Konjunktiv II for distance and diplomacy

By C1, most Konjunktiv II you meet in writing has nothing to do with imaginary situations. It marks a move in an argument: putting an objection on the table, proposing a reading, recommending a check, or criticising without accusing. The form is familiar; what is new is the job it does.

The pattern is almost always impersonal: es wäre, es ließe sich, man könnte, dies dürfte. The writer disappears, and what remains is a proposition offered for examination.

• Man könnte einwenden, dass die Stichprobe zu klein ist.

  It could be objected that the sample is too small.

  the writer names the objection before answering it

• Es wäre zu prüfen, ob die Ergebnisse übertragbar sind.

  It would need to be examined whether the results are transferable.

  sein + zu + Infinitiv inside Konjunktiv II: a task, not a verdict

• Daraus ließe sich schließen, dass die Organisation entscheidend ist.

  From this it could be concluded that the organisation is decisive.

• Dies könnte darauf zurückzuführen sein, dass die Daten fehlen.

  This might be attributable to the absence of the data.

The diplomatic use is worth learning as a set of fixed moves. Man hätte erwarten können, dass … is criticism, and a sharp one: the expectation was reasonable and it was disappointed. Es wäre sinnvoll gewesen, … zu … says what should have happened and leaves the agent unnamed. Both let you make a hard point without an accusation in the sentence.

• Man hätte erwarten können, dass die Beteiligten früher informiert werden.

  One might have expected those involved to be informed earlier.

  criticism, no one accused

• Es wäre sinnvoll gewesen, früher zu reagieren.

  It would have made sense to react earlier.

• Sie haben viel zu spät reagiert.

  You reacted far too late.

  the same content as an accusation — sometimes right, rarely in writing

Strength ladder, from hardest to softest: Das ist falsch → Das dürfte falsch sein → Das könnte problematisch sein → Es ließe sich argumentieren, dass …. Only the first claims to settle the matter.

Cautious is not the same as vague. Es wäre zu prüfen, ob die Ergebnisse übertragbar sind names exactly what is open. A sentence that hedges without saying what is in doubt is simply evasive.