Can in German. Conjugation of modal verbs: Präsens, Präteritum. Modal verbs in German: expressing the degree of probability

It is generally accepted that modal (mod.) verbs (verb) in German, as, indeed, in other Germanic languages, express the relationship between the subject and the predicate. This is true, but this is the use of modal verbs. is not limited, they can also express the subjective assessment of the speaker in relation to the content of what is being said.

In this article, we will look at the objective use of verbs. and the ability to paraphrase them without dwelling on their detailed conjugation, as well as a number of verbs similar to modal ones.

Strictly speaking, modal verbs. - this is both (express an obligation), and (express the ability to perform an action), and (express a desire to perform an action). Sometimes as a separate verb. you can meet the form möchten, although this is not a separate verb, but a subjunctive from mögen . Auxiliary verbs. sein , werden , haben are also often considered together with modals, since they "behave" like a mod in a sentence. Verbs. A common feature of all the above named verbs. lies in the fact that the form of the third person of these verbs. coincides with the first person form (ich will, er will, ich muss, er muss), and in the sentence they require the presence of a semantic verb, BUT without the characteristic verb particle zu.

Verb. müssen denotes an objective necessity based on external circumstances, clear instructions (for example, by law) or one's own will.

Entschuldigung! Ich muss gerade mal niesen.

Bei einer Krankheit muss die Krankenversicherung die Kosten für Behandlung übernehmen.

Ich muss meinen Eltern helfen.

ATTENTION! The negative form of the verb nicht müssen does not express a prohibition, but a lack of necessity

Du musst das Auto nicht reparieren = Du brauchst das Auto nicht zu reparieren.

You don't have to repair the car (but if you want, you can).

Usually in speech this verb. can be replaced by the verb constructions haben + zu + infinitive or sein + zu + infinitive, as well as impersonal sentences, for example:

Ich habe meinen Eltern zu helfen.

Das auto ist zu reparieren.

Es ist erforderlich,…

Es ist notwendig,…

Ich bin gezwungen…

Verb. sollen expresses obligations based on the will of a third party: laws, social norms, generally accepted rules, commandments, etc. But, unlike müssen, v. sollen allows the person to decide whether to follow it or not.

Meine Eltern wollen, dass ich Medizin studiere = Ich soll Medizin studieren.

Du sollst deinen Kollegen gegenüber höfflich sein.

In speech, sollen can also be replaced by haben + zu + infinitive or complex sentences:

Es wird von jemandem erwartet/gefordert/verlangt, dass…

The subjunctive form sollten expresses advice, recommendation, appeal, etc.

Du solltest zum Arzt gehen!

Du solltest lauter reden!

Verb. wollen expresses a clear intention, a firm, categorical desire based on one's own will.

Ich will Lehrerin werden. Ich will umziehen.

To get around the use of verbs, you can use the following constructions:

Er hat vor/ nimmt sich/ hat Absicht/ ist bereit/ ist entschlossen zu….

The verb mögen has a similar meaning. – expresses desire, need. However, it is usually used in other contexts: the present tense of the verb Ich mag expresses, rather, love or sympathy: Ich mag am liebsten Fleisch. Ich mag meinen kleinen Bruder. In the past tense (ich mochte) is used quite rarely, usually the corresponding wollen form(ich wollte). But on the other hand, conjunctive forms of the verb are used quite widely. So, Konjunktiv I möge is used to express an appeal or wish: Möge er glücklich sein! (May he be happy!) Möge er mir dieses Buch verkaufen (May he sell me this book).

As for the most common form möchten, it denotes a polite desire or request: Ich möchte gern dieses Buch haben. Ich möchte Geld überweisen.

Können also has several meanings. He expresses:

• The ability to perform an action based on the presence of some skills (acquired or innate). In Russian, it corresponds to the verb. be able to. Sie kann schön singen. Mein Bruder kann noch nicht lesen. It can be replaced by the phrases: Er ist imstande, fähig, begabt…
• Possibility of carrying out an action based on objective circumstances. Endlich liegt es genug Snee. Wirkonnen Ski fahren. Er hat alle Prüfungen bestanden. Jetzt kann er sich ausruhen.
• Permission, very close in meaning to the verb dürfen. Er kann alles machen, was er will. Wir können am Nachmittag draussen spielen. (Unsere Eltern haben es erlauben).
• The subjunctive form KII könnten is often used for polite questions: Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen? Konntest Du mich bitte vom Hauptbahnhof abholen?

