Chapter 20.20 - Basic Verbs in German: Obligation Verbs

On the journey of learning German, it is essential to master the obligatory verbs. These verbs are commonly used to express need, obligation, or permission. In this chapter, we'll explore the most common German obligatory verbs and how to use them correctly.

Müssen

The verb "müssen" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in German to express obligation or necessity. It is equivalent to the English "have to" or "must". For example, "Ich muss arbeiten" means "I have to work". It is important to note that "müssen" is an irregular verb, which means that its conjugation varies with the subject.

Sollen

Another modal verb of obligation in German is "sollen", which indicates an obligation or advice. It is similar to the English "should" or "ought to". For example, "Du sollst mehr lernen" means "You should study harder". Like "müssen", "sollen" is also an irregular verb.

Dürfen

"Dürfen" is a modal verb expressing permission or possibility. It is similar to the English "may" or "allowed to". For example, "Sie dürfen das Buch lesen" means "You can read the book". "Dürfen" is also an irregular verb.

Können

The verb "können" is used to indicate ability or possibility. It is equivalent to the English "can" or "able to". For example, "Ich kann Deutsch sprechen" means "I can speak German". "Können" is another irregular modal verb in German.

Wollen

Finally, we have the verb "wollen", which expresses will or intention. It is similar to the English "want to". For example, "Wir wollen ins Kino gehen" means "We want to go to the cinema". "Wollen" is also an irregular verb.

Conjugation of Obligation Verbs

As mentioned, German obligatory verbs are irregular. This means that they do not follow a fixed conjugation pattern. However, the good news is that the conjugation of these verbs is quite similar. Here are the conjugations for "müssen", "sollen", "dürfen", "können" and "wollen":

Ich muss, du musst, er/sie/es muss, wir müssen, ihr müsst, sie/Sie müssen

Ich soll, du sollst, er/sie/es soll, wir sollen, ihr sollt, sie/Sie sollen

Ich darf, du darfst, er/sie/es darf, wir dürfen, ihr dürft, sie/Sie dürfen

Ich kann, du kannst, er/sie/es kann, wir können, ihr könnt, sie/Sie können

Ich will, du willst, er/sie/es will, wir wollen, ihr wollt, sie/Sie wollen

Conclusion

Obligation verbs in German are key to expressing yourself effectively in the language. They allow you to communicate needs, obligations, permissions, abilities and intentions. Although they are irregular, constant practice will help you master their conjugations and usages. Remember, the key to learning any language is constant practice and language immersion.