What modal verbs do in German
German modal verbs (Modalverben) are helper verbs that change the meaning of another verb. They let you express things like ability, permission, obligation, necessity, desire, or intention. Instead of saying only what happens, you can say what is possible, allowed, required, or planned.
In everyday German, modal verbs are extremely common because they make sentences more precise and polite. Compare the difference in meaning:
Ich gehe heute. (I go today.)
Ich kann heute gehen. (I can/am able to go today.)
Ich darf heute gehen. (I’m allowed to go today.)
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Ich muss heute gehen. (I must/have to go today.)
In this chapter you will learn how to use modal verbs to express ability, permission, obligation, and intention, with practical patterns you can reuse.
The six core modal verbs and their main meanings
German has six core modal verbs. Each one has a “main” meaning, but in real life they can overlap depending on context.
können = can, to be able to (ability/possibility)
dürfen = may, to be allowed to (permission)
müssen = must, to have to (strong obligation/necessity)
sollen = should, to be supposed to (expectation, advice, reported obligation)
wollen = to want to (intention/desire)
mögen / möchten = to like / would like (preference, polite wish)
For the goals of this chapter, you will focus mainly on: können (ability), dürfen (permission), müssen and sollen (obligation), and wollen / möchten (intention).
How to build sentences with modal verbs (the reusable pattern)
Modal verbs usually come with a second verb. The modal verb is the “conjugated” verb in the sentence, and the second verb stays in the infinitive. In typical statements, that infinitive goes to the end of the clause.
Core pattern
Subject + modal verb (conjugated) + ... + main verb (infinitive)Examples:
Ich kann heute nicht kommen. (I can’t come today.)
Wir dürfen hier parken. (We may park here.)
Du musst jetzt gehen. (You have to go now.)
Er will Deutsch lernen. (He wants/intends to learn German.)
Step-by-step: build your own modal sentence
Use this procedure when you want to speak quickly and correctly.
Step 1: Choose the meaning you need. Ability? Permission? Obligation? Intention?
Step 2: Pick the correct modal verb. (können/dürfen/müssen/sollen/wollen/möchten)
Step 3: Choose the action verb. The thing you actually do: gehen, kommen, arbeiten, bezahlen, warten, etc.
Step 4: Conjugate only the modal verb. The action verb stays infinitive.
Step 5: Put the infinitive at the end. Add time/place/objects in the middle.
Example build:
Meaning: obligation → modal: müssen
Action: bezahlen
Sentence: Ich muss heute bezahlen.
Ability and possibility with können
können expresses ability (“I can do it”), capacity (“I am able to”), or possibility (“it’s possible”). In daily speech, it is one of the most useful verbs because it helps you talk about skills, practical limitations, and options.
Common uses
Skills and learned abilities: languages, driving, cooking, using software.
Physical ability: can’t walk, can’t lift, can’t sleep.
Situational possibility: can meet tomorrow, can pay by card, can take the train.
Examples you can reuse
Ich kann ein bisschen Deutsch sprechen. (I can speak a little German.)
Kannst du mir helfen? (Can you help me?)
Wir können morgen telefonieren. (We can talk on the phone tomorrow.)
Ich kann heute nicht. (I can’t today.)
Practical mini-patterns with können
These short patterns are common in real conversations.
Ich kann + Zeitangabe + nicht. → Ich kann am Freitag nicht. (I can’t on Friday.)
Kann ich + ...? (request/possibility) → Kann ich mit Karte zahlen? (Can I pay by card?)
Ich kann dir + Verb. → Ich kann dir erklären, wie das geht. (I can explain to you how that works.)
Typical learner pitfalls
Don’t conjugate the main verb. Say: Ich kann schwimmen. not *Ich kann schwimme.*
Use “nicht” to negate the ability. Ich kann nicht kommen.
Permission and prohibition with dürfen
dürfen is about permission: what is allowed. It is the modal verb you need for rules, signs, and polite questions about what you may do.
Key meanings
Permission: You are allowed to do something.
Prohibition (with nicht): You are not allowed to do something.
Examples in everyday contexts
Darf ich hier sitzen? (May I sit here?)
Du darfst hier nicht rauchen. (You’re not allowed to smoke here.)
Wir dürfen heute früher gehen. (We’re allowed to leave earlier today.)
Dürfen wir mit Karte zahlen? (May we pay by card?)
Step-by-step: asking for permission politely
Step 1: Start with “Darf ich …?” (singular) or “Dürfen wir …?” (we)
Step 2: Put the action verb in infinitive at the end.
