Modal verbs do not express the action itself, but the attitude towards the action (i.e. the possibility, necessity, desirability of performing the action), therefore they are usually used in a sentence with the infinitive of another verb expressing the action.

Modal verbs include the following verbs:

können dürfen müssen sollen mögen wollen

The conjugated modal verb stands In second place in a sentence, and the infinitive of the semantic verb is last in a sentence and is used without the particle zu.

können- be able, be able, be able (possibility due to objective circumstances)

durfen- 1) be able - dare, have permission (possibility based on “someone else’s will”) 2) when denied, expresses prohibition - “impossible”, “not allowed”

mussen- 1) obligation, necessity, need, conscious duty 2) when negated, “müssen” is often replaced by the verb “brauchen + zu Infinitiv)

sollen- 1) obligation based on “someone else’s will” - order, instruction, instruction 2) in a question (direct or indirect) is not translated (expresses “request for instructions, instructions”)

wollen- 1) want, intend, gather 2) invitation to joint action

mögen- 1) “would like” - in the form möchte (politely expressed desire in the present tense) 2) love, like - in its own meaning (when used without an accompanying infinitive)

The meaning of modal verbs in German

durfen

a) have permission or right
In diesem Park durfen Kinder spielen. - In this park for children allowed play.

b) prohibit (always in negative form)
Bei Rot darf man die Straße nothingüberqueren. - Street it is forbidden cross against the lights

können

a) have the opportunity
In einem Jahr können wir das Haus bestimmt teurer verkaufen. - In a year we will definitely we can sell the house for more money.

b) have the ability to do something
Er kann gut Tennis spielen. - He can play tennis well.

mögen

a) to have/not have an inclination, disposition towards something.
Ich mag mit dem neuen Kollegen nicht zusammenarbeiten. - I don't like work with someone new.

b) the same meaning, but the verb acts as a full-valued one
Ich mag keine Schlagsahne! - I don't I love whipped cream!

The modal verb mögen is most often used in the subjunctive form (conjunctive) möchte - would like. The personal endings for this form are the same as for other modal verbs in the present:

ich möchte, du möchtest, etc.

c) have a desire

Wir möchten ihn gern kennen lernen. - We would you like to meet him.

Ich möchte Deutsch sprechen.— I I would like to speak German.

Du möchtest Arzt werden. - You I would like to To become a doctor.

Er möchte auch commen. - He too I would like to come.

mussen

a) be forced to perform an action under the pressure of external circumstances
Mein Vater ist krank, ich muss nach Hause fahren. - My father is sick, I must to drive home.

b) to be forced to perform an action out of necessity
Nach dem Unfall mussten wir zu Fuß nach Hause gehen. - After the accident we must were walk home.

c) accept the inevitability of what happened
Das must ja so kommen, wir haben es geahnt. - This should have happen, we saw it coming.

d) Instead of müssen with negation there is = nicht brauchen + zu + Infinitiv
Mein Vater ist wieder gesund, ich brauche nicht nach Hause zu fahren. - My father is healthy again, I don’t need to to drive home.

sollen

a) require action to be performed in accordance with commandments, laws
Du sollst nicht toten. - You do not must kill.

b) demand the performance of an action in accordance with duty, morality
Jeder soll die Lebensart des anderen anerkennen. - Every must respect the other's way of life.

c) emphasize that the action is performed on someone’s order or instruction
Ich soll nüchtern zur Untersuchung kommen. Das hat der Arzt gesagt. - I must come on an empty stomach for the study. That's what the doctor said.

wollen

a) express a strong desire
Ich will dir die Wahrheit sagen. - I Want tell you the truth.

b) communicate your intention to do something, plans for the future
I'm December wollen wir in das neue Haus einziehen. - In December we we want move into a new house.

In some cases, the main verb may be omitted:

Ich muss nach Hause (gehen). Sie kann gut Englisch (sprechen). Er will in die Stadt (fahren). Ich mag keine Schlagsahne (essen).

A modal verb can be used without a main verb if the main verb is mentioned in the previous context:

Ich kann nicht gut kochen. Meine Mutter konnte es auch nicht. Wir haben es beide nicht gut gekonnt.

Conjugation of modal verbs

Conjugation tables for modal verbs need to be memorized.

Conjugation table for modal verbs in the present tense

Pronoun man in combination with modal verbs it is translated by impersonal constructions:

man kann - you can
man kann nicht - impossible, impossible
man darf - possible, allowed
man darf nicht - impossible, not allowed
man muss - necessary, necessary
man muss nicht - not necessary, not necessary
man soll - should, must
man soll nicht - should not

Conjugation table for modal verbs in the past tense Präteritum

Modal verbs in the past tense are most often used in Präteritum. In other past tenses, modal verbs are practically not used.

Place of a modal verb in a simple sentence

1. The modal verb is in a simple sentence In second place.

The second place in the sentence is occupied by the conjugated part of the predicate - the auxiliary verb haben. The modal verb is used in the infinitive and follows the full verb, occupying the last place in the sentence.

Präsens: Der Arbeiter will den Meister sprechen .

Präteritum: Der Arbeiter Wollte den Meister sprechen .

Perfect: Der Arbeiter hat den Meister sprechen wollen .

Plusquamperfect: Der Arbeiter hatte den Meister sprechen wollen .

Place of a modal verb in a subordinate clause

1. Modal verb in the form of present or imperfect costs in subordinate clause last.

2. If a modal verb is used in perfect or plusquaperfect form, then it is also worth in the infinitive form in last place. The conjugated part of the predicate - the auxiliary verb - comes before both infinitives.

