"would (always)" in German
English often uses "would" to show habitual behavior; "always" or some similar adverb is implied, though not often used. Some examples:

- When I was a kid, my brother would (always/often/sometimes) tease me about my glasses.
- His father would (always/often/sometimes) show up drunk to weddings.

This isn't subjunctive, and it's not a form of future tense. I think it's a special case in English that doesn't fit into a standard tense. So what is the best way to express this in German?

Question

"would (always)" in German
English often uses "would" to show habitual behavior; "always" or some similar adverb is implied, though not often used.  Some examples:

- When I was a kid, my brother would (always/often/sometimes) tease me about my glasses.
- His father would (always/often/sometimes) show up drunk to weddings.

This isn't subjunctive, and it's not a form of future tense.  I think it's a special case in English that doesn't fit into a standard tense.  So what is the best way to express this in German?

Answer

Als ich ein Kind war, hat mich mein Bruder immer wegen meiner Brille geneckt.
 Sein Vater kam immer betrunken zu Hochzeiten / tauchte immer betrunken zu Hochzeiten auf.
In German we would add a word indicating that it happened often such as: immer.
Man koennte auch sagen: Es war seine Angewohnheit immer betrunken auf Hochzeiten aufzutauchen.

Answers · 2

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