Verb. dürfen denotes a possibility based on the permission or permission of a third party or some right.

In diem Raum darf man rauchen.

Darf ich heute dein Auto nehmen?

This form can be replaced by the expressions: Es ist erlaubt/gestattet zu…. Wir haben Recht/ Möglichkeit zu…

ATTENTION! The negative form of the verb - nicht dürfen - expresses a strict prohibition or recommendation (less often). Hier darf man nicht rauchen. - You can't smoke here.

Man darf während des Sturms in Ozean nicht schwimmen. - Swimming is not recommended during a storm.

To consolidate and repeat the most important points on the topic "", we offer the following table.

Considering mod. vb. in German, it is perhaps worth dwelling on some verbs that are not themselves modal, but are used in a sentence according to the rules of modal verbs. So, for example, lassen can act as an independent verb. in the meaning of leave, and in the modal - to allow, allow, allow, encourage.

Ich habe mein Handy reparieren lassen. Ich habe ihn hereinkommen lassen.

In simple and subordinate clauses, lassen is paired with the infinitive of the main verb. according to modal rules. The verbs behave the same way. horen , sehen , helfen .

Ich höre ihn atmen, lachen, gehen. I hear him breathing, laughing, walking.

Ich hörte ihn atmen, lachen, gehen. “I heard him breathe, laugh, walk.

Ich habe ihn atmen, lachen, gehen hören. “I heard him breathe, laugh, walk.

Verb. bleiben , gehen , lehren , lernen are used as modals only in the present tense and imperfect, while the perfect and pluperfect are used as regular verbs. (haben/hatten+PartizipII).

Ich lehre Kinder tanzen und singen. I teach children to sing and dance.

Ich lehrte Kinder tanzen und singen.

I ch habe Kinder tanzen und singen gelehrt.

Ich hatte Kinder tanzen und singen gelehrt.

I taught children to sing and dance.

Full-valued verbs usually act in a sentence as a predicate or a semantic part of a predicate. The vast majority of German verbs fall into this category.

Service verbs are used in a sentence in combination with other verbs, being only part of the predicate. At the same time, they usually lose (partially or completely) their independent semantic meaning.

Functional verbs in German include:
• auxiliary verbs - haben, sein, werden;
• linking verbs - sein, werden, bleiben, heißen.

With the help of auxiliary verbs haben, sein, werden complex forms of time and passive voice are formed.

The verbs haben, sein can also be used as full-valued verbs. In this case, these verbs are translated into Russian:
• haben- have:

• sein- to be, to be:

Modal verbs differ from ordinary full-valued verbs. They express not an action, but an attitude towards action. Modal verbs can express possibility, necessity, desire. Modal verbs in German include the following verbs:
• mussen- to be obliged, to be obliged, to be compelled.

The verb müssen expresses necessity due to inner conviction, duty.

• Sollen- to be obliged, to be obliged.

The verb expresses the need, duty, obligation associated with someone's instructions, the order established by someone, etc.

The verbs müssen and sollen can also be used to express an assumption, with the verb müssen to express one's own assumption, and the verb sollen to express an assumption arising from other people's words.

• konnen- to be able, to be able (to have the physical ability to do something):

The verb können can also be used in the sense of "to be able":

• wollen- want, desire (often with a hint of "intending to do something"):

The verb wollen is also used in the descriptive form of the 1st person imperative.

The verb mögen can also express a wish, advice, recommendation and is often translated in this case by the word "let".

In addition to ordinary, semantic verbs (I am writing a book), denoting action, the so-called modal verbs also work in the verb system, expressing the attitude of the speaker to the action, as well as the relationship of the action, which is spoken of, to reality: I want, I can, I must write a book. The book has not yet been written, in fact it does not exist, but there is my intention, the desire to write it.

Modal verbs usually appear in combination with semantic verbs, forming, as it were, one compound verb:

Ich muss jeden Tag zur Arbeit gehen. - I have to go to work every day.

