Konjunktiv I — Ausweichen auf Konjunktiv II

How the rule begins

One of the most important rules for using the Konjunktiv I in reported speech is the so-called Ausweichregel, the fallback rule. It says: when the Konjunktiv I form is identical to the indicative, Konjunktiv II is used instead — so that the reader or listener can tell that this is reported speech and not a statement of fact.

The rest of the explanation, the examples and the exercises are in the full lesson.