Key points about modal verbs
- Modal verbs are used to express ability, permission, necessity, obligation or possibility. For example:
Ich muss meine Hausaufgaben machen
I have to do my homework.
Du darfst keine Sportschuhe tragen
You are not allowed to wear trainers.
There are six modal verbs in German:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.to be able to
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.to have to
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.to be allowed to
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.to want to
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.to ought to
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.to like to
Modal verbs are used with another verb in the The infinitive is the form of the verb you will find in a dictionary before the verb is conjugated. It is the basic form of the verb. In German in infinitive ends in -en or -n and the equivalent in English is (to) to play, to go, to listen. to create a full sentence.
Video
Modal verbs are always used with a verb in the infinitive form.
Watch the video below to find out more.
Using modal verbs and the infinitive
How to use the infinitive in German
When you look up a verb in the dictionary what you find is the verb in the infinitive form.
In English it’s two words - ‘to swim’ - but in German it’s just the one schwimmen.
In German, there’s a group of verbs to help you say what you like, what you can and what you have to do.
They’re called modal verbs and they always come together with a verb in the infinitive form.
Ich mag is a modal verb. it means ‘I like’.
When you put it with an infinitive - like schwimmen - you get ich mag schwimmen - ‘I like to swim’.
The other thing you need to know about modal verbs is that they send the infinitive to the end of the sentence, if it’s not there already.
Ich mag in der See schwimmen - I like to swim in the sea.
Ich mag jeden Morgen in der See schwimmen - I like to swim in the sea every morning.
Können means ‘to be able’. Ich kann - ‘I am able’ or ‘I can’.
Ich kann schwimmen - I can swim.
Müssen means ‘to have to’ or ‘must’. Ich muss - ‘I must’.
Ich muss meine Mutter anrufen - I have to call my mum.
With ich mag, ich kann and ich muss, and an infinitive, you can say lots of things that you like, can and have to do!'
Ich muss jetzt gehen!
Check your understanding
Modal verbs – können and müssen
Using modal verbs is similar in structure to the The future tense is used to talk about plans for the future.
To use a modal verb in a sentence, use a A subject pronoun is the person or thing doing the action described by the verb. such as ich, du, wir, sie, er along with the To conjugate means to change the verb ending to match the person doing the action. form of a modal verb and an infinitive at the end of the sentence. For example:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - I can/am able to play football.
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - We must/have to wear a school uniform.
können (to be able to/can)
| Subject pronoun | können | English |
|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | I can / I am able to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you can / you are able to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | he/she/it can / he/she/it is able to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | we can / we are able to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (plural) can / we (plural) are able to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (formal) can / we are able to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | they can / they are able to |
müssen (to have to/must)
| Subject pronoun | müssen | English |
|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | I must / I have to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you must / you have to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | he/she/it must / he/she/it has to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | we must / we have to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (plural) must / you (plural) have to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (formal) must / you (formal) have to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | they must / they have to |
Remember:
müssen means (to) have to. Be careful not to confuse müssen with haben which means (to) have. For example:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - I have to do the homework.
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - I have homework.
Typing activity
Modal verbs – dürfen and mögen
All modal verbs are used in the same way.
To use the modal verbs dürfento be allowed to and mögento like to, a subject pronoun ich, du, wir, sie, er is needed along with the conjugated form of the modal verb and an infinitive at the end of the sentence.
For example:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - We are not allowed to use any (mobile) phones in lessons.
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - We like to listen to music.
Remember:
All modal verbs are An irregular verb, also known as a strong verb, has a vowel change in the stem when the verb is conjugated. . so it is important to know how to conjugate them correctly.
dürfen (to be allowed to)
| Subject pronoun | dürfen | English |
|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | I am allowed to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you are allowed to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | he/she/it is allowed to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | we are allowed to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (plural) are allowed to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (formal) are allowed to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | they are allowed to |
mögen (to like to)
mögen can be used by itself to express a like or dislike. For example:
Ich mag Deutsch.I like German or Ich mag Fisch nicht.I don’t like fish.
mögen can also be used with an infinitive to express like to. For example:
Ich mag tanzen.I like to dance or Er mag schwimmen gehen.He likes to go swimming.
| Subject pronoun | mögen | English |
|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | I like (to) |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you like (to) |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | he/she/it likes (to) |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | we must / we have to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (plural) like (to) |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (formal) like (to) |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | they like (to) |
Reading practice
Read the text and make a list of the school rules.
Ich besuche eine Gesamtschule in Norddeutschland und wir haben viele Schulregeln. Wir dürfen nicht im Korridor laufen und ich finde diese Regel praktisch, weil das gefährlich ist. Wir dürfen aber nur in der Kantine essen und ich finde das problematisch, weil unsere Kantine ziemlich klein ist. Wenn der Lehrer spricht, dürfen wir nicht im Unterricht sprechen und ich finde das fair, weil es unhöflich ist.
Wir dürfen nicht im Korridor laufen.We are not allowed to run in the corridor.
Wir dürfen nur in der Kantine essen.We are only allowed to eat in the canteen.
Wir dürfen auch nicht im Unterricht sprechen.We are not allowed to speak in the lesson.
Modal verbs – wollen and sollen
The modal verbs wollento want to and sollento ought to follow the same pattern as können, müssen, dürfen and mögen.
To use a modal verb in a sentence, a subject pronoun ich, du, wir, sie, er is needed along with the conjugated form of a modal verb and an infinitive at the end of the sentence. For example:
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - I want to work in Berlin.
Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. - I shouldn’t go to bed so late.
wollen (to want to)
| Subject pronoun | wollen | English |
|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | I want to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you want to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | he/she/it wants to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | we want to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (plural) want to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (formal) want to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | they want to |
Remember:
The phrase ich will means I want to, notI will.
Ich werde is used to form the future tense and means I will.
sollen (to ought to / should / supposed to)
| Subject pronoun | sollen | English |
|---|---|---|
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | I like (to) |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you like (to) |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | he/she/it likes (to) |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | we must / we have to |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (plural) like (to) |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | you (formal) like (to) |
| Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | Check your connection, refresh the page and try again. | they like (to) |
Typing activity
Mini quiz
- I have to
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
- We are able to
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
- She wants to
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
- They are supposed to
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
- You are allowed to
- Check your connection, refresh the page and try again.
Quiz
Take this quiz on modal verbs to check your understanding.
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