Modal Auxiliaries
Modals sometimes are used alone, but more often they are used in combination with an infinitive. When a modal is used, the main verb is used in the infinitive form and moves to the end of the clause.Present Tense
| dürfen | können | mögen | müssen | sollen | wollen |
ich | darf | kann | mag | muß | soll | will |
du | darfst | kannst | magst | mußt | sollst | willst |
er | darf | kann | mag | muß | soll | will |
wir | dürfen | können | mögen | müssen | sollen | wollen |
ihr | dürft | könnt | mögt | müßt | sollt | wollt |
sie | dürfen | können | mögen | müssen | sollen | wollen |
Principal Parts of Modals
infinitive | 3d person singular present | 3d person singular preterite | past participle |
dürfen | darf | durfte | gedurtft* |
können | kann | konnte | gekonnt* |
mögen | mag | mochte | gemocht* |
müssen | muß | mußte | gemußt* |
sollen | soll | sollte | gesollt* |
wollen | will | wollte | gewollt* |
*Infinitive form is used when it is immediately preceded by an infinitive.
Objective and Subjective Meanings of Modals
| Objective (indicates the attitude of the subject or of an implied agent) | Subjective (indicates the attitude of the speaker toward the content of the message) |
dürfen | may, to be allowed to (in the neg., a prohibition) | In the subjunctive, the speaker suggests an uncertain assumption. |
können | can, to be able to, to know (a language or how to do sth) | In the subjunctive, the speaker suggests the possibility of sth. |
mögen | to like, want, may | The speaker infers sth or considers sth possible. |
müssen | must, to have to | The speaker knows something is true based on evidence. |
sollen | should, to be supposed to, ought, to be expected to | The speaker does not know whether something is true, but other people say it is. |
wollen | to want to, intend to (indicates the intention or desire) | The speaker doubts the truth of the assertion. |
Examples of verb placement with modals
Wann sollen wir in die Stadt gehen? | When should we go to town? |
Morgen sollen wir in die Stadt gehen. | We are supposed to go to town tomorrow. |
Ich möchte mit dir gehen, aber ich darf nicht. | I would like to go with you, but I’m not allowed to. |
Wenn du mit uns gehen willst, darfst du heute Abend meine Freundin anrufen. | If you want to go with us, you may call my friend this evening. |
Er wollte mit uns gehen, aber er konnte nicht. Er hatte seinen Rucksack verloren und hatte deshalb kein Geld dabei. | He wanted to go with us, but he couldn’t. He had lost his backpack and therefore had no money with him. |
Er hätte mit uns gehen können, aber er hat vergessen, mit uns zu treffen. | He could have gone with us, but he forgot to meet us. |
Obwohl er mit uns hätte gehen können, entschied er sich stattdessen, allein zu Hause zu bleiben. | Although he could have gone with, he decided instead to stay home alone. |
