Modal Verbs Intro
Modalverben (Einführung)
German modal verbs — können, müssen, wollen, sollen, dürfen and mögen — express ability, necessity, desire, obligation and permission. The modal is conjugated and takes position two, while the main verb moves to the end of the sentence in its infinitive form: Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.
Introduction to können, müssen, wollen, möchten.
Rules & Explanations
Modal Verbs: The Power Words
Modalverben: Die Machtwörter
Want to say you can do something, must do something, or want to do something? You need modal verbs! These six powerful verbs — können, müssen, wollen, sollen, dürfen, mögen — let you express ability, necessity, desire, permission, and obligation. They're used constantly in everyday German.
German modal verbs have two key features: (1) irregular conjugation — ich/er/sie forms often look the same, and (2) they push the main verb to the end of the sentence in infinitive form.
English has modals too: can, must, want to, should, may, like to. German modals work similarly but have their own conjugation patterns and a special sentence structure.
Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.
I can speak German.
Modals are among the most frequently used verbs in German. You'll use them dozens of times every day to express what you can, want, must, or may do.
What Are Modal Verbs?
Was sind Modalverben?
Think of modals as 'helper managers.' The main verb is the worker who does the actual job. The modal is the manager who says whether the worker can work, must work, wants to work, or is allowed to work.
- ▸Modal verbs modify the meaning of another verb. They don't describe an action themselves — they describe How you relate to an action: Can you do it? Must you do it? Want to do it?
- ▸German has six main modal verbs: können (can/be able to), müssen (must/have to), wollen (want to), sollen (should/supposed to), dürfen (may/be allowed to), and mögen (like to). Each expresses a different relationship to the action.
- ▸The structure is always: Modal verb (conjugated, position 2) + main verb (infinitive, at the end). The modal carries the conjugation, while the main verb stays in its base form.
Germans use modals constantly. 'Ich muss gehen' (I have to go), 'Kannst du mir helfen?' (Can you help me?), 'Ich will das nicht' (I don't want that). They're essential for natural conversation.
The Six Modal Verbs
Die sechs Modalverben
| Use | Verb | Meaning | Example | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ability or possibility | können | can, to be able to | Ich kann schwimmen. | I can swim. |
| Necessity or obligation | müssen | must, to have to | Ich muss arbeiten. | I must/have to work. |
| Desire or intention | wollen | to want to | Ich will schlafen. | I want to sleep. |
| Obligation from others, advice | sollen | should, to be supposed to | Ich soll mehr Sport machen. | I should exercise more. |
| Permission | dürfen | may, to be allowed to | Darf ich hier rauchen? | May I smoke here? |
| Preference (often as möchten = would like) | mögen | to like | Ich möchte einen Kaffee. | I would like a coffee. |
Each modal expresses a different meaning. Learn them as pairs!
können/dürfen (ability vs permission), müssen/sollen (internal vs external obligation), wollen/mögen (strong vs mild desire)
Modal Verb Sentence Structure
Satzstruktur mit Modalverben
Modal verbs change your sentence structure. The modal takes position 2, and the main verb goes to the end.
Ich | kann | heute Abend | ins Kino | gehen.
Subject + Modal (conjugated) + middle stuff + infinitive (at the very end)
The infinitive (base form) always goes to the end. Everything else fits in between the modal and the infinitive.
| Without Modal | With Modal | Structure |
|---|---|---|
| Ich spreche Deutsch. | Ich kann Deutsch sprechen. | Modal (pos 2) + infinitive (end) |
| Er arbeitet heute. | Er muss heute arbeiten. | Modal (pos 2) + infinitive (end) |
| Wir gehen ins Kino. | Wir wollen ins Kino gehen. | Modal (pos 2) + infinitive (end) |
| Sie hilft mir. | Sie kann mir helfen. | Modal (pos 2) + infinitive (end) |
Common Modal Verb Mistakes
Häufige Modalverb-Fehler
These mistakes are very common among German learners.
✗Ich kann spreche Deutsch.
✓Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.
The main verb must be infinitive (sprechen), not conjugated (spreche).
🧠 Modal = conjugated. Main verb = infinitive. Never conjugate both!
✗Ich kann Deutsch sprechen nicht.
✓Ich kann nicht Deutsch sprechen. / Ich kann Deutsch nicht sprechen.
'Nicht' typically goes before the infinitive or the thing being negated, not at the very end.
🧠 nicht comes before the infinitive in most cases.
✗Ich muss zu arbeiten.
✓Ich muss arbeiten.
Don't add 'zu' before infinitives with modal verbs! (Unlike English 'have to work')
🧠 Modals never use 'zu.' Just: modal + infinitive.
✗Confusing müssen and sollen
✓müssen = must (internal). sollen = should (external).
'Ich muss' = I have to (my own necessity). 'Ich soll' = I'm supposed to (someone told me).
🧠 müssen = my need. sollen = someone else says so.