Step 3: Add the object in the middle.
Templates:
Darf ich + Objekt/Angabe + Verb (Infinitiv)?Darf ich ein Foto machen? (May I take a photo?)
Darf ich kurz fragen? (May I ask quickly?)
dürfen vs können in questions
In some situations, learners use können when they really mean permission. In German, both can appear in polite questions, but they feel different:
Kann ich das Fenster öffnen? often sounds like “Is it possible for me to open the window?” (practical possibility) and is also used as a polite request.
Darf ich das Fenster öffnen? clearly asks “Am I allowed to open the window?” (permission/rules).
If rules or authority are involved (teacher, workplace, sign, official setting), dürfen is usually the best choice.
Obligation and necessity with müssen
müssen expresses strong obligation or necessity. It often corresponds to “must” or “have to.” Use it for deadlines, rules, unavoidable tasks, and things that are necessary for a goal.
Common contexts
Appointments and time pressure: must leave, must go now.
Rules and requirements: must show ID, must pay, must wear a mask (depending on context).
Personal necessity: must sleep, must eat, must study.
Examples
Ich muss arbeiten. (I have to work.)
Wir müssen jetzt los. (We have to leave now.)
Du musst das Formular ausfüllen. (You have to fill out the form.)
Musst du heute lange bleiben? (Do you have to stay long today?)
Negation: nicht müssen is “do not have to”
A very important meaning difference: nicht müssen does not mean “must not.” It means “don’t have to / don’t need to.”
Du musst nicht kommen. = You don’t have to come. (It’s optional.)
Du darfst nicht kommen. = You must not come. (It’s forbidden.)
This contrast is essential for expressing obligation vs prohibition correctly.
Practical drill: turn statements into “have to” sentences
Take a simple action and add a reason or time. Keep the main verb in infinitive at the end.
Action: gehen → Ich muss jetzt gehen.
Action: lernen → Wir müssen für die Prüfung lernen.
Action: warten → Du musst hier kurz warten.
Obligation, expectation, and advice with sollen
sollen is often translated as “should,” but it has a special flavor in German. It frequently expresses what someone expects from you, what you are supposed to do, or what someone told you to do. It can also be used for advice.
Main uses
Expectation / “supposed to”: a plan, rule, or expectation exists.
Instruction from another person: someone said you should do it.
Advice: a recommendation.
Examples
Ich soll heute meine Mutter anrufen. (I’m supposed to call my mother today.)
Du sollst mehr Wasser trinken. (You should drink more water.)
Wir sollen um 9 Uhr da sein. (We’re supposed to be there at 9.)
Soll ich dir helfen? (Should I help you? / Do you want me to help?)
müssen vs sollen: choosing the right strength
müssen = strong necessity, little choice: Ich muss arbeiten.
sollen = expectation/advice, often from others: Ich soll mehr arbeiten. (Someone expects it / it’s recommended.)
In workplace communication, sollen can sound less absolute than müssen, which can be useful when you want to be polite or indirect.
Intention and desire with wollen and möchten
To express intention (“I intend to…”) and desire (“I want to…”), German commonly uses wollen. For polite wishes and requests, möchten is extremely common. While möchten is historically related to mögen, in everyday German it functions like a polite modal meaning “would like.”
wollen: clear intention or strong desire
wollen is direct. It can sound strong, so it’s perfect for stating plans and intentions, but sometimes too blunt for requests in service situations.
Ich will heute früher gehen. (I want/intend to leave earlier today.)
Wir wollen am Wochenende Freunde besuchen. (We want/plan to visit friends on the weekend.)
Willst du mitkommen? (Do you want to come along?)
möchten: polite intention, polite requests
möchten is one of the most useful words for travel, restaurants, shops, and professional communication because it softens the request.
Ich möchte einen Kaffee. (I’d like a coffee.)
Wir möchten bitte zahlen. (We’d like to pay, please.)
Möchten Sie einen Termin? (Would you like an appointment?)
Ich möchte heute früher gehen. (I would like to leave earlier today.)
Step-by-step: ordering and requesting with möchten
Step 1: Start with “Ich möchte …” (or Wir möchten …).
Step 2: Add the item or action. For items, you often don’t need a second verb: Ich möchte ein Wasser.
Step 3: If you need an action verb, put it in infinitive at the end. Ich möchte reservieren. (I’d like to reserve.)
Step 4: Add politeness markers if appropriate. bitte is common: Ich möchte bitte zahlen.
wollen vs möchten in real-life tone
Ich will einen Kaffee. can sound demanding in a café (like “I want a coffee.”).
