How to Use German Modal Verbs: A Comprehensive Guide

Modal verbs are an essential part of German grammar, used to express necessity, ability, permission, or desire. They modify the meaning of the main verb in a sentence and are particularly important for creating polite requests, offering suggestions, or discussing possibilities. In German, mastering modal verbs is crucial for both speaking and writing because they are common in everyday conversations and formal settings. In this expanded guide, we'll dive deeper into how to use the six key German modal verbs: können (can), müssen (must), dürfen (may), sollen (should), wollen (want), and mögen (like), along with their conjugation, typical sentence structures, and common mistakes to avoid.

On modal verbs in German and why they are a great asset in spoken German

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The category of modal verbs occupies a peculiar place among German verbs. For one thing, their conjugation deviates from other verbs in the language. For another, they normally require the existence of a main verb in infinitive form at the end of a sentence. However, they can be of great help when you want to get your spoken German off the ground. I’ll explain why below.

As I mentioned above, the first thing we need to clarify is the conjugation of the modal verbs and of course their exact translation. What all modal verbs have in common is that the first and third person singular share the same ending. This makes them unique among German verbs. There is only one tense where all verbs share this conjugation and that is the Präteritum or imperfect tense in German.

	können	müssen	sollen	dürfen	wollen	möchten	mögen
ich	kann	muss	soll	darf	will	möchte	mag
du	kannst	musst	sollst	darfst	willst	möchtest	magst
er, sie, es, man	kann	muss	soll	darf	will	möchte	mag
wir	können	müssen	sollen	dürfen	wollen	möchten	mögen
ihr	könnt	müsst	sollt	dürft	wollt	möchtet	mögt
sie/Sie	können	müssen	sollen	dürfen	wollen	möchten	mögen
translation	can, to be able to	need to, have to	should, to be supposed to	may, be allowed to	to want to	would like to	to like
use	ability, opportunity	necessity	task, suggestion	polite request, permission	intention	wish	preference

Even though the table above shows seven verbs, strictly speaking the German language only knows six modal verbs because möchten is the subjunctive form (the conditional tense in German) of mögen.

With regard to their use, bear in mind that the German “müssen” should not be confused with the English “must”. Other common causes of confusion are between möchten and mögen, mögen and gern in German and on how to use dürfen in German, which I discuss at length in separate blog posts.

How to Use Modal Verbs in Sentences

In German, modal verbs are always accompanied by a main verb in its infinitive form, which is placed at the end of the sentence.

Example Sentence Structure:

• Subject + Modal Verb (conjugated) + Rest of the Sentence + Main Verb (infinitive)

Examples:

• Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.(I can speak German.)

• Wir müssen zur Arbeit gehen.(We have to go to work.)

• Er darf heute Abend ausgehen.(He is allowed to go out tonight.)

Understanding Each Modal Verb in Depth

Now let’s take a closer look at each modal verb, its usage, and some specific contexts where you might use it.

Können – To Be Able To, Can

Können is used to express ability or possibility—what someone can or is able to do, as well as what is possible in a certain situation.

Examples:

• Ich kann schwimmen. (I can swim.)

• Ich kann sehr gut Englisch (sprechen). (I can speak English very well)

• Kannst du mir helfen? (Can you help me?)

In a more formal or polite context, können is also used to offer assistance or ask for permission:

• Könnten Sie mir bitte den Weg zeigen?

  (Could you please show me the way?)

Müssen – To Have To, Must

Müssen is used to express necessity or obligation—what someone has to do or must do. It indicates that something is required or unavoidable.

Examples:

• Ich muss morgen früh aufstehen. (I have to get up early tomorrow.)

• Du musst deine Hausaufgaben machen. (You must do your homework.)

• Sie müssen Vokabeln lernen machen, um ihr Deutsch zu verbessern. (They needs to learn vocabulary, in order to improve their German)

Unlike English, where "must" can sometimes imply a suggestion or advice, müssen in German is more of an absolute requirement.

Dürfen – To Be Allowed To, May

Dürfen is used to express permission—whether someone is allowed to do something. It’s particularly important when discussing rules or asking for permission.

Examples:

• Darf ich hier parken? (May I park here?)

• Kinder dürfen hier nicht rauchen. (Children are not allowed to smoke here.)

In a polite context, dürfen is useful when making requests:

• Dürfte ich Ihnen eine Frage stellen? (May I ask you a question?)

• Was darf ich für Sie tun? (How may I help you, literally: what may I do for you? NB. This is the common customer service phrase in German.)

Students often confuse the difference between müssen and dürfen and brauchen and müssen. For more information, check out our designated posts on this subject.