Ich kann nicht jeden Tag zur Arbeit gehen. - I can't go to work every day.

Ich will in Urlaub fahren. - I want to go on vacation.

The second verb goes to the end of the sentence. Sometimes it can be omitted altogether (as it is implied):

Ich muss zur Arbeit (gehen). - I need to go to work.

The conjugation of modal verbs has two features. First, they have special form for the singular. So this is what you need to remember: wollen (will) - want (I want), müssen (muss) - be able (can) ... Secondly, in the forms I And He there are no personal endings at all, and these forms are the same, they coincide: ich muss - I must, er muss - he must (sie muss - she must). Compare with the usual semantic verb: ich trinke, er trinkt.

wollen (will):

ich will nach Hamburg fahren. (I want to go to Hamburg.) wir, sie, siewollen .

er (sie, es) will.

du willst.

ihr wollt.

So, modal verbs:

wollen (will) - want:

Wollen wir in die Stadt fahren? - Let's (literally: we want) to go to the city?

Das will ich doch nicht machen! But I don't want to do that!

mussen (muss) - to be compelled, due (to do something):

Sie müssen vorher anrufen. - You must (you need to) call in advance.

Ich muss auf die Toilette. - I need (I must) go to the toilet.

sollen (soll) - to be obligated (to do something)(Only this verb has the same plural and singular forms):

Soll ich Sie vom Bahnhof abholen? - Should I meet you at the station (bring, pick you up from the station?)

Der Arzt sagt, ich soll weniger rauchen. The doctor says I should smoke less.

konnen (kann) - to be able, to be able, to be able to:

Konnen Sie mir helfen? - Can you help me?

Ich kann Auto fahren. - I can drive a car.

Hier stehe ich - ich kann nicht anders. (Martin Luther) - I stand on this and I can not do otherwise.

dürfen (darf) - be able In terms of you are allowed to do something:

Darf ich hier rauchen? - Can I smoke here?

Sie dürfen hier rauchen. - You can, you can smoke here.

mogen (mag) - be in love- In terms of: like(in this sense, the verb has almost ceased to be modal and is used independently, without another semantic verb); be possible:

Mogen Sie Eis? - Ja, ich mag es. - Do you like ice cream? - Yes I love.

Er mag Recht haben. - He's probably right.

Sie mag krank sein. - She might be sick.

Wie mag es sein? - How is that possible?

Instead of a verb wollen you can use a softer, more polite form mochten:

Ich will ins Theatre. - I want to go to the theatre.

Ich möchte ins Theatre. - I would like to go to the theatre.

Möchten Sie Tee trinken? - Would you like some tea?

Ich mochte ein Stuck Kuchen. - I'd like a piece of cake.

This form is conjugated as a modal verb, with the only difference being that in the forms I And he she it) she has an ending -e:

ich möchte, du möchtest, er möchte; wir möchten, ihr möchtet, sie möchten.

As you already know, the verb wollen Can mean let's (let's do something):

Wollen wir heute Abend essen gehen! Let's go to a restaurant today!

But, in addition, with wollen You can and quite sharply insist on your own:

Willst du endlich einmal gehorchen! - You will finally obey!

Did you also notice that mussen And Sollen mean the same thing: have to do something. But they have different semantic shades, differ in use. Sollen usually used when there is an indication of someone else's will: you have some kind of obligation to someone, someone gives you an assignment. Mussen but it means that you personally realize the need to do something, you yourself think or understand that you need to do something. Compare:

Ich muss meine Wohnung renovieren. - I have to repair the apartment. (These are the circumstances, there's nothing to be done, I'm aware of it.)

Meine Frau sagt, ich soll die Wohnung renovieren. - My wife says I have to make repairs. (Someone else's will.)

Herr Müller, Sie sollen bitte zum Chef kommen. - Mr. Muller, please go to the chief. (Chief's will.)

Sollen is also used in a question when you ask someone else's will:

Soll ich das Fenster aufmachen? - Open the window? Should I open the window?

Um wie viel Uhr soll ich Sie wecken? - At what time should I wake you up?

And also when asking someone else's opinion:

Was soll ich tun? - What should I do?

