What are German Modal Verbs?

Modal verbs, also known as “modal auxiliaries” or simply “modals,” are a group of six verbs in the German language that are used to express modality. Modality, in this context, refers to the speaker’s attitude or perspective towards a certain action or state. The six German modal verbs are:

1. dürfen (to be allowed, may)
2. können (to be able, can)
3. mögen (to like)
4. müssen (to have to, must)
5. sollen (to be supposed to, should)
6. wollen (to want)

Conjugating German Modal Verbs

Like other German verbs, modal verbs need to be conjugated based on the subject, tense, and mood. However, they follow their own unique pattern, which is generally simpler than the regular verb conjugation. Here’s a brief overview of the conjugation pattern for each modal verb in the present tense:

Verb	ich	du	er/sie/es	wir	ihr	sie/Sie
dürfen	darf	darfst	darf	dürfen	dürft	dürfen
können	kann	kannst	kann	können	könnt	können
mögen	mag	magst	mag	mögen	mögt	mögen
müssen	muss	musst	muss	müssen	müsst	müssen
sollen	soll	sollst	soll	sollen	sollt	sollen
wollen	will	willst	will	wollen	wollt	wollen

Past Tenses of German Modal Verbs

Modal verbs have two past tenses: the simple past (Präteritum) and the present perfect (Perfekt). The simple past forms are irregular, and you need to memorize them:

Verb	ich	du	er/sie/es	wir	ihr	sie/Sie
dürfen	durfte	durftest	durfte	durften	durftet	durften
können	konnte	konntest	konnte	konnten	konntet	konnten
mögen	mochte	mochtest	mochte	mochten	mochtet	mochten
müssen	musste	musstest	musste	mussten	musstet	mussten
sollen	sollte	solltest	sollte	sollten	solltet	sollten
wollen	wollte	wolltest	wollte	wollten	wolltet	wollten

The present perfect tense is formed with the auxiliary verb haben and a past participle, which for modal verbs is formed by adding “ge” to the simple past stem:

• dürfen: gedurft
• können: gekonnt
• mögen: gemocht
• müssen: gemusst
• sollen: gesollt
• wollen: gewollt

Using German Modal Verbs in Sentences

Modal verbs are used together with other verbs to express a specific attitude or intention. The modal verb is conjugated according to the subject, while the accompanying verb appears in its infinitive form at the end of the sentence.

Here are some examples:

• Er kann gut Gitarre spielen. (He can play the guitar well.)
• Du musst heute Abend lernen. (You have to study tonight.)
• Wir wollen morgen ins Kino gehen. (We want to go to the cinema tomorrow.)

Negating Modal Verbs

To negate a modal verb, simply add “nicht” before the accompanying infinitive verb:

• Sie darf heute Abend nicht ausgehen. (She may not go out tonight.)

Tips for Mastering German Modal Verbs

1. Practice conjugations: Regularly practice conjugating modal verbs in different tenses to build familiarity and fluency.
2. Study in context: Learn how modal verbs are used in various contexts by studying real-life examples, such as in conversations, news articles, or books.
3. Use mnemonic devices: Create memory aids or associations to help you remember the conjugations and meanings of modal verbs.
4. Test yourself: Regularly test your knowledge of modal verbs through quizzes or flashcards.

In conclusion, mastering German modal verbs requires understanding their meanings, conjugations, and usage in sentences. By following the tips mentioned above and regularly practicing, you will be well on your way to mastering these essential elements of the German language.

You can practice model verbs exercises here