Präsens besuchen kann .

Präteritum: Es ist schade, dass er uns nicht be suchen konnte.

Perfect: Es ist schade, dass er uns nicht hat besuchen können.

Plusquamperfect: Es ist schade, dass er uns nicht hatte besuchen können.

Modal verbs are a special group of verbs; they themselves do not express an action, but only express the attitude 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. And together they form a complex verbal predicate.

Intrigued? Let's dig into these special verbs. Meet:

können

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

Ich kann diesels Problem lösen. – I can (capable) solve this problem.

Wer kann mir das erklären?– Who can explain this to me?

durfen

durfen expresses permission or prohibition. Translated as “be able, have permission, 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), translated as “to be obliged, to be forced”

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 Büro sein. – I need to be in the office at 8:30. (I realize this myself)

sollen

sollen used to express an order, compliance with rules or law, translated as "be obliged"

Ihr sollt die Arbeit heute abgeben!– You must submit your work today!

wollen

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

Ich will eine Tasse Tee trinken.- I want to drink a cup of tea.

mögen

mögen means interest in something, love, translated as “to desire, to love”

1. It is also used to express an assumption.

Sie mag krank sein.- She may be sick.

Was mag das bedeuten?– What could this mean?

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

Ich mag Eis. - I like ice cream.

möchten (verb mögen in the Konjunktiv II subjunctive mood), in contrast to the modal verb wollen, which expresses a firm desire, expresses a desire, a polite request, and is used independently 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 sentence the modal verb comes in second place, and the semantic verb comes at the end of the sentence.

Ich will Automechaniker werden.

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

Kanst du Deutsch sprechen?

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

Was kannst du mir zeigen?

Modal verbs. Präsens (present)

Note:

1. During conjugation, the umlaut disappears or the vowel changes altogether (compare machen - er macht, durfen – er darf)

2. Unlike ordinary verbs, no ending is added in the 1st person “-e”, in the 3rd person the ending “-” is not added t"(compare er macht And er soll)

There is only one conclusion - the conjugation of these verbs must be learned and thoroughly practiced.

Conjugation table for modal verbs in the present tense:

Modal verbs. Past tense

Note:

1. The umlaut disappears in the past tense.

2. To form the past tense of the verb möchten (Konjunktiv II from mögen), wollen is used.

Präteritum:

Perfect (participle II):

To form Perfect, all modal verbs use the auxiliary verb haben.

Conjunctiv II:

From scratch!
Lesson #2-1-3!

Conjugation of modal verbs in the present tense (1 and 3 l.)

After studying the material in this lesson, you will be able to:

• ask what's planned for tomorrow
• agree on a meeting place and time
• find out how long you will stay somewhere
• ask how far something is

Learn words and expressions for dialogue

Pay attention to the form and use of words

In German, unlike Russian, the word irgend-“or”, “-that”, “-” does not come after a pronoun or adverb, but before it: irgendwo"somewhere", "somewhere", "somewhere", irgendwer"anyone" irgendwann"ever" irgendwohin"anywhere":

Nach der Ausstellung gehen wir irgendwohin.
After the exhibition we will go somewhere.

Verb bleiben“stay” forms the perfect with the help auxiliary verb sein:

Wie lange sind Sie dort geblieben? - Drei Wochen.
How long have you been there remained? - Three weeks.

Pretext bis“before” can be used as a temporary meaning for a question bis wann?“until when?”, and in the spatial sense to the question bis wohin?"to what place?":

Bis wann arbeiten Sie heute? - Bis 7 Uhr.
How long Do you work today? - Before seven o'clock.

If a noun is used with an article, then the preposition bis combines with the preposition zu:

Ich bringe Sie mit meinem Wagen bis zum Betrieb.
I'll give you a ride in my car before enterprises.

Remember the following word formation method (4)

vorhaben = das Vorhaben intention
treffen = das Treffen meeting

Practice reading individual words

Was haben wir morgen vor?

Grammar explanations

In this lesson you got acquainted with another modal verb - wollen"want", "desire", which, in contrast to mögen expresses a more categorical desire and therefore is rarely used in the first person in official speech.
Remember the verb forms wollen:

Like all modal verbs wollen used with the infinitive form of another verb, while wollen stands in second (in the question - in first) place and agrees with the subject in person and number, and the indefinite form of the semantic verb is in last place:

Wollen Sie noch heute nach Stuttgart fahren?
You want to still today drive to Stuttgart?

Verb wollen in combination with a pronoun wir can form special design, having the meaning of motivation:

Wollen wir Morgen nach der Konferenz die Ausstellung besuchen!
Let's Let's go to the exhibition tomorrow after the conference!

Wollen wir beginnen!

(Let's start!

It is necessary to distinguish between the use of indefinite pronouns viel"a lot" and viele"many", "many". Word viel used with verbs and collective nouns in the singular:

Er arbeitet immer viel.

He always a lot of works.

Haben Sie jetzt viel Zeit?

You have now a lot of time?

Word viele used with plural nouns:

Wir haben viele Betriebe besucht.

We visited many enterprises.

Conjugation of modal verbs in the present tense

1. You want to find out where you can meet your interlocutor. Ask a question. How would you answer if you were your interlocutor?

2. You are asked how long you plan to stay in the city. Answer the question. What question would you ask in this case?

3. You are offered to inspect something. Express your agreement. What would you say if you were the other person?

4. You are asked how much work you have. Answer positively and explain why. What question would you ask in this case?