Sollen – Should, Supposed To

Sollen is used to express obligation or advice—what someone should or is supposed to do. It can be used to convey a suggestion or expectation, especially when the action is recommended by someone else.

Examples:

• Du sollst heute die Küche putzen. (You are supposed to clean the kitchen today.)

• Soll ich das Fenster öffnen? (Should I open the window?)

• Soll ich Kaffee kochen? (Should I make some coffee)

Wollen – To Want To

Wollen expresses desire or intention—what someone wants to do or intends to do. It’s commonly used in both informal and formal conversations to express wishes or plans.

Examples:

• Ich will heute Abend ins Kino gehen. (I want to go to the cinema tonight.)

• Wir wollen eine Reise nach Italien machen. (We want to take a trip to Italy.)

• Er will nächstes Jahr nach Brasilien reisen. (He wants to travel to Brazil next year)

Mögen – To Like

Mögen is used to express preference or liking—what someone likes or enjoys. It’s a very common verb when talking about personal preferences for food, activities, people, or things.

Examples:

• Ich mag Pizza. (I like pizza.)

• Er mag Musik hören. (He likes to listen to music.)

• Wir mögen Bier und Wein. (We like beer and wine)

However, when you want to express liking to do something, you would use the phrase möchten (would like) instead:

• Ich möchte ins Restaurant gehen. (I would like to go to the restaurant.)

• Ich möchte bitte noch ein Bier (trinken). (I’d like to have another beer)

Common Modal Verb Combinations

Modal verbs can be combined with a wide range of other verbs to form various expressions. Understanding these combinations can help you express more complex thoughts, plans, and desires in German.

Können + Infinitive

• Ich kann Deutsch lesen und schreiben.

  (I can read and write German.)

Müssen + Infinitive

• Wir müssen heute lange arbeiten.

  (We have to work long hours today.)

Dürfen + Infinitive

• Du darfst im Büro nicht telefonieren.

  (You are not allowed to use the phone in the office.)

Sollen + Infinitive

• Er soll morgen den Bericht fertigstellen.

  (He is supposed to finish the report tomorrow.)

Wollen + Infinitive

• Wir wollen am Wochenende wandern gehen.

  (We want to go hiking on the weekend.)

What the previous examples show is that modal verbs are easy to use since the main verb is in infinitive form at the end of the sentence. The trick to use when speaking is that you need to send your idea of what you would like to say through a grammar filter that is made up of your modal verb and your main verb. Then consider the subject of your sentence and conjugate your modal verb accordingly, bearing in mind that it needs to go second in terms of German word order unless it's a yes or no question. The final step is to work your way through your sentence with the infinitive form of the main verb as your endpoint in view. Give it a try- you'll see that you'll find it a lot easier to speak in German.

Modal Verbs in Questions

Modal verbs are frequently used in questions, especially when asking for permission, offering assistance, or asking about someone's ability. In questions, the modal verb appears in the first or second position (depending on whether it’s a yes/no question or a W-question), and the infinitive verb goes to the end of the sentence.

Examples:

• Kannst du das Fenster öffnen?(Can you open the window?)

• Müssen wir hier warten?(Do we have to wait here?)

• Darf ich hier sitzen?(May I sit here?)

Modal Verbs in the Past Tense (Perfekt)

At more advanced levels of German, modal verbs are conjugated differently in the past tense (Perfekt). However, at the beginner and intermediate levels, it’s important to know how modal verbs work in simple past (Präteritum), which is often used in spoken German for these verbs.

Example in Präteritum:

• Ich musste gestern lange arbeiten.(I had to work late yesterday.)

• Er konnte nicht zur Party kommen.(He couldn’t come to the party.)

For mögen, its past form mochte is used to describe what someone liked in the past:

• Ich mochte Schokolade als Kind.

  (I liked chocolate as a child.)

  
  

Conclusion

Mastering modal verbs is a crucial part of becoming proficient in German. They allow you to express not only ability, permission, obligation, and desire but also to construct more complex sentences and interact more naturally with others. By practising the conjugation and proper use of these verbs, you’ll improve your fluency in both speaking and writing.

Remember to practice modal verbs in a variety of contexts: ask polite questions, express desires, and explain obligations or rules. Over time, using modal verbs will become second nature, allowing you to communicate more effectively and confidently in German.

On our German Language Blog "Auf Deutsch, bitte!", you will find posts on very German things to do, the most beautiful German words, the best German songs to learn German fast, as well as besuchen vs. besichtigen. We also heal your German grammar phobia with our posts explaining adjective ending rules in German, the difference between viel and viele, sehr and viel in German, rules on German genders, German word order, and many other topics. Just scroll through our blog and learn more about the language.

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