Part 214

the verb +~gingen~+ stands in the Imperfect Subjunctive and not in the Present, because the third person plural of the Present Indicative and the corresponding person of the Present Subjunctive are identical in the conjugation of this verb. Both are »+~sie gehen~+,« the verb, therefore, must be put in the Imperfect Subjunctive to show clearly the mood employed.

§ 32. =The Subjunctive is employed in adverbial clauses of purpose and of manner=, when the subordinate clause generally begins with the conjunctions +~daß~+, +~auf daß~+, +~damit~+, and +~als ob~+; as—

+Du sollst deinen Vater und deine Mutter ehren, ~auf daß~ dir’s ~wohlgehe~ und du lange ~lebest~ auf Erden.+

Thou shalt honour thy father and thy mother, that thou mayest prosper and thy days be long on earth.

+Ist es nicht, ~als ob~ dies Volk mich zum Gott ~mache~?+ (Schiller.)

Does it not seem as if the people meant to make a God of me?

§ 33. =The Imperfect Subjunctive and the Pluperfect Subjunctive= are used to express something possible, or something capable of being done, also to denote a mere supposition on the part of the speaker, or for the purpose of stating an opinion with caution or modesty; as—

+Es ~könnte~ sein, daß er nicht zu Hause ~wäre~.+

Literally: It might be possible that he were not at home, i.e. He may possibly not be at home.

+Ich ~hätte~ wohl Lust, ihm einen Besuch zu machen.+

I should like indeed to pay him a visit.

+Ich ~wüßte~ wohl, was zu thun ~wäre~.+

I fancy I know what ought to be done.

+Es ~wäre~ vielleicht besser, das Unternehmen aufzugeben.+

Perhaps it would be better to give up the undertaking.

§ 34. =To express a wish= we use the Present Subjunctive, when we believe in the fulfilment of the wish, but the Imperfect Subjunctive, when we want to indicate that the fulfilment of the wish is unlikely, and even impossible; as—

+Gott ~sei~ mit dir!+

God be with you!

+~Möge~ er bald gesund werden!+

May he soon recover his health!

+Lang ~lebe~ der König!+

Long live the king!

+Gott ~helfe~ mir!+ (Luther.)

May God help me!

But with the Imperfect Subjunctive:

+~Möchte~ er bald gesund werden!+

Would he might soon recover his health!

+Wenn er doch noch ~lebte~!+