Today we’re going to talk about modal verbs in German. Modal verbs are verbs that are used along with other verbs to indicate modality: ability, probability, permission, obligation. English modal verbs include CAN/COULD, MUST, SHALL/SHOULD, WILL/WOULD, MAY/MIGHT. In this article we’re going to discuss German modal verbs as well as the verb WISSEN (TO KNOW).
First of all, there are a few differences between English and German modal verbs:
1) English modal verbs normally do not occur on their own. German modal verbs sometimes do, if the main verb is clear from the context.
2) English modal verbs have no infinitive form. We don’t have forms like *TO CAN or *TO MUST. If we want to use them this way, we must use synonymous verbs or expressions like TO BE ABLE TO, TO BE ALLOWED TO. German modal verbs do have infinitive forms.
3) English modal verbs have just one (like MUST) or two (like CAN) forms. German modal verbs have all three forms.
4) English modal verbs take no endings in their conjugation. You say I CAN, HE CAN etc. No –s ending. German verbs are fully conjugated.
There are also differences in meaning. We’re going to highlight them so that you don’t use them the wrong way.
So, what are the German modal verbs? Here they are in present and past tense along with their closest English meanings and examples.
können
können – can, to be able to
| Present Tense | Präteritum Tense | |
| ich | kann | konnte |
| du | kannst | konntest |
| er / sie / es | kann | konnte |
| wir | können | konnten |
| ihr | könnt | konntet |
| sie / Sie | können | konnten |
This verb can be used in a couple of ways. It can even occur without a main verb. Below are some typical examples:
| Ich kann schwimmen. | I can swim. | |
| Kannst du fliegen? | Can you fly? | |
| Er kann gut Englisch (sprechen). | He can speak English well. | no main verb needed |
| Wir können das Gedicht auswendig (sagen). | We already know (can say) the poem by heart. | no main verb needed |
| Es kann nicht wahr sein. | It can‘t be true. | |
| Du kannst das machen. | You can (are welcome to) do it. | |
| Könnt ihr nicht kommen? | Can’t you come? | |
| Sie können das wissen. | They might know it. | |
| Kannst du Schach (spielen)? | Can you play chess? | no main verb needed |
dürfen
dürfen – may, to be allowed to
| Present Tense | Präteritum Tense | |
| ich | darf | durfte |
| du | darfst | durftest |
| er / sie / es | darf | durfte |
| wir | dürfen | durften |
| ihr | dürft | durftet |
| sie / Sie | dürfen | durften |
If negated, it means MUSTN’T. Below are some typical examples:
| Darf ich gehen? | May I go? | |
| Er darf alles machen. | He may do anything. | |
| Wir dürfen hier nicht rauchen. | We mustn’t smoke here. | |
| Ich darf es nicht (machen). | I mustn’t do it. | no main verb needed |
müssen
müssen – must, to have to
| Present Tense | Präteritum Tense | |
| ich | muss | musste |
| du | musst | musstest |
| er / sie / es | muss | musste |
| wir | müssen | mussten |
| ihr | müsst | musstet |
| sie / Sie | müssen | mussten |
If negated it doesn’t correspond to MUST NOT. It then means DO NOT HAVE TO. Below are some typical examples:
| Du musst viel Wasser trinken. | You must / have to drink a lot of water. | |
| Wir mussten einige Briefe schreiben. | We had to write a couple of letters. | |
| Muss das sein? | Is it necessary? (literally: Must it be?) | |
| Ihr müsst nicht so leise reden. | You don’t have to speak so quietly. | |
| Das muss viel kosten. | This must cost a lot. | |
| Das muss ich gar nicht (machen). | I don’t have to do it at all. | no main verb needed |
| Ich muss zum Arzt (gehen). | I must (go to) see a doctor. | no main verb needed |
mögen
mögen – to like (to)
| Present Tense | Präteritum Tense | |
| ich | mag | mochte |
| du | magst | mochtest |
| er / sie / es | mag | mochte |
| wir | mögen | mochten |
| ihr | mögt | mochtet |
| sie / Sie | mögen | mochten |