Woher soll ich das wissen? - How should I know?

Sollen can also convey what was heard from someone else's words (also, as it were, someone else's opinion):

Es soll in Südfrankreich sehr warm sein. - In southern France, it must be (they say, I heard) very hot.

In meaning let him do something can be replaced with a more polite form mochten. Compare:

Sagen Sie ihm, er sollMichanrufen. - Tell him to call me (let him call).

Sagen Sie ihm, er mochte mich anrufen. - The same, but more polite.

Sollen you can also use when giving someone advice:

Du sollst deine Oma besuchen! - You should visit your grandmother!

Although you are imposing your will on the interlocutor here, it still sounds softer than:

Du musst deinen Opa besuchen! - You should visit your grandfather! (You yourself understand that this is absolutely necessary)

There is a saying:

Muss ist eine harte Nuss! - Must be a hard nut to crack!

Verb konnen often used with an indefinite personal pronoun man:

Kann man hier telefonieren? - Ja, man kann. - Can I call here? - Yes, you can.

Ja, Sie können hier telefonieren. - Yes, you can call here.

In this case, we are talking more about the physical ability to call, about the presence or absence of a telephone. If there is a phone, and you are asking permission, then it is better to use the verb dürfen:

Darf ich hier telefonieren? - Can I call here?

Darf man hier fotografieren? - Can I take pictures here?

When answering, however, they often just say You can, that is, it is not necessary to say Are you allowed:

Sie können (dürfen) hier fotografieren.

Man darf hier fotografieren.

Konnen also means be able to:

Kannst du Schwimmen? - You can swim?

Ich kann (kein) Deutsch. - I do not speak German.

Interestingly, the meaning man kann (possible) is also expressed with the help of a special suffix (that is, an addition to the word) -bar:

Das ist machbar. = Das kann man machen. - It can be done, it is feasible, literally: doable.

Das Gerat ist reparierbar. = Man kann das Gerät reparieren. - This device can be repaired, it is "repairable".

Das ist unvorstellbar! = Das kann man sich nicht vorstellen. - It's impossible to imagine, it's "unimaginable"!

Germans don't speak I need..., they say instead I must ... (do something) or I need...:

Ich muss einkaufen. - I need (I must) go to the store (literally: to buy).

Ich brauche Entspannung. - I need rest (literally: relaxation).

When negating the need to do something, the verb mussen often replaced by a verb brauchen (to need something):

Musst du wirklich auf den Markt gehen? - Do you really have to go to the market?

Du brauchst heute nicht auf den Markt (zu) gehen. You don't have to go to the market today.

From here it is easy to go to imperative with negation, that is, to expressions like You don't have to do this!

Da brauchst du nicht (zu) lachen! - There is no need to laugh at this!

Ihr braucht keine Angst (zu) haben! - You don't have to be afraid, don't be afraid!

pay attention to zu. An important rule: the second verb in a sentence is always preceded by a particle zu, if the first verb is non-modal (as for the verb brauchen, then in this sense it is so close to modal that it can do without a particle):

Es "ist" schwierig, viel Geld zu"verdienen". - It's hard to earn a lot of money.

Schwierig, viel Geld zu verdienen.(The first verb here is implied, invisibly present.)

And finally, this statement can be reversed:

Viel Geld zu verdienen, ist schwierig.(Wherein es- the formal subject is no longer needed.)

A few more examples:

Es wird immer leichter, Deutsch zu sprechen. - It's getting easier to speak German.

Deutsch zu sprechen, wird immer leichter. - Speaking German is getting easier.

Ich versuche es, einen guten Job zu finden. I will try (this), try to find a good job.(It's interesting here es- like a stand for further statements).

Sie scheint uns nicht zu erkennen. She doesn't seem to recognize us (literally: she doesn't seem to recognize us).

Er pflegt jeden Tag zu joggen. He has a habit of jogging every day.

Sie sucht immer ihren Freunden zu helfen. - She always tries (literally: seeks) to help her friends.

Der Entführer droht die Maschine in die Luft zu sprengen. - The hijacker threatens to blow up the plane (literally: to blow up in the air).

And here is an interesting case:

der Entschluss nach Amerika zu reisen - the decision to go to America.

