Possibility verbs in German are essential tools for expressing the ability, permission, or possibility of something happening. They are common in everyday conversations and written texts. This chapter will introduce the most commonly used possibility verbs in Basic German, including "können", "dürfen" and "mögen".
Können
In German, "können" is a modal verb often used to indicate ability or ability. It is equivalent to the verb "poder" in Portuguese. For example, "Ich kann Deutsch sprechen" means "I can speak German".
Like all modal verbs in German, "können" requires the use of the infinitive of another verb at the end of the sentence. It is also important to note that "können" is an irregular verb, which means that its conjugation does not follow the standard rules. Here are the conjugated forms of "können":
- Ich kann - I can
- Du kannst - You can
- Er/Sie/Es kann - He/She/It can
- Wir können - We can
- Ihr könnt - You can
- Sie können - They/They can
Dürfen
"Dürfen" is another modal verb in German that is used to express permission or prohibition. It is equivalent to the verb "dever" in Portuguese. For example, "Du darfst nicht rauchen" means "You must not smoke".
Like "können", "dürfen" requires the use of the infinitive of another verb at the end of the sentence. It is also an irregular verb. Here are the conjugated forms of "dürfen":
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- Ich darf - I must
- Du darfst - Thou shalt
- Er/Sie/Es darf - He/She/It should
- Wir dürfen - We must
- Ihr dürft - You shall
- Sie dürfen - They/They must
Mögen
The verb "mögen" is used to express taste or preference in German. It is equivalent to the verb "to like" in Portuguese. For example, "Ich mag Schokolade" means "I like chocolate".
"Mögen" is also a modal verb and requires the use of the infinitive of another verb at the end of the sentence. It is an irregular verb. Here are the conjugated forms of "mögen":
- Ich mag - I like it
- Du magst - Do you like it
- Er/Sie/Es mag - He/She/It likes it
- Wir mögen - We like it
- Ihr mögt - You like it
- Sie mögen - They/They like it
In short, possibility verbs in German are crucial linguistic tools for expressing ability, permission, and preference. Mastering these verbs will significantly improve your German communication skills. Keep in mind that these verbs are irregular and take practice to memorize. With time and practice, you'll be able to use them with confidence and accuracy.