✗Confusing können and dürfen
✓können = ability. dürfen = permission.
'Ich kann schwimmen' = I know how to swim. 'Ich darf hier schwimmen' = I'm allowed to swim here.
🧠 CAN I? (ability) vs may I? (permission)
Modal Verb Conjugation
Modalverb-Konjugation
| Pronoun | können | müssen | wollen | sollen | dürfen | mögen/möchten |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | kann | muss | will | soll | darf | mag/möchte |
| du | kannst | musst | willst | sollst | darfst | magst/möchtest |
| er/sie/es | kann | muss | will | soll | darf | mag/möchte |
| wir | können | müssen | wollen | sollen | dürfen | mögen/möchten |
| ihr | könnt | müsst | wollt | sollt | dürft | mögt/möchtet |
| sie/Sie | können | müssen | wollen | sollen | dürfen | mögen/möchten |
Notice: ich and er/sie/es forms are identical for all modals! No -e or -t ending.
ich kann = er kann, ich muss = er muss. The ich/er forms always match!
Modal Meanings Quick Reference
Modalverb-Bedeutungen Kurzübersicht
| Modal | Core Meaning | Question Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| können | ability/possibility | Kannst du...? | Can you swim? |
| müssen | necessity (internal) | Muss ich...? | Do I have to go? |
| wollen | desire/intention | Willst du...? | Do you want to come? |
| sollen | obligation (external) | Soll ich...? | Should I help? |
| dürfen | permission | Darf ich...? | May I come in? |
| möchten | polite desire | Möchten Sie...? | Would you like...? |
möchten (would like) is the polite form of mögen and is used more often in everyday speech.
In restaurants/shops, use möchten: "Ich möchte..." = "I would like..."
Modals Without a Main Verb
Modalverben ohne Hauptverb
Sometimes the main verb is implied and can be dropped: 'Ich muss nach Hause' (I must [go] home), 'Kannst du Deutsch?' (Can you [speak] German?), 'Ich will das nicht' (I don't want that). This is common in casual speech when the action is obvious from context.
Manchmal ist das Hauptverb impliziert und kann weggelassen werden.
When the main verb is obvious (gehen, sprechen, haben), Germans often leave it out.
"Ich muss nach Hause" = "I must [go] home." The "gehen" is understood!
Dialogue: Making Weekend Plans
Dialog: Wochenendpläne machen
Anna
Was willst du am Samstag machen?
What do you want to do on Saturday?
willst (modal) + machen (infinitive at end)
Ben
Ich möchte ins Kino gehen. Kannst du mitkommen?
I would like to go to the cinema. Can you come along?
möchte + gehen, kannst + mitkommen
Anna
Leider muss ich am Samstag arbeiten.
Unfortunately I have to work on Saturday.
muss + arbeiten (infinitive at end)
Ben
Schade! Sollen wir am Sonntag etwas zusammen machen?
Too bad! Should we do something together on Sunday?
sollen + machen
Anna
Ja! Wir können in den Park gehen.
Yes! We can go to the park.
können + gehen
Ben
Super! Aber ich darf meinen Hund nicht mitbringen, oder?
Great! But I'm not allowed to bring my dog, right?
darf + mitbringen (permission)
Two friends discussing what to do on the weekend
Zwei Freunde besprechen, was sie am Wochenende machen wollen
Notice all six modals in action: wollen (want), möchten (would like), können (can), müssen (must), sollen (should), dürfen (may). Each one has the infinitive at the end.
Quick Reference: Modal Verbs
Kurzübersicht: Modalverben
- ▸Six modals: können, müssen, wollen, sollen, dürfen, mögen/möchten
- ▸Modal verbs push the main verb to the end in infinitive form
- ▸ich and er/sie/es forms are identical: ich kann = er kann
Subject + Modal (position 2, conjugated) + ... + infinitive (at the end)
Practice with common expressions: Kann ich...?, Muss ich...?, Darf ich...?
- ▸Conjugating the main verb: Ich kann spreche ❌ → Ich kann sprechen ✓
- ▸Adding zu: Ich muss zu arbeiten ❌ → Ich muss arbeiten ✓
- ▸Confusing können (ability) with dürfen (permission)
Modal = manager (position 2), Infinitive = worker (at the end). The manager tells the worker what to do!
German modal verbs (können, müssen, wollen, sollen, dürfen, mögen) take position 2 and send the main verb to the end as an infinitive.
Examples
Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.
I can speak German.
kann ... sprechenkönnen = ability. Modal (kann) in position 2, infinitive (sprechen) at end.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich | I |
| kann | can (modal, pos 2) |
| Deutsch | German |
| sprechen | speak (infinitive, end) |
Kannst du mir helfen?
Can you help me?
Kannst ... helfenQuestion with können. Modal first in questions, infinitive still at end.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kannst | can (modal) |
| du | you |
| mir | me |
| helfen | help (infinitive) |
Sie kann sehr gut kochen.