There is only one verb here, but you still need zu because the word solution means action and replaces the corresponding verb:

sich entschließen, nach Amerika zu reisen - decide to go to America.

Pay attention to turnover sein + infinitiv, which can mean two things. First, the possibility:

Die Ausstellung ist bis Ende Juni zu sehen. = Man kann diese Ausstellung bis Ende Juni sehen. - This exhibition can be viewed until the end of June.

Diese Frage ist schwierig zu beantworten. - This question is difficult to answer.

Er ist nirgends zu finden. - He is nowhere to be found (i.e., he disappeared somewhere).

Von meinem Platz ist nichts zu sehen und zu hören. Nothing can be seen or heard from where I am.

Die Reiselust der Deutschen ist nicht zu bremsen. - The desire of the Germans to travel cannot be slowed down (that is, this desire knows no limit).

Secondly, obligation:

Diese Arbeit ist bis morgen zu machen. - This work must be done by tomorrow.

If we want to indicate who exactly should do it, then we need to use another phrase, namely haben + zu:

Sie haben diese Arbeit bis morgen zu machen. - You must do this work by tomorrow.

= Sie müssen diese Arbeit bis morgen machen.

Sie hat alle Hande voll zu tun. - She has a lot to do (literally: her hands are full of things).

This turnover can also express the possibility:

Ich habe viel Interessantes zu erzählen. - I can tell a lot of interesting things (I have something to tell).

But it is also possible to combine haben + infinitiv, Where haben will be used not in the meaning have to do something and in its usual meaning - have. Note that then zu no need:

Er hat Geld auf der Bank liegen. - His money is in the bank (literally: he has money in the bank).

Notice three special turns with zu:

Erfährt nach Deutschland, um seine Freunde zu besuchen. He is going to Germany to visit his friends.

Ich mochte in Urlaub fahren, Ohne mich um meine Arbeit zu kümmern. - I want to go on vacation without caring (without caring) about work.

Sie geht, ohne sich zu verabschieden. She leaves without saying goodbye.

Er sieht fern, (an)statt mir zu helfen. - He watches TV instead of helping me.

Similar phrases can be reversed, as in Russian:

Um uns zu amüsieren, gehen wir in den Zirkus. - To have fun, we go to the circus.

Anyone who has set a goal to learn to speak German well should not forget about grammar. If you decide to learn a foreign language for the purpose of traveling to another country, it will definitely come in handy. It is grammar that helps to build sentences and write correctly. Without it, it is impossible to correctly form a sentence and convey the meaning of what you want to convey to the interlocutor.

Meaning And use modal verbs

Unlike the Russian language, where sentences with one subject are sometimes found, in German the verb is an integral part of every phrase. Here, not only semantic verbs are used, which carry the main load, but also auxiliary ones, which are also called modal. These parts of speech are used to show attitude towards an action. Examples with translation:

• Du machst die Hausaufgabe. - You are doing your homework.
• Du sollst die Hausaufgabe machen. - You have to do your homework.

Here machst/ machen (to do) is a semantic verb denoting an action, and sollst/sollen (to be obliged) is a modal verb expressing an attitude towards an action.

Table: how much modal verbs in German?

List most common modal verbs German language can be presented in one table. Here is a translation and examples of their use.

Model verb conjugation: present tense

The most convenient way to learn the conjugation of German modal verbs is with the help of a table. Shown here 6 how verbs change in Präsens, or present tense.

Modal verbs in past tense

The table shows how to conjugate German verbs in the preterite - prateritum, or past tense:

The table clearly shows that the forms of verbs in the first and third person singular completely coincide - they have a zero ending in the present tense and an ending -e in Präteritum. The verbs in the first and third person plural are the same - the ending -en is used here.

In the second person singular and plural, all modal verbs end in -st and -t, respectively.

Another feature that occurs in the conjugation of German modal verbs in Present is the change in the vowel in the root of the word, which is in the singular. The exception is the verb sollen. In the Preterite, all modal verbs acquire the suffix -t.

In the Perfect, the modal verb would look like this:

Ich habe die Waschmaschine reparieren müssen. I had to fix the washing machine.

How are modal verbs used in a sentence?

