Using the subjunctive II as a polite form in German

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Using the subjunctive II as a polite form

We use the subjunctive II of the verbs mögen (to like) and können (to be able to, can) to ask for something politely or to say that we'd like something.

Können Sie mir helfen? → Könnten Sie mir helfen? (höflich)

Can you help me? → Could you help me? (more polite)

Ich will einen Kaffee. → Ich möchte einen Kaffee. (höflich)

I want a coffee. → I would like a coffee. (more polite)

Here's how we conjugate the two verbs:

mögen en
ich möchte
du möchtest
er/sie/es möchte
wir möchten
ihr möchtet
sie/Sie möchten

können en
ich könnte
du könntest
er/sie/es könnte
wir könnten
ihr könntet
sie/Sie könnten

These verbs can also be put into the subjunctive II to make a sentence more polite:

  •  haben haben, Konj. II Präteritum, gern haben haben, Konj. II Präteritum and dürfen dürfen, Konj. II Präteritum

Haben Sie vielleicht Feuer? → Hätten Sie vielleicht Feuer?

Do you happen to have a light? → Would you happen to have a light?

Ich will ein Glas Wasser. → Ich hätte gerne ein Glas Wasser.

I want a glass of water. → I would like a glass of water.

Darf ich hier rauchen? → Dürfte ich hier rauchen? 

Can I smoke here? → May I smoke here? (or more literally, May I smoke here? → Might I smoke here?)

We can also formulate polite requests using the subjunctive II of werden werden, Konj. II Präteritum.

Würden Sie mir ein Glas Wein bringen?

Would you bring me a glass of water?

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