Lesson 8 - Modal Verbs
Modal verbs are verbs used to modify or change other verbs to show such things as ability, permission, or necessity.
For example: You can eat, I must stay.
Use of Modal Verbs with Another Verb
In German, modal verbs are very similar to those in English; as they are generally used together with a main verb in its infinitive form. However, there is one main difference between both languages. In English, the modal verb and the main verb stay together; whereas in German, the modal verb and the main verb are separated; as the main verb goes to the end of the sentence.
- Wir müssen heute entscheiden - We must decide today
German Modal Verbs
There are six modal verbs in German,
all having conjugation that is different than regular German verbs (discussed in an earlier lesson).
The six German modal verbs are:
dürfen, können, mögen, müssen, sollen, and wollen.
Modal Verbs in Detail
Dürfen - may/to be allowed to
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | darf | wir | dürfen |
| du | darfst | ihr | dürft |
| er/sie/es | darf | sie | dürfen |
| Sie | dürfen |
Dürfen is used to express permission:
- Ihr dürft hier rauchen - You are allowed to smoke here
When used with 'nicht', dürfen conveys the meaning of something one must not do.
- Ihr dürft hier nicht rauchen - You must not smoke here
Können - can/to be able to
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | kann | wir | können |
| du | kannst | ihr | könnt |
| er/sie/es | kann | sie | können |
| Sie | können |
Können means 'can' or 'to be able to':
- Ich kann den Wecker nicht ausschalten - I can't turn off the alarm clock
It can also be used to express possibility:
- Das kann nicht sein - That can't be true
Müssen - must/to have to/need to
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | muss | wir | müssen |
| du | musst | ihr | müsst |
| er/sie/es | muss | sie | müssen |
| Sie | müssen |
Müssen means 'to have to' or 'must' or 'need to':
- Du musst um sieben aufstehen - You must/have to wake up at seven.
When used with 'nicht', it doesn't convey the meaning of prohibition as in English, but means 'do not have to' (remember that dürfen + nicht is used to say 'must not').
- Du musst nicht kommen - You don't have to come.
Sollen - to be supposed to/should/ought to
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | soll | wir | sollen |
| du | sollst | ihr | sollt |
| er/sie/es | soll | sie | sollen |
| Sie | sollen |
Sollen means 'to be supposed to' or 'should' or 'ought to':
- Wir sollen mehr arbeiten - We ought to work more
- Du sollst deine Freunde einladen - You should invite your friends
Wollen - to want
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | will | wir | wollen |
| du | willst | ihr | wollt |
| er/sie/es | will | sie | wollen |
| Sie | wollen |
Wollen usually expresses an intention or desire, equivilant to the English 'to want to':
- Ich will etwas trinken - I want to drink something
Take note not to use the verb in the sense of the English verb 'will' to form the future tense. This requires another verb in German ('werden').
Mögen/möchten - to like/would like
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | mag/möchte | wir | mögen/möchten |
| du | magst/möchtest | ihr | mögt/möchtet |
| er/sie/es | mag/möchte | sie | mögen/möchten |
| Sie | mögen/möchten |
The modal verb mögen means 'to like' and is often used with reference to people, food, or places.
- Ich mag Tennis - I like Tennis
However, the verb is most oftenly used in its subjunctive form, möchten, which means 'would like to'.
- Er möchte das Auto fahren - He would like to drive the car
As with 'mögen', 'möchten' could also be used on its own, without a second verb.
- Ich möchte ein Glas Wasser, bitte - I would like a glass of water, please
Modal and Separable Verbs
When a modal verb is used with a separable one, the separable verb stays together and goes to the end of the sentance.
- Ich will Morgen ausgehen - I want to go out tomorrow
- Du sollst deine Mutter anrufen - You should call your mother
Now you nearly know everything about German verbs in the present tense,
only reflexive verbs are left for another lesson in a later unit.
Using very little vocabulary, you should be able to form complete German sentances by now.