The Modal Verbs (die Modalverben)

The use of the Modal Verbs

Modals (in both English and German) convey an attitude about an action, rather than expressing that action itself.  For this reason, modals are generally used with dependant infinitives that express that action.  The infinitive is in last position.

Ex: Ich kann bis acht Uhr bleiben. (I can stay until eight o’clock.)
Ex: Peter muß jetzt gehen. (Peter has to leave now.)

German Modal Verbs Defined

(Note:  The English Modals are: must, will, can, could, may, might, ought (to), should, and would.)

• können - ability,to be able, can; to know a language, or to know how to do something.
• 
  Ex:  Sie kann helfen.  (She can help.)
  Ex:  Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.  (I can speak German.)
   
• müssen- compulsion, to be obligated to, must
• 
  Ex:  Ich muß heute arbeiten.  (I have to work today.)
  Ex:  Ich muß heute nicht arbeiten.  (I don't have to work today) (negative)
   
• mögen - liking,to like to, personal preference. Mögen usually expresses a fondness for (or when negated, a dislike for) someone or something; this meaning appears most commonly in the interrogative and the negative without a dependant infinitive.
• 
  Ex:  Magst du Anna?  (Do you like Anna?)
  Ex:  Nein, ich mag sie nicht.  (No, I don't like her.) (negative)

  Note: Mögen & möcht- are different forms of the same verb.  The möcht- (to would like to) forms are the subjunctive forms of mögen.

  Subjunctive Forms of möcht-

  Note:  The Subjunctive Mood expresses a wish OR hypothetical conditions.

  Ex:  Möchten Sie jetzt bestellen?  (Would you like to order now?)
   

  	möcht-
  ich	möchte
  du	möchtest
  er, sie, es	möchte
  wir	möchten
  ihr	möchtet
  sie	möchten
  Sie	möchten

• dürfen - permission, to be permitted to, may
• 
  Ex:  Sie darf heute abend ausgehen.  (She may go out tonight.)
  Ex:  Ich darf noch nicht autofahren.  (I am not allowed to drive cars yet.) (negative)
   
• sollen - obligation, to be supposed to, should
• 
  Ex:  Ich soll heute studieren.  (I should study today.)

• wollen - wanting, intention, to want to
• 
  Ex:  Ich will heute studieren.  (I want to study today.)

  Wollen is followed by an infinitive to express the idea that a person wants to do something himself, or herself.
  Ex:  Simon will ein Kuchen backen.  (Simon wants to bake a cake.)

  To express the idea that a person wants someone else to do something, the verb wollen is followed by a daß - clause that includes the new subject. Note:  In English, an infinitive with a new subject is used.
  Ex:  Julia will, daß ich Wäsche wasche. (Julia wants me to wash the laundry.)

Indicative Mood - Present Tense * of Modal Verbs ** (der Indikativ - das Präsens von die Modalverben)
 

*The Present Tense usually indicates that an action is taking place as you are speaking or writing.
** The Modals indicate necessity, possibility, willingness, obligation, and ability. In English, they are: must, will, can, could, may, might, ought (to), should, and would.

Subjunctive Mood - Past Tense ***of Modal Verbs ** (der Konjunktiv - das Präteritum *** von die Modalverben **)

Ex: Du hättest es gekonnt. (You would have been able to do it.)

* The Present Tense usually indicates that an action is taking place as you are speaking or writing.

**The Modals [dürfen (to be permitted to, may), können (to be able, can), mögen (to like to), möchte, müssen (to be obligated to, must), sollen (to be supposed to, should), and wollen (to want to)], indicate necessity, possibility, willingness, obligation, and ability.

***The Past Tense is a form of the verb that indicates that an action has taken place. It has two uses:

• Indicates an action completed in the past.
• 
  Ex: Charles Lindbergh flew across the Atlantic.

• Indicates actions that reocurred in the past but did not extend into the present.
• 
  Ex: When he was young, Mark Twain traveled in the Southwest.

Created by Esther Hillmann
Foreign Language Lab / University of Houston