würde + Infinitive

Level 3

The würde-Form is the German equivalent of 'would' + verb. It is the most common way to form the Konjunktiv II (Subjunctive II) for most verbs in modern German.

How It Works

The würde + infinitive construction is a periphrastic (multi-word) form of the Subjunctive II. While every German verb has a one-word subjunctive form, many of them sound old-fashioned or are identical to the past tense. Therefore, speakers use würde to make it clear they are talking about a hypothetical scenario.

1. Conjugation of 'würde':

  • ich würde
  • du würdest
  • er/sie/es würde
  • wir würden
  • ihr würdet
  • sie/Sie würden

2. When to use it:

  • Hypotheticals: 'If I had money, I would buy a car.'
  • Politeness: 'Would you help me?'
  • Wishes: 'I would gladly stay longer.'

3. Important Exception:
Usually avoid würde with sein, haben, or modal verbs. These verbs use their own special one-word forms (wäre, hätte, könnte, etc.) instead.

Examples (4)

  1. Ich würde gerne nach Japan reisen.

    I would like to travel to Japan.

    Word by Word: I would gladly to Japan travel.

    Here, 'würde' expresses a wish or a hypothetical future plan.

  2. Würden Sie mir bitte helfen?

    Would you please help me?

    Word by Word: Would you me please help?

    Using 'würden' makes a request much more polite than using the imperative or present tense.

  3. Wenn ich Zeit hätte, würde ich Sport machen.

    If I had time, I would do sports.

    Word by Word: If I time had, would I sports make.

    This is a classic 'unreal' conditional sentence. Note that 'hätte' is used for 'have', but 'würde machen' is used for 'do'.

  4. Das würde ich an deiner Stelle nicht tun.

    I wouldn't do that if I were you.

    Word by Word: That would I at your place not do.

    The phrase 'an deiner Stelle' (in your place) is often paired with 'würde' to give advice.

Common Mistakes

  • Confusing 'wurde' (became) with 'würde' (would).

    Ich wurde gerne kommen.
    Ich würde gerne kommen.

    The umlaut (ü) is crucial. 'Wurde' is the past tense of 'werden' (became), while 'würde' is the subjunctive (would).

  • Using 'würde' with 'haben' or 'sein'.

    Ich würde gerne Zeit haben.
    Ich hätte gerne Zeit.

    While 'würde haben' is sometimes heard in dialects, it sounds heavy and less natural in standard German. Use 'hätte' and 'wäre' instead.

  • Incorrect word order for the infinitive.

    Ich würde machen eine Reise.
    Ich würde eine Reise machen.

    Just like with modal verbs, the conjugated 'würde' stays in second position, and the infinitive must go to the very end of the clause.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

würde + InfinitiveLevel 3

Learn This First

To understand the 'würde + infinitive' construction, learners need to be familiar with German verb conjugation and the specific sentence structure where a conjugated auxiliary verb (like a modal or 'würde') pushes the main verb to the end of the clause in its infinitive form.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern