B2.2 · Twilight Elegance II

Subjunctive Fixed Expressions

Konjunktiv feste Wendungen

Use Sei es and Wie dem auch sei

Rules & Explanations

Subjunctive Fixed Expressions Introduction

Einführung: Konjunktiv in festen Wendungen

Sei es, wie es sei... Es lebe der König! Koste es, was es wolle! — German has many FIXED EXPRESSIONS using Konjunktiv. These are not hypotheticals — they are idioms you need to memorize!

German uses Konjunktiv I and II in fixed expressions: wishes, concessions, exclamations. These are fossils from older German!

English has similar idioms: Be that as it may, Long live the King!, Come what may.

Why you need this Formal speeches, written expressions, idiomatic usage.

Sei es, wie es sei. / Gott sei Dank! / Es lebe die Freiheit!

Be that as it may. / Thank God! / Long live freedom!

Konjunktiv forms in fixed phrases — memorize as chunks!

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These expressions are common in formal German and show cultural fluency!

Wishes and Blessings

Wünsche und Segen

Traditional wishes and blessings use Konjunktiv I forms.

German	English	Context
Gott sei Dank!	Thank God!	relief
Gott behüte!	God forbid!	warning
Es lebe...!	Long live...!	celebration
Möge er in Frieden ruhen.	May he rest in peace.	condolence
Dem sei, wie es wolle.	Be that as it may.	concession

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Wishes: Gott sei Dank! Es lebe...! Konjunktiv I creates formal wishes/blessings.

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Gott SEI Dank = God BE thanked. Es LEBE = Long LIVE. Konjunktiv I!

Concessive Expressions

Konzessive Ausdrücke

Concessive expressions accept a situation regardless of difficulties.

German	English	Meaning
Sei es, wie es sei.	Be that as it may.	accepting uncertainty
Wie dem auch sei...	However that may be...	regardless
Koste es, was es wolle.	Cost what it may. / Whatever the cost.	determination
Komme, was da wolle.	Come what may.	determination
Es sei denn...	Unless...	exception

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Koste es, was es wolle = cost what it may. Komme, was da wolle = come what may.

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Koste es, was es WOLLE = cost what it MAY. Fixed Konjunktiv!

Formal Instructions

Formelle Anweisungen

Formal instructions often use Konjunktiv for politeness or formality.

German	English	Context
Man nehme...	One takes... / Take...	recipes
Seien Sie so freundlich...	Be so kind...	polite request
Es sei darauf hingewiesen...	It should be noted...	formal writing
Es sei erwähnt...	It should be mentioned...	academic
Angenommen, er käme...	Suppose he came...	hypothetical

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Man nehme... = recipe style. Es sei darauf hingewiesen = formal academic style.

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Recipes: Man NEHME (one takes). Academic: Es SEI darauf hingewiesen.

Mathematical and Logical Expressions

Mathematische und logische Ausdrücke

Math and logic use Konjunktiv I for definitions and assumptions.

German	English	Field
Es sei x = 5.	Let x = 5.	mathematics
Seien A und B...	Let A and B be...	mathematics
Angenommen, dass...	Assuming that...	logic
Gesetzt den Fall, dass...	In the event that...	formal logic

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Math: Es sei x = 5. Let x be 5. Konjunktiv I for mathematical definitions!

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Math: sei = let/assume. Es SEI x = 5.

Memorize as Chunks!

Als Blöcke merken!

Examples

Gott sei Dank!

Thank God!

sei

Konjunktiv I: Gott be thanked.

Wort	Bedeutung
sei	be (Konj I)
Dank	thanks
Gott	God

Es lebe die Freiheit!

Long live freedom!

lebe

Konjunktiv I: May freedom live!

Wort	Bedeutung
Es	May
lebe	live (Konj I)
die Freiheit	freedom

Sei es, wie es sei.

Be that as it may.

Sei es

Fixed concessive expression.

Wort	Bedeutung
Sei es	Be it
wie es sei	as it may

Koste es, was es wolle.

Cost what it may. / Whatever the cost.

Koste, wolle

Fixed expression: determination.

Wort	Bedeutung
Koste es	Cost it
was es wolle	what it may

Man nehme zwei Eier und etwas Milch.

Take two eggs and some milk.

nehme

Recipe style: one takes = man nehme.

Wort	Bedeutung
Man	One
nehme	takes (Konj I)
zwei Eier	two eggs
und etwas Milch	and some milk

Es sei darauf hingewiesen, dass...

It should be noted that...

sei hingewiesen

Formal academic style.

Wort	Bedeutung
dass	that
Es sei	It should be
darauf hingewiesen	noted

Möge er in Frieden ruhen.

May he rest in peace.

Möge

Wish/blessing: Möge + Konjunktiv.

Wort	Bedeutung
er	he
Möge	May
ruhen	rest
in Frieden	in peace

Wie dem auch sei, wir müssen handeln.

However that may be, we must act.

sei

Concessive: regardless of how things are.

Wort	Bedeutung
Wie dem auch sei	However that may be
wir müssen handeln	we must act

Practice Exercises

8 interactive exercises

Frage 1 von 8

Thank God!

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