Modal Verbs (Modalverben)
German has six modal verbs — können (can/be able to), müssen (must/have to), wollen (want to), sollen (should/be supposed to), dürfen (be allowed to), and mögen (to like), plus the softened form möchten (would like). They express ability, necessity, permission, and desire. Two rules make them easy to use: in the singular the ich and er/sie/es forms are identical and take no ending (ich kann, er kann — never "er kannt"), and the second verb goes to the very end of the clause as an infinitive (Ich muss jetzt gehen).
How modal verbs are conjugated
Modals are irregular in the singular: most change their stem vowel and, crucially, the ich and er/sie/es forms are identical with no ending. The plural forms are regular. Learn the ich-form and the rest follows.
Present tense of the six modal verbs
| können | müssen | wollen | sollen | dürfen | mögen | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | kann | muss | will | soll | darf | mag |
| du | kannst | musst | willst | sollst | darfst | magst |
| er/sie/es | kann | muss | will | soll | darf | mag |
| wir | können | müssen | wollen | sollen | dürfen | mögen |
| ihr | könnt | müsst | wollt | sollt | dürft | mögt |
| sie/Sie | können | müssen | wollen | sollen | dürfen | mögen |
The infinitive goes to the end
A modal verb takes the conjugated slot (position 2), and the main verb becomes an infinitive at the end of the clause. This is the single most important pattern to internalise.
Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.
I can speak German.
Wir müssen morgen früh aufstehen.
We have to get up early tomorrow.
Darfst du heute Abend mitkommen?
Are you allowed to come along tonight?
What each modal means
- können — ability or possibility: Ich kann schwimmen. (I can swim.) Also casual permission.
- müssen — necessity/obligation: Ich muss arbeiten. (I have to work.) Note: the negative nicht müssen means "don't have to", not "must not".
- wollen — a strong want or intention: Ich will nach Hause. (I want to go home.)
- sollen — obligation coming from someone else, advice, or "supposed to": Du sollst mehr schlafen. (You should sleep more.)
- dürfen — permission: Hier darf man nicht rauchen. (You may not smoke here.) The negative expresses prohibition.
- mögen — to like (often without a second verb): Ich mag Kaffee. (I like coffee.)
möchten — the polite "would like"
möchten is the Konjunktiv II of mögen and functions as its own everyday modal meaning "would like". It is softer and more polite than wollen and is what you use to order or request.
möchten (would like)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| ich | möchte |
| du | möchtest |
| er/sie/es | möchte |
| wir | möchten |
| ihr | möchtet |
| sie/Sie | möchten |
Ich möchte einen Kaffee, bitte.
I would like a coffee, please.
Möchtest du etwas trinken?
Would you like something to drink?
Examples
Ich kann heute nicht kommen.
I can't come today.
Du musst deine Hausaufgaben machen.
You have to do your homework.
Er will ein neues Auto kaufen.
He wants to buy a new car.
Wir sollen leise sein.
We're supposed to be quiet.
Darf ich hier parken?
May I park here?
Ich möchte gern bezahlen.
I'd like to pay.
German lookup checklist
| Question | What to check |
|---|---|
| Meaning | What does the form contribute to the sentence? |
| Agreement | Does it match person, number, gender, case, or tense? |
| Position | Does placement change emphasis or grammatical role? |
Common Mistakes
- Adding **-t** to the er/sie/es form: it is **er kann**, **er muss**, **er will** — never "er kannt" or "er willt". The third-person singular of a modal has no ending.
- Leaving the main verb conjugated instead of using the infinitive: say **Ich muss gehen**, not "Ich muss gehe".
- Putting the infinitive too early: it belongs at the **end** — **Ich kann heute Abend nicht kommen**, not "Ich kann kommen heute Abend".
- Treating **nicht müssen** as "must not". It means "don't have to"; prohibition is **nicht dürfen**.
- Using **wollen** to order politely — it sounds blunt/demanding. Use **möchten**.
Lookup Tips
- If you can say the ich-form, you know the er/sie/es form — they are identical.
- Sentence shape to remember: [subject] [modal] [… middle …] [infinitive]. The infinitive always lands last.
- Two verbs in one clause almost always means: conjugated modal early, infinitive at the end.
Frequently asked questions
Why do ich and er have the same modal form?
It is simply an irregular feature of German modal verbs: in the present-tense singular the first- and third-person forms are identical and take no ending (ich kann / er kann, ich muss / er muss). Only **du** adds an ending (-st).
What is the difference between wollen and möchten?
**wollen** is a plain, strong "want" and can sound demanding; **möchten** is "would like" — polite and softened. In shops, restaurants and requests, use **möchten**.
Does nicht müssen mean "must not"?
No. **Ich muss nicht** means "I don't have to" (no obligation). To say "must not / may not", use **nicht dürfen**: **Du darfst nicht** means "you are not allowed to".