From frequently asked questions by beginners, one can distinguish the word order in a sentence using modal verbs.

Declarative sentence will look like this:

Ich möchte dieses Buch lesen. – I would like to read this book.

Here the subject comes first, followed by the modal verb, then the secondary members, and at the end of the sentence is the semantic verb.

If the offer interrogative, That no question word the modal verb will come first:

Möchtest du dieses Buch lesen? – Would you like to read this book?

With a question word, if it comes first, then it is followed by a modal verb:

Wann möchtest du dieses Buch lesen? When would you like to read this book?

In passive sentences, modal verbs are used according to general rules.

Infinitive passive:

operiert werden, angeklagt werden, zerstört werden.

How to perform exercises to modal verbs

Most often, modern educational systems offer tests as tasks for testing knowledge. They are convenient, because quickly completed and verified. If you have successfully completed several tests on the use of modal verbs, it is recommended that you try yourself in a regular exercise, where you need to put the verb in the correct form in meaning. So you will consolidate your knowledge well and will feel free to write sentences with modal verbs.

Modal verbs are a special group of verbs, they themselves do not express the action, but only express the relation of the subject to the action.

Therefore, a modal verb cannot be alone in a sentence, it always needs a friend - a semantic verb, which is always used in the infinitive (Infinitiv). And together they form a complex verbal predicate.

Intrigued? Let's tinker with these special verbs. Meet:

konnen

konnen expresses skill or physical ability. Translated as “to be able, to be able”

Ich kann dieses Problem losen. – I can (are able) to solve this problem.

Wer kann mir das erklaren? Who can explain this to me?

dürfen

dürfen expresses permission or prohibition. Translated as “to be able, to have permission, the right”

Darf ich mein Platz nehmen?- May I take my seat?

mussen

mussen expresses the need to perform this or that action under the influence of internal pressure (that is, we ourselves realize that it is necessary to do this), translates as “to be obliged, to be compelled”

Ich muss die Eltern besuchen.- I have to visit my parents.

Ich muss sparen.- I have to save money.

Ich muss um 8.30 Uhr im Buro sein. I have to be at the office at 8:30. (I realize it myself)

Sollen

Sollen used to express an order, obedience to a rule or law, translated as "be obliged"

Ihr sollt die Arbeit heute abgeben! You must turn in your work today!

wollen

wollen expresses a firm desire or decision to take an action, translated as "want"

Ich will eine Tasse Tee trinken.– I want to have a cup of tea.

mogen

mogen means interest in something, love, translated as "wish, love"

1. It is also used to express an assumption.

Sie mag krank sein.- She might be sick.

Was mag das bedeuten?– What can this mean?

2. In the meaning of “love, like”, it almost ceased to be modal and is used independently

Ich mag Eis. - I like ice cream.

möchten (subjunctive verb mögen Konjunktiv II), in contrast to the modal verb wollen, which expresses a strong desire, expresses a desire, a polite request, and is used on its own without another verb.

Ich möchte eine Tasse Tee trinken.– I would like to have a cup of tea.

Modal verbs. Order of words in a sentence

IN affirmative proposal the modal verb is in second place, and the semantic verb is at the end of the sentence.

Ich will auto mechanic werden.

IN interrogative sentence without a question word, the modal verb comes first, the semantic verb at the end of the sentence.

Kannst du Deutsch sprechen?

In an interrogative sentence with an interrogative word, the modal verb is in second place, the semantic verb is at the end of the sentence.

was cannst du world Zeigen?

Modal verbs. Präsens (present)

Note:

1. When conjugated, the umlaut disappears or the vowel changes altogether (compare machen-er macht, dürfen-er darf)

2. Unlike ordinary verbs, the ending is not added in the 1st person “-e”, in the 3rd person the ending “- t"(compare er macht And er soll)

There is only one conclusion - the conjugation of these verbs must be learned and well worked out on

Conjugation table of modal verbs in the present tense:

Modal verbs. Past tense

Note:

1. The umlaut disappears in the past tense

2. Wollen is used to form the past tense of the verb möchten (Konjunktiv II from mögen).

Prateritum:

Perfect (Communion II):

To form Perfect for all modal verbs, use auxiliary haben.

Konjunktiv II: