When a company faces a disastrous product recall, public relations representatives do a lot of talking. To summarize their claims without confirming they are actually true, formal German and journalism use a special verb form called Konjunktiv I (Present Subjunctive).
Forming the Third-Person Singular
For the third-person singular (he, she, it, or a noun like der Hersteller), forming Konjunktiv I is simple: take the infinitive stem of the verb and add -e.
Notice how this removes the vowel changes that usually happen in the present tense for irregular and modal verbs:
| Infinitive | Present (er/sie/es) | Konjunktiv I (er/sie/es) |
|---|---|---|
| haben | hat | habe |
| werden | wird | werde |
| können | kann | könne |
| müssen | muss | müsse |
| sagen | sagt | sage |
Word Order in Reported Speech
When reporting a statement, you can drop the word dass (that). If you do, the reported speech acts exactly like a normal main clause, and the conjugated Konjunktiv I verb stays in the second position.
| The spokesperson assures the manufacturer has solved the problem. | Der Sprecher versichert, der Hersteller habe das Problem gelöst. |
| He says the manufacturer must start the recall because of the accidents. | Er sagt, der Hersteller müsse den Rückruf wegen der Unfälle anfangen. |
Using "dass" (that)
You can also introduce reported speech with the conjunction dass. Just like any other dass-clause, this turns the statement into a subordinate clause, pushing the conjugated Konjunktiv I verb all the way to the end of the sentence.
| The spokesperson emphasizes that the battery will not explode. | Der Sprecher betont, dass die Batterie nicht explodieren werde. |
Distancing Yourself from the Claim
Because Konjunktiv I distances the reporter from the speaker's claims, it is the perfect tool for summarizing corporate promises, excuses, or shifting blame.
| He says the one who bought the phone can apply for the compensation on the internet. | Er sagt, derjenige, der das Telefon gekauft hat, könne die Entschädigung im Internet beantragen. |
| The manufacturer emphasizes he is saying nothing more about it. | Der Hersteller betont, er sage dazu nichts mehr. |
By using forms like habe, könne, or sage, you make it clear to your listener: these are the manufacturer's words, not yours!