She can cook very well.
kann ... kochenNote: ich kann = er/sie kann. Same form for both!
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Sie | She |
| kann | can |
| sehr gut | very well |
| kochen | cook (infinitive) |
Ich muss heute arbeiten.
I must work today.
muss ... arbeitenmüssen = necessity/obligation. "I have to work."
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich | I |
| muss | must (modal) |
| heute | today |
| arbeiten | work (infinitive) |
Wir müssen jetzt gehen.
We must go now.
müssen ... gehenPlural form: wir müssen. Infinitive (gehen) at end.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Wir | We |
| müssen | must |
| jetzt | now |
| gehen | go (infinitive) |
Musst du morgen früh aufstehen?
Do you have to get up early tomorrow?
Musst ... aufstehenQuestion with müssen. Separable verb stays together as infinitive.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Musst | must |
| du | you |
| morgen früh | tomorrow early |
| aufstehen | get up (infinitive) |
Ich will nach Deutschland reisen.
I want to travel to Germany.
will ... reisenwollen = want to. Strong desire or intention.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich | I |
| will | want to (modal) |
| nach Deutschland | to Germany |
| reisen | travel (infinitive) |
Was willst du heute Abend essen?
What do you want to eat tonight?
willst ... essenQuestion word + modal + ... + infinitive.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Was | What |
| willst | want (modal) |
| du | you |
| heute Abend | tonight |
| essen | eat (infinitive) |
Du sollst mehr Wasser trinken.
You should drink more water.
sollst ... trinkensollen = should/supposed to. External advice or obligation.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Du | You |
| sollst | should (modal) |
| mehr Wasser | more water |
| trinken | drink (infinitive) |
Soll ich das Fenster öffnen?
Should I open the window?
Soll ... öffnenOffering help with sollen. "Shall I...?"
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Soll | Should (modal) |
| ich | I |
| das Fenster | the window |
| öffnen | open (infinitive) |
Darf ich hier rauchen?
May I smoke here?
Darf ... rauchendürfen = permission. "Am I allowed to...?"
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Darf | May (modal) |
| ich | I |
| hier | here |
| rauchen | smoke (infinitive) |
Kinder dürfen keinen Alkohol trinken.
Children are not allowed to drink alcohol.
dürfen nicht ... trinkenNegative with dürfen: not allowed/not permitted.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Kinder | Children |
| Alkohol | alcohol |
| trinken | drink |
| dürfen nicht | are not allowed to |
Ich möchte einen Kaffee bestellen.
I would like to order a coffee.
möchte ... bestellenmöchten = would like. Polite form for requests.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich | I |
| möchte | would like (modal) |
| einen Kaffee | a coffee |
| bestellen | order (infinitive) |
Möchten Sie etwas trinken?
Would you like something to drink?
Möchten ... trinkenFormal question with möchten. Very polite.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Möchten | Would like (modal) |
| Sie | you (formal) |
| etwas | something |
| trinken | drink |
Ich mag Pizza.
I like pizza.
magmögen (without infinitive) = to like something. No second verb needed.
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ich | I |
| mag | like (modal) |
| Pizza | pizza |
Practice Exercises
15 interactive exercises
Ich ___ Deutsch sprechen.
I ___ speak German.
You got on this topic's exercises.
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Common questions about German modal verbs
What are the German modal verbs?
There are six: können (can, to be able to), müssen (must, to have to), wollen (to want to), sollen (should, to be supposed to), dürfen (may, to be allowed to) and mögen (to like). The polite form möchte, meaning would like, comes from mögen and is the one you use for ordering: Ich möchte ein Bier.
Where does the verb go with a modal verb in German?
The modal is conjugated and stays in position two, and the second verb moves to the very end as an infinitive. Ich spreche Deutsch becomes Ich kann Deutsch sprechen, and Er arbeitet heute becomes Er muss heute arbeiten. Everything else sits between the two verbs, which is why longer sentences feel like they hold their meaning back until the end.
What is the difference between müssen and sollen?
Müssen expresses a real necessity that comes from circumstances or from yourself: Ich muss heute arbeiten. Sollen expresses an expectation, advice or an instruction coming from someone else: Ich soll mehr Sport machen — my doctor says so. English blurs both into have to and should, so choosing between them depends on where the pressure comes from.
What is the difference between wollen and möchten?
Wollen states a plain intention and can sound blunt: Ich will schlafen means I want to sleep. Möchte is the polite would like and is the safe choice in shops, restaurants and any request: Ich möchte einen Kaffee. Ordering with Ich will einen Kaffee is grammatically correct but comes across as demanding to German ears.
How do modal verbs conjugate in German?
They are irregular in the singular, usually with a vowel change, and the ich and er forms are identical with no ending: ich kann, du kannst, er kann; ich muss, du musst, er muss. The plural forms are regular: wir können, ihr könnt, sie können. That missing -t on the er form is what surprises most learners.