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Optative sentence |
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Optative sentences express wishes: So sollte es sein. Wenn es doch so wäre! Unlike imperative sentences, they do not express a direct command or request.
Features
There are two kinds of optative sentences:
"Real" optative sentence
| Verb position |
The finite verb comes second. |
| Verb form |
The finite verb is in the subjunctive I. In modern language, only the 3rd person is used. |
| Intonation |
The voice falls at the end of the sentence. |
| Punctuation mark |
Exclamation mark or full stop |
Examples:
Lang lebe die Königin!
Gott sei Dank!
Da komme, was wolle!
Es sei hier nur erwähnt, dass...
Das bleibe dahingestellt.
For more information see Subjunctive I in the main clause.
Unreal optative sentence
| Verb position |
The finite verb comes first or, with wenn, last. |
| Verb form |
The finite verb is in the subjunctive II. |
| Intonation |
The voice is falling at the end of the sentence. |
| punctuation mark |
Exclamation mark or full stop |
Examples:
Käme er doch endlich!
Wenn er doch endlich käme!
Hätte ich nur nichts gesagt!
Wenn ich nur nichts gesagt hätte!
Würde es doch nur nicht so schmerzen!
Wenn es doch nur nicht so schmerzen würde!
For more information see Subjunctive II in the main clause, Unreal optative clause.
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