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Mögen vs Wollen vs Möchten

I. Theory and definition: Modal verbs in German

Table 3: Irregular forms for können, sollen, müssen& dürfen

	können	sollen	müssen	dürfen
Ich	kann	soll	muss	darf
Du	kannst	sollst	muss	darfst
Er/ Sie/ Es	kann	soll	muss	darf
Wir	können	sollen	müssen	dürfen
Ihr	könnt	sollt	müsst	dürft
sie / Sie	können	sollen	müssen	dürfen

Table 2: Irregular forms for mögen, wollen & möchten

	mögen	wollen	möchten
Ich	mag	will	möchte
Du	magst	willst	möchtest
Er/ Sie/ Es	mag	will	möchte
Wir	mögen	wollen	möchten
Ihr	mögt	wollt	möchtet
sie / Sie	mögen	wollen	möchten

By adding a modal verb it pushes the normal verb at the end of the sentence!

I must go to school tomorrow

I go to school tomorrow

Mögen: it’s used without a verb nowadays

Ich mag die Schokolade 🡆 I like the chocolate

Möchten: it’s the subjunctive of mögen, we often use it in the present tense

Ich möchte ein Auto fahren 🡆 I want /I’d like to drive a car

Wollen: it’s used in the present as well as in the past

Willst du schmecken? 🡆 Do you want to taste?

Table 1:Modals in german

können

can, to be able to

wollen

to want to, to intend to (desire)

müssen

to have to, must, to need to

mögen

to like

dürfen

may, to be allowed to

sollen

should, shall, to be supposed to

möchten

would like to, want to (have the desire)

Check me!

Subject

Modal Verb

Time

Place

Verb

Ich

muss

morgen

zur Bank

fahren

Du

sollst

am Montag

zu Hause

bleiben

Er/ Sie/ Es

will

heute

ins Kino

gehen

Wir

möchten

nächstes Jahr

in Deutschland

reisen

Ihr

dürft

jetzt

hier

sitzen

Sie

können

diese Woche

nach Wien

fahren

Subject	Modal Verb	Time	Place	Verb
Ich	muss	morgen	in die Schule	gehen

Subject	Verb	Time	Place
Ich	gehe	morgen	in die Schule

I must go to the bank tomorrow.

You should stay home on Monday

He/She wants to go to cinema today

We’d like to travel to Germany next year.

You’re allowed to stay here now.

They can drive to Vienna this week.

*If this table doesn't display right, please turn your phone horrizontaly !

Modal verbs are irregular verbs! Meaning each verb has its own form!

Modal verbs change the structure of the sentence

*If this table doesn't display right, please turn your phone horrizontaly !

Modal verbs change the structure of a sentence. Below this, you will find a table where you can follow the new structure!

Mr Puddles gives you a tip!

Take your chance and try to guess what these sentences mean!

Mrs. Purrplexed wants to play!

✔️ Practical examples. Look at these sentences and understand the parts of the speech. Try to feel the structure! After that, play with Mrs. Purrplexed!

V. Let's practice! Modal verbs in German

Mr. Puddle: Don’t forget “ihr” which only adds -t to the stem of the verb

Mr. Puddle: Ich bin froh das zu hören (i'm glad to hear that)!

Mr. Kitty Hawk: Danke! meowww

Mr. Kitty Hawk: It’s so easy to learn the modals: you only remember two forms, one for ich/er/sie/es and one for wir/sie/Sie…

Mr. Kitty Hawk: Ich mag den Unterricht (the lesson)!

IV. Purrrfection explained! Modal verbs in German

✔️Ich/ er/ sie/ es have the same forms: will, muss, soll, kann, möchte, darf, mag

✔️Wir/ Sie/ sie have the same forms like the infinitive: dürfen, können, mögen, müssen, sollen, wollen, möchten.

✔️For ihr, we only add -t to the stem of the verb

dürft

könnt

mögt

müsst

sollt

wollt

möchtet

III. Tips & Tricks : How to learn them easily? Modal verbs in German

II. Practical examples - Modal verbs in German

We use modal verbs when we want to express the ability, the desire, the obligation, the possibility or the permission by providing more information about something we specifically do.

Let’s break down the next examples:

Ich kann ein Auto fahren.

*I have the ability to drive a car

I can drive a car.

Ich muss ein Auto fahren.

*I have the obligation to drive a car.

I must drive a car.

Cats are lovely and may prove to be a good company for you while learning or struggling with German.

Here's the perfect place for animal lovers and German learners!

2020, L2D

Modal verbs in German

Fill the gaps by conjugating the verb in the bracket. You can check the text translation at the end for extra help.

▶ See the translation of the text

I want to go to Paris next week. It's so beautiful there. I like the french clothes and their style. I must buy a ticket on Monday and also some new hats. I'd like to wear hats in museums, restaurants and cafes. I have some money but I can also ask my dad for some more. My perfect day starts in a cafe in the morning. I want to eat their famous croissants and drink coffee. It's spring now: I can visit the Eiffel Tower and Louvre museum. I want to go shopping on Champs-Élysées boulevard. I love France!