Ich möchte einen Kaffee. is the standard polite version.
When talking about your own plans with friends, wollen is perfectly natural: Ich will heute Abend ins Kino gehen.
Combining modal verbs with common sentence elements
Modal sentences become practical when you can insert time, place, objects, and adverbs smoothly. The modal verb stays near the beginning of the clause (as the conjugated verb), and the infinitive stays at the end.
Time expressions
Ich muss morgen früh aufstehen. (I have to get up early tomorrow.)
Wir wollen nächste Woche anfangen. (We want to start next week.)
Kannst du heute Abend kommen? (Can you come tonight?)
Place expressions
Du darfst hier sitzen. (You may sit here.)
Wir müssen nach Hause gehen. (We have to go home.)
Ich kann im Büro nicht telefonieren. (I can’t make calls in the office.)
Objects and pronouns
Kannst du mir das schicken? (Can you send that to me?)
Ich muss es heute machen. (I have to do it today.)
Wir dürfen ihn nicht stören. (We mustn’t disturb him / we’re not allowed to disturb him.)
Modal verbs in questions and short answers
Modal verbs are very common in questions because they are about what is possible, allowed, or necessary.
Yes/no questions
Kannst du morgen? (Can you tomorrow?)
Darf ich das nehmen? (May I take that?)
Müssen wir warten? (Do we have to wait?)
Willst du etwas trinken? (Do you want something to drink?)
Short answers (natural spoken German)
In conversation, Germans often answer with just the modal verb (and maybe nicht), because the main verb is understood from context.
Kannst du heute? — Ja, ich kann. / Nein, ich kann nicht.
Darf ich hier parken? — Ja, Sie dürfen. / Nein, Sie dürfen nicht.
Musst du jetzt gehen? — Ja, ich muss. / Nein, ich muss nicht.
Practical speaking sets: ready-made phrases by situation
Use the following sets as “starter scripts.” Replace the time/place/object to fit your situation.
Ability (können)
Ich kann dir helfen. (I can help you.)
Ich kann das nicht finden. (I can’t find that.)
Kannst du das wiederholen? (Can you repeat that?)
Ich kann heute leider nicht. (Unfortunately I can’t today.)
Permission (dürfen)
Darf ich kurz reinkommen? (May I come in briefly?)
Dürfen wir hier warten? (May we wait here?)
Du darfst das nicht machen. (You’re not allowed to do that.)
Hier darf man nicht parken. (You’re not allowed to park here.)
Obligation (müssen / sollen)
Ich muss noch E-Mails beantworten. (I still have to answer emails.)
Wir müssen einen Termin machen. (We have to make an appointment.)
Ich soll dir das sagen. (I’m supposed to tell you that.)
Du sollst dich ausruhen. (You should rest.)
Intention (wollen / möchten)
Ich will heute früher nach Hause. (I want/intend to go home earlier today.)
Wir wollen etwas essen. (We want to eat something.)
Ich möchte einen Termin vereinbaren. (I’d like to arrange an appointment.)
Möchten Sie noch etwas? (Would you like anything else?)
Targeted practice: transform the meaning with the right modal
This exercise shows how the modal verb changes the message while the main action stays the same. Use the same infinitive and swap the modal.
Base action: gehen (to go)
Ich kann gehen. (I am able to go.)
Ich darf gehen. (I am allowed to go.)
Ich muss gehen. (I have to go.)
Ich soll gehen. (I’m supposed to go.)
Ich will gehen. (I want/intend to go.)
Ich möchte gehen. (I would like to go.)
Base action: sprechen (to speak)
Kannst du langsamer sprechen? (Can you speak more slowly?)
Darf ich Deutsch sprechen? (May I speak German?)
Ich muss mit dir sprechen. (I have to talk to you.)
Ich will mit dir sprechen. (I want to talk to you.)
Ich möchte mit Ihnen sprechen. (I’d like to speak with you.)
Common mistakes and how to fix them quickly
Mistake 1: confusing “must not” and “don’t have to”
Correct prohibition: Du darfst nicht …
Correct “no necessity”: Du musst nicht …
Mistake 2: using wollen for polite requests
In shops/restaurants, prefer möchten: Ich möchte ein Wasser.
Use wollen for plans: Ich will heute kochen.
Mistake 3: forgetting the infinitive at the end
If you say a modal verb, ask yourself: “What is the action verb?” Put that verb in infinitive at the end.
Ich muss … arbeiten.
Wir dürfen … parken.
Er kann … kommen.
