Modal Verbs
Master the six German modal verbs: können, müssen, wollen, sollen, dürfen, and mögen. Learn how they modify other verbs to express ability, necessity, permission, and desire.
1Overview of Modal Verbs
German has six modal verbs that express attitudes like ability, permission, obligation, or desire. They are: können (can/be able), müssen (must/have to), wollen (want), sollen (should), dürfen (may/be allowed), mögen (like). Modal verbs are used with an infinitive that goes to the end of the sentence. The modal verb is conjugated while the main verb stays in its infinitive form.
Examples
Ich kann schwimmen.
I can swim.
Modal (kann) + infinitive (schwimmen) at end
Er muss arbeiten.
He must work.
muss + infinitive
Wir wollen nach Italien fahren.
We want to go to Italy.
wollen + infinitive at end
Du sollst mehr schlafen.
You should sleep more.
sollen + infinitive
2Können (Can / Be Able To)
"Können" expresses ability, possibility, or informal permission. It's one of the most common modal verbs. The conjugation is: ich kann, du kannst, er/sie/es kann, wir können, ihr könnt, sie/Sie können. Note the vowel change from ö to a in singular forms. This is common in modal verbs.
Examples
Kannst du mir helfen?
Can you help me?
können for ability/request
Ich kann gut kochen.
I can cook well.
können for ability
Das kann sein.
That's possible.
können for possibility
Hier kann man parken.
One can park here.
können for informal permission
3Müssen and Sollen (Must / Should)
"Müssen" expresses strong necessity or obligation - something that must be done. "Sollen" is softer, expressing what one should do or is supposed to do, often based on someone else's expectation. An important difference: "nicht müssen" means "don't have to" (no obligation), NOT "must not" (prohibition). For prohibition, use "nicht dürfen".
Examples
Ich muss jetzt gehen.
I have to go now.
müssen = must/have to
Du musst das nicht machen.
You don't have to do that.
nicht müssen = don't have to (not prohibited)
Was soll ich tun?
What should I do?
sollen for advice/expectation
Er soll um 9 Uhr kommen.
He is supposed to come at 9.
sollen for expectation
4Dürfen (May / Be Allowed To)
"Dürfen" expresses permission. It's the polite way to ask for or give permission. "Nicht dürfen" means "must not" or "not allowed to" - this is different from "nicht müssen". Use "dürfen" in formal or polite contexts. In casual speech, "können" is often used for informal permission.
Examples
Darf ich hier rauchen?
May I smoke here?
dürfen for asking permission
Du darfst das nicht machen.
You must not do that. / You're not allowed to do that.
nicht dürfen = prohibition
Kinder dürfen hier spielen.
Children are allowed to play here.
dürfen for giving permission
Hier darf man nicht parken.
Parking is not allowed here.
nicht dürfen = forbidden
5Wollen and Mögen/Möchten (Want / Like)
"Wollen" expresses a strong wish or intention - what you want to do. "Mögen" expresses liking, and its subjunctive form "möchten" (would like) is commonly used for polite requests. "Möchten" is more polite than "wollen" when ordering or requesting something. It's technically the subjunctive of "mögen" but functions like a separate modal verb.
Examples
Ich will nach Hause gehen.
I want to go home.
wollen = want (strong wish)
Was willst du trinken?
What do you want to drink?
wollen in questions
Ich möchte einen Kaffee, bitte.
I would like a coffee, please.
möchten = polite request
Ich mag Schokolade.
I like chocolate.
mögen without infinitive = like (noun)