The Modal Verbs (Modalverben)

Introduction

Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that modify the meaning of the main verb in a sentence. They express various aspects of mood, possibility, necessity, or ability. In German, modal verbs are essential for communicating nuanced meanings and are used in a wide range of situations:

1. Expressing ability or possibility (können):
   “Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.” (I can speak German.)
2. Indicating wishes or desires (wollen):
   “Wir wollen nach Berlin reisen.” (We want to travel to Berlin.)
3. Conveying necessity or obligation (müssen):
   “Du musst deine Hausaufgaben machen.” (You must do your homework.)
4. Giving advice or suggestions (sollen):
   “Du solltest mehr Wasser trinken.” (You should drink more water.)
5. Asking or granting permission (dürfen):
   “Darf ich das Fenster öffnen?” (May I open the window?)
6. Expressing likes or preferences (mögen):
   “Ich mag Schokolade.” (I like chocolate.)
7. Making polite requests (möchten – subjunctive form of mögen):
   “Ich möchte einen Kaffee, bitte.” (I would like a coffee, please.)
8. Indicating probability or likelihood:
   “Es könnte heute regnen.” (It might rain today.)
9. Expressing rules or regulations:
   “Man darf hier nicht rauchen.” (Smoking is not allowed here.)

Modal verbs help speakers convey subtle meanings, express politeness, and communicate various degrees of certainty or obligation. They are crucial for effective communication in German and are used frequently in everyday conversations, formal situations, and written language.

Modal Verbs Overview

1. können (can, to be able to)
   Example: Ich kann Deutsch sprechen. (I can speak German.)
2. wollen (want to, to want)
   Example: Wir wollen Pizza essen. (We want to eat pizza.)
3. sollen (should, ought to)
   Example: Du sollst deine Hausaufgaben machen. (You should do your homework.)
4. müssen (must, have to)
   Example: Ich muss zum Arzt gehen. (I must go to the doctor.)
5. mögen (to like)
   Example: Ich mag Schokolade. (I like chocolate.)
6. dürfen (may, to be allowed to)
   Example: Darf ich eine Frage stellen? (May I ask a question?)

Conjugation Table (The Present Tense)

Note: “wissen” (to know) is not a modal verb but is conjugated in the same way as modals.

Theory and Usage

Conjugation differences:

• Modal verbs have irregular conjugations in the present tense.
• Most modal verbs (except “sollen”) have a vowel change in the singular forms.
• The first person singular (ich) and third person singular (er/sie/es) forms are identical.

Word order:

• The conjugated modal verb takes the second position in the sentence.
• The main verb appears in the infinitive form at the end of the clause.
  Example: Ich kann gut Deutsch sprechen. (I can speak German well.)

No “zu” with infinitives:

• Unlike many other verb constructions, modal verbs do not use the infinitive marker “zu”.
  Example: Ich muss arbeiten. (I have to work.) NOT: Ich muss zu arbeiten.

Usage of “mögen”:

• “Mögen” means “to like” and does not always require the main verb. Examples:
  • Ich mag im Sommer schwimmen. (I like to swim in the summer)
  • Ich mag dich. (Jeg liker deg.)
• “Mögen” is often used in its subjunctive form “möchte” to express polite wishes or requests.
  Example: Ich möchte ein Glas Wasser, bitte. (I would like a glass of water, please.)

Negation:

• To negate a sentence with a modal verb, use “nicht” after the modal verb.
  Example: Ich kann nicht schwimmen. (I cannot swim.)

Questions:

• In questions, the modal verb comes at the beginning of the sentence.
  Example: Kannst du mir helfen? (Can you help me?)

Task 1

Fill in the blanks with können, sollen, wollen. Pay attention to the agreement between the subject (the one doing the action) and the verb (the conjugated verb).

Task 2

Task 3

Task 4

Task 5

Modale Melodie: Was wir können, müssen und wollen

This song helps learn German modal verbs with music.