action group
Practise
1.Which is the Konjunktiv I? “Die Oberbürgermeisterin sagte, die Linie ___ gut für die Stadt.”
2.Complete with the Konjunktiv I of .
She stressed that the line would be finished by 2030.
3.The Konjunktiv I would look like the present here. Use the Konjunktiv II of .
He said many residents were afraid of the noise.
4.Put the words in order.
Tap the words below in the right order.The opposition criticised the costs as too high.
5.Match the reporting verbs.
Pick a word on the left, then its meaning on the right.
6.Which sentence is formal reported speech about the past?
0 of 6 exercises done.
Say it out loud
Sie hat gesagt, dass die Linie 2030 fertig ist.
She said the line will be finished in 2030.
Listen, then say it out loud, as close to the recording as you can.
Check
Five questions on this chapter. Then mark it as finished to add its words to your review deck.
0 of 5 answered.