by Jakob Straub
Updated on January 8, 2024
How to use and conjugate modal verbs in German
Modal verbs are their own class of verbs based on their grammatical properties: a modal verb indicates modality. We use modal verbs to discuss possible situations and convey how likely, desirable or permissible something is. German and English have a similar number of modal verbs. In the following, we’ll introduce you to the most important modal verbs in German and show you how to conjugate and use them.
Before we take a look at the six most important modal verbs in German, let’s define modal verbs and take a look at their function in language.
The term modal goes back to the Latin modus for the mode, way or mood. When we express modality, we talk about necessity, possibility, likelihood, capacity and ability. We formulate requests, orders, obligations or advice. Modal verbs are therefore often associated with formal language.
The principal modal verbs in English are: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, have to and would. Other verbs can serve a modal function, such as ought, had better, dare and need.
Modal verbs serve an auxiliary function to give information about the main verb that they govern and which are used in the infinitive. Modals convey modality ranging from possibility to necessity. They can propose that something is true or not, express permission and duty of doing something and talk about the willingness or likelihood of the subject doing something.
There are six principal modal verbs in German: dürfen, können, mögen, müssen, sollen and wollen. The first three express possibility, while the latter express necessity.
| GERMAN | ENGLISH | |
| POSSIBILITY | dürfen | may |
| POSSIBILITY | können | can |
| POSSIBILITY | mögen | like |
| NECESSITY | müssen | must |
| NECESSITY | sollen | should |
| NECESSITY | wollen | want |
The following table shows you how to conjugate the six most important modal verbs in German in the present tense:
| PERSON | DÜRFEN | KÖNNEN | MÖGEN | MÜSSEN | SOLLEN | WOLLEN |
| ich | darf | kann | mag | muss | soll | will |
| du | darfst | kannst | magst | musst | sollst | willst |
| er / sie / es | darf | kann | mag | muss | soll | will |
| wir | dürfen | können | mögen | müssen | sollen | wollen |
| ihr | dürft | könnt | mögt | müsst | sollt | wollt |
| Sie / sie | dürfen | können | mögen | müssen | sollen | wollen |
Note that the German modal verb mögen is often used in its subjunctive mode to express formality:
Now that you know the basic conjugation of the modal verbs in German, let’s take a look at their functions and when to use which verb.
A common use of dürfen (may) as a modal verb in German is to give or deny permission to do something:
In the subjunctive mood, the modal verb dürfen can also express a guess, presumption, conjecture or suspicion:
Just like dürfen, the modal verb können can give or deny permission to do something:
Können also expresses capability, ability and possibility in German:
The modal verb can also be used for inference, conclusion and consequence:
You can also express a presumption, suspicion, assumption or suggestion with können:
With the modal verb mögen, you can formulate a want, wish or desire and express rejection and refusal or dislike through negation:
You can give orders with müssen, express a necessity or negate it and infer something:
You can use sollen to give an order, to make a request, to formulate a commandment and to express an assumption or a purpose:
You can specify a wish or desire to do something with wollen or neglect to do something:
Do you want more help with German verbs? We’ll teach you common and basic German verbs and conjugation!
Modal verbs in German and any other language are fundamental to learn if you want to boost your proficiency and fluency. Take the time to understand their use, how to conjugate them and your level will move one step up.
