Two verbs, one sentence: A modal verb (das Modalverb) doesn't usually stand alone. It pairs with a second verb to express ability, permission, obligation, wish or possibility.
How the sentence is built
1
Modal in second position
The modal verb is conjugated in second position.
2
Infinitive at the END
The main verb stays in the infinitive and jumps to the END of the clause.
Modal second → infinitive last
The Satzklammer: I have to study today becomes Ich muss heute lernen. — muss second, lernen last. This is the Satzklammer (verb bracket): the two verbs frame the rest of the sentence. This is the trick that makes German modals feel strange to English speakers.
- das Modalverb
- the modal verb — können, müssen, wollen, dürfen, sollen, mögen
- der Infinitiv
- the infinitive — the main verb stays in this form: lernen, gehen, machen
- die Satzklammer
- the verb bracket — modal in position 2, infinitive at the very end
- die zweite Position (V2)
- second position — the conjugated modal is the second element of the clause
- die Modalität
- modality — ability, permission, obligation, wish, possibility
- mögen / möchten
- to like / would like — möchten is the polite wish form of mögen
Say it as “must do”, build it as “must … do”: Whenever you want a modal sentence, picture the bracket: put the modal in slot 2 and save the infinitive for the end. Ich kann gut Deutsch sprechen. (I can speak German well). Get this bracket right and the most common modal mistakes disappear.
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Modals are irregular in the singular: Modal verbs change their stem vowel in the singular (ich/du/er-sie-es). Learn the six singular forms below and the rest follow.
Two patterns
- Surprisingly, the ich and er/sie/es forms are identical (no -e, no -t).
- The plural forms (wir/sie/Sie) look like the infinitive.
| Person | können (can) | müssen (must) | wollen (want) | dürfen (may) | sollen (should) | mögen (like) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | kann | muss | will | darf | soll | mag |
| du | kannst | musst | willst | darfst | sollst | magst |
| er/sie/es | kann | muss | will | darf | soll | mag |
| wir | können | müssen | wollen | dürfen | sollen | mögen |
| ihr | könnt | müsst | wollt | dürft | sollt | mögt |
| sie/Sie | können | müssen | wollen | dürfen | sollen | mögen |
ich = er/sie/es · no -t on the modal: Two rules save you: (1) the ich form and the er/sie/es form are the same (ich kann, er kann), and (2) the third-person singular takes no -t (er muss, never er musst). Then drop the infinitive at the end: Sie darf heute länger bleiben. (She may stay longer today.)
möchten — the polite wish: möchten (I would like) is the most useful modal for the oral and for emails: Ich möchte einen Termin vereinbaren. (I'd like to make an appointment). Its forms are: ich möchte, du möchtest, er/sie/es möchte, wir möchten, ihr möchtet, sie möchten — and the infinitive still goes to the end.
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Six modals, six meanings: Each modal carries a precise meaning. Choosing the right one is half the battle — I must (obligation) is very different from I want (wish) or I may (permission). Learn the meaning beside a German example for each.
Die sechs Modalverben
- können — to be able to / can (ability): Ich kann Klavier spielen. (I can play the piano.)
- müssen — to have to / must (obligation): Wir müssen heute früh aufstehen. (We have to get up early today.)
- wollen — to want to (strong wish/intention): Sie wollen nach Berlin reisen. (They want to travel to Berlin.)
- dürfen — to be allowed to / may (permission): Darf ich hier parken? (May I park here?)
- sollen — to be supposed to / should (advice/obligation from others): Du sollst mehr schlafen. (You should sleep more.)
- mögen / möchten — to like / would like (taste/polite wish): Ich möchte einen Kaffee. (I'd like a coffee.)
müssen nicht vs nicht dürfen: Watch the negatives, they are NOT the same. nicht müssen = don't have to (no obligation): Du musst nicht kommen. (You don't have to come.) nicht dürfen = must not / not allowed: Du darfst nicht rauchen. (You must not smoke.) Mixing these up changes the whole meaning.
Plans and rules, sentence by sentence: Here is a short paragraph about a weekend, built one sentence at a time. Every sentence uses a modal verb.
How to read it
- Look for the pattern: modal in position 2, infinitive at the end.
- Read it once for meaning.
- Then tap Übersetzung anzeigen for the English or the audio button to hear it.
Modalverben in Aktion
Ein Wochenende, Satz für Satz
- Am Wochenende will ich nicht arbeiten.
- Ich möchte lieber mit Freunden ins Kino gehen oder zu Hause ein Buch lesen.
- Leider muss meine Schwester am Samstag noch für eine Prüfung lernen.
- Im Schwimmbad darf man nicht ohne Badekappe schwimmen, das ist die Regel.
- Wenn wir zusammen planen, können wir am Sonntag eine schöne Wanderung machen.
Steal this to talk about plans and rules: Notice the recipe: subject + modal (slot 2) + … + infinitive (end). Use wollen/möchten for what you want, müssen for what you have to do, dürfen for what's allowed, können for what you're able to do. Swap in your own weekend and you have a ready-made paragraph about plans.
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The slips to watch for: Three mistakes dominate. Compare the right version with the typical mistake.
The three slips
- Conjugating the second verb instead of leaving it as an infinitive: ich will gehe → ich will gehen.
- Leaving the infinitive in the middle instead of sending it to the end.
- Adding zu before the infinitive (modals never take zu).
Richtig
- Ich kann sehr gut kochen.
- Wir müssen heute viel lernen.
- Darf ich das Fenster öffnen?
Typischer Fehler
- Ich kann sehr gut koche.
- Wir müssen lernen heute viel.
- Darf ich zu öffnen das Fenster?
Modal second, infinitive last, no zu: Before you write a modal sentence, check the bracket: the modal is in position 2, the infinitive is at the end, and there is no zu between them. For the third-person singular, remember no -t (er muss, sie kann).