Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are very useful in German. They help you talk about what you have to do, want to do or are allowed to do and can be used in the present, past and conditional tenses.

What is a modal verb?

Modal verbs – Modalverben – are a special group of verbs.

Use them to say:

How to form modal verbs

Modal verbs are not conjugated in the same way as other verbs in the present tense.

Whereas in the regular present tense, each person in the singular forms have different endings, the first person singular form (ich) and the third person singular form (er, sie, es, man) in modal verbs are the same and have no endings. This applies to all modal verbs in the present tense, eg

• er muss – he must or he has to
• man kann – one/you/they can
• sie darf – she may/is allowed

Modals: müssen and können

The verb 'müssen'

This is the present tense pattern for müssen – to have to, or must.

The verb 'können'

Now look at the pattern for können - to be able to, or can. Again, the first person singular form (ich) and the third person singular form (er, sie, es) are the same. Remember that man will behave in the same way as the third person singular forms.

Modals: wollen and sollen

The verb 'wollen'

This is how to conjugate wollen – to want:

The verb 'sollen'

This is how to conjugate sollen - to be supposed to, ought to, should:

Modals: dürfen and mögen

The verb 'dürfen'

Here is the pattern for dürfen – to be allowed, may:

The verb 'mögen'

Here is the pattern for mögen – to like:

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