Subjunctive in Fixed Expressions
Konjunktiv in festen Wendungen
A small group of German idioms preserves old Konjunktiv I forms that no longer follow productive rules, such as Gott sei Dank, Es lebe die Freiheit, Sei es, wie es sei and Koste es, was es wolle. These are memorized chunks rather than live grammar, and they appear in wishes, concessions and formal instructions.
Learn Sei es..., 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.
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!
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.
Traditionelle Wünsche und Segen benutzen Konjunktiv I.
| 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 |
Wishes: Gott sei Dank! Es lebe...! Konjunktiv I creates formal wishes/blessings.
Gott sei Dank = God be thanked. Es lebe = Long live. Konjunktiv I!
Concessive Expressions
Konzessive Ausdrücke
Concessive expressions accept a situation regardless of difficulties.
Konzessive Ausdrücke akzeptieren eine Situation trotz Schwierigkeiten.
| 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 |
Koste es, was es wolle = cost what it may. Komme, was da wolle = come what may.
Koste es, was es wolle = cost what it may. Fixed Konjunktiv!
Formal Instructions
Formelle Anweisungen
Formal instructions often use Konjunktiv for politeness or formality.
Formelle Anweisungen nutzen oft Konjunktiv für Höflichkeit.
| 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 |
Man nehme... = recipe style. Es sei darauf hingewiesen = formal academic style.
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.
Mathematik und Logik nutzen Konjunktiv I für Definitionen.
| 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 |
Math: Es sei x = 5. Let x be 5. Konjunktiv I for mathematical definitions!
Math: sei = let/assume. Es sei x = 5.
Memorize as Chunks!
Als Blöcke merken!
Do not analyze these — memorize them as fixed phrases! Gott sei Dank, koste es was es wolle, sei es wie es sei. They are idioms, not productive grammar.
Nicht analysieren — als feste Phrasen merken! Gott sei Dank, koste es was es wolle. Das sind Redewendungen.
However that may be, we must continue.
Wie dem auch sei, wir müssen weitermachen.
Examples
Gott sei Dank!
Thank God!
seiKonjunktiv I: Gott be thanked.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Gott | God |
| sei | be (Konj I) |
| Dank | thanks |
Es lebe die Freiheit!
Long live freedom!
lebeKonjunktiv I: May freedom live!
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Es | May |
| lebe | live (Konj I) |
| die Freiheit | freedom |
Sei es, wie es sei.
Be that as it may.
Sei esFixed concessive expression.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sei es | Be it |
| wie es sei | as it may |
Koste es, was es wolle.
Cost what it may. / Whatever the cost.
Koste, wolleFixed expression: determination.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Koste es | Cost it |
| was es wolle | what it may |
Man nehme zwei Eier und etwas Milch.
Take two eggs and some milk.
nehmeRecipe style: one takes = man nehme.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 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 hingewiesenFormal academic style.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Es sei | It should be |
| darauf hingewiesen | noted |
| dass | that |
Möge er in Frieden ruhen.
May he rest in peace.
MögeWish/blessing: Möge + Konjunktiv.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Möge | May |
| er | he |
| in Frieden | in peace |
| ruhen | rest |
Wie dem auch sei, wir müssen handeln.
However that may be, we must act.
seiConcessive: regardless of how things are.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wie dem auch sei | However that may be |
| wir müssen handeln | we must act |
Practice Exercises
8 interactive exercises
Gott ___ Dank!
Thank God!
You got on this topic's exercises.
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Konjunktiv II (Past)
Express past hypotheticals with hätte/wäre + participle.
Konjunktiv I (Reported Speech)
Report speech formally with er sei, er habe.
Konjunktiv II (wäre/hätte)
Express wishes and hypothetical situations.
Modal Particles
Use doch, mal, ja, halt, eben naturally.
Common questions about fixed subjunctive expressions
What does Gott sei Dank mean in German?
It means thank God and expresses relief. The form sei is Konjunktiv I of sein, a fossilised wish meaning may thanks be to God. Related blessings follow the same pattern: Gott behüte means God forbid, and Möge er in Frieden ruhen means may he rest in peace.
What does Sei es, wie es sei mean?
It means be that as it may, a concessive phrase for accepting a situation you cannot resolve. The variant Wie dem auch sei means however that may be. Both use Konjunktiv I of sein and are used to close off a side issue and move on to the main point.
What does Koste es, was es wolle mean?
It means cost what it may, or whatever the cost, and it expresses determination. wolle is Konjunktiv I of wollen. The parallel phrase Komme, was da wolle means come what may. Both keep the verb in first position, an old subjunctive pattern that survives only in fixed expressions.
Why does Es lebe use the subjunctive?
Because it is a wish, not a statement of fact. Es lebe die Freiheit means long live freedom, literally may freedom live. This use of Konjunktiv I for wishes was once general in German but now survives mostly in toasts, slogans and recipes, as in the instruction Man nehme, meaning one takes.
Are these expressions still used in modern German?
Yes, though they are frozen. Gott sei Dank is completely everyday, while Sei es, wie es sei and Es sei darauf hingewiesen belong to formal speech and writing. You cannot extend the pattern to new verbs, so learn each phrase whole rather than trying to build your own.