2. Mixed Irregular Verbs (gemischte Verben)
The mixed verbs, which are verbs that use some of the characteristics of weak/regular verbs, and some characteristics from strong/regular verbs to form their participle also have slightly different forms:
Infinitiv → Präteritum → Konjunktiv II
brennen → brannte → brennte
bringen → brachte → brächte
denken → dachte → dächte
kennen → kannte → kennte
nennen → nannte → nennte
rennen → rannte → rennte
It is worth noting that some mixed verbs whose stem vowels change from ‘e’ to ‘a’ and then back to ‘e’ typically use “würden” + Infinitiv" instead of the subjunctive forms listed above, for example: Ich würde denken/bringen/rennen (I would think/bring/run).
3. Use of “wenn” (if)
The subordinating conjunction “wenn” occurs frequently in combination with the subjunctive; however, the same way that it can in English, there are times when it can be omitted in German.
Examples:
Wenn ich weniger Stress hätte, würde ich besser schlafen
If I had less stress, I would sleep better.
Hätte ich weniger Stress, (dann*) würde ich besser schlafen.
Had I less stress, then I would sleep better.
Wenn ich jünger wäre, könnte ich mehr Sport treiben.
If I were younger, I could do more sports.
Wäre ich jünger, dann* könnte ich mehr Sport treiben. / Were I younger, then I could do more sports.
* “dann” and “so” (more literary) are particles that precede the expected conjugated verb in the main clause, but take up no position (i.e. do not affect word order)
In the second and fourth sentences, “wenn” is dropped, but either “dann” or “so” is added after the comma at the beginning of the main clause. There is not much difference in the sentences and their meanings.
Sometimes “wenn”-clauses stand on their own without any main clause
Examples:
Wenn ich nur jünger wäre! or Wäre ich nur jünger!
If I were only younger!
Wenn ich nur mehr Zeit hätte! or Hätte ich nur mehr Zeit!
If I only had more time!
Wenn du mich nur sehen könntest! or Könntest du mich nur sehen!
If you could only see me!