This is a peculiar modal verb. It is usually used without another verb and just means TO LIKE. Below are some examples:
| Wir mögen Musik | We like music. | |
| Ich mag kein Fleisch. | I don’t like meat. | |
| Magst du mich? | Do you like me? |
It may also combine with another verb to mean MAY and indicate possibility or probability:
| Es mag zu spät sein. | It may be too late. | |
| Das mag wahr sein. | This may be true. |
The verb MÖGEN is often used in subjunctive mood. It then means WOULD LIKE TO. The forms are as follows:
| Subjunctive | |
| ich | möchte |
| du | möchtest |
| er / sie / es | möchte |
| wir | möchten |
| ihr | möchtet |
| sie / Sie | möchten |
Some examples:
| Ich möchte es auch wissen. | I‘d like to know it, too. | |
| Möchtest du etwas sehen? | Would you like see something? | |
| Ich möchte ein Bier. | I’d like a beer. | no main verb needed |
| Was möchten Sie machen? | What would you like to do? |
sollen
sollen – should, to be supposed to
| Present Tense | Präteritum Tense | |
| ich | soll | sollte |
| du | sollst | solltest |
| er / sie / es | soll | sollte |
| wir | sollen | sollten |
| ihr | sollt | solltet |
| sie / Sie | sollen | sollten |
This verb is used to say what you should or shouldn’t do. Below are some examples:
| Du sollst alles essen. | You should eat everything. | |
| Wir sollen es schaffen. | We should make it. | |
| Er soll bald kommen. | He should come soon. | |
| Soll das ein Witz sein? | Is it supposed to be a joke? | |
| Das soll funktionieren. | This should work. | |
| Sollen wir jetzt gehen? | Shall we go now? | |
| Ich soll zum Arzt (gehen). | I should (go to) see a doctor. | no main verb needed |
wollen
wollen – to want (to)
| Present Tense | Präteritum Tense | |
| ich | will | wollte |
| du | willst | wolltest |
| er / sie / es | will | wollte |
| wir | wollen | wollten |
| ihr | wollt | wolltet |
| sie / Sie | wollen | wollten |
As all the verbs above, this verb can be used with or without a main verb. Below are some examples:
| Das Kind will heute nichts essen. | The child doesn’t want to eat anything today. | |
| Wir wollen jetzt Schach spielen. | We want to play chess now. | |
| Ich will noch einen Keks. | I want another cookie. | no main verb needed |
| Sie wollen uns nie wieder besuchen. | They don’t want to visit us ever again. | |
| Was wollte er (machen)? | What did he want (to do)? | no main verb needed |
wissen
wissen – to know
| Present Tense | Präteritum Tense | |
| ich | weiß | wusste |
| du | weißt | wusstest |
| er / sie / es | weiß | wusste |
| wir | wissen | wussten |
| ihr | wisst | wusstet |
| sie / Sie | wissen | wussten |
This is not actually a modal verb, but we’ll discuss it here because it shares some features with modal verbs. This verb is normally used without another verb. Below are some examples:
| Ich wusste es nicht. | I didn’t know it. | |
| Wir wissen das schon. | We already know that. |
wissen vs kennen
Both WISSEN and KENNEN mean TO KNOW in English. The former is used to talk about a fact you know, the latter about a person or thing you’re familiar with. Some examples of where to use KENNEN and not WISSEN:
| Ich kenne die Frau. | I know this woman. | |
| Kennst du die Stadt? | Do you know the town? |
What Else Should You Know About Modal Verbs?
In sentences with modal verbs, the infinitive of the main verb often moves to the final position, as you can see in many of the above examples.
Just like in English, it’s sometimes possible to use more than one modal verb to mean more or less the same. And one verb may convey multiple meanings. They need some practice before you get the feel of them.
Now, to make things complete, let’s see what are the verb forms of modal verbs. Here they are:
| INFINITIVE | PRÄTERITUM | PAST PARTICIPLE |
| können | konnte | gekonnt |
| müssen | musste | gemusst |
| dürfen | durfte | gedurft |
| mögen | mochte | gemocht |
| sollen | sollte | gesollt |
| wollen | wollte | gewollt |