Modal Verbs (Modalverben) in German Explained

Table of content

📚 What Are the German Modal Verbs?
📌 Key Features of Modal Verbs
Examples With German Modal Verbs
🔄 German Modal Verbs in Präsens (Present Tense)
🕰️ German Modal Verbs in Präteritum (Simple Past)
🎯 Tips for Using Modal Verbs
✅ Summary Table of Modal Verbs
Comparing German Modal Verbs by Pairs
Summary Table of Modal Verbs Pairs

Modal verbs (Modalverben) are an essential part of German grammar. Without them speakers won’t be able to express possibility, necessity, ability, permission and obligation. Some German modal verbs have equivalents in English (can, must, may, should, etc.).

Here are the six main modal verbs in German:

German	English Meaning	English Modal Verb Equivalent
dürfen	to be allowed to / may	may
können	to be able to / can	can
mögen	to like (to)	– (no direct modal equivalent)
müssen	to have to / must	must / have to
sollen	should / supposed to	should
wollen	to want to	– (not a true modal verb in English)

💡 Notes:

"mögen" and "wollen" express desire/preference, which English usually handles with non-modal verbs like want to or like to. So they don't have true modal verb equivalents.
In English true modals include: can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must.

They change their form (conjugate) depending on the subject.
They are usually followed by a main verb in the infinitive, which goes to the end of the sentence.

Structure:
Subject + modal verb + (other elements) + main verb (infinitive at the end)

1. dürfen – to be allowed to

Ich darf heute länger aufbleiben. I am allowed to stay up longer today.

Darf ich hier parken? May I park here?

2. können – can / to be able to

Wir können sehr gut Deutsch sprechen. We can speak German very well.

Kannst du mir helfen? Can you help me?

👉 Find out more about usage of modal verb können, including negation and how to compose quesions.

3. mögen – to like

Ich mag Pizza. I like pizza.

Er mag keine laute Musik. He doesn’t like loud music.

To say "would like to" we often use "möchten" (a subjunctive form of mögen).
Ich möchte einen Kaffee. I would like a coffee.

4. müssen – must / have to

Du musst deine Hausaufgaben machen. You must do your homework.

Ich muss morgen früh aufstehen. I have to get up early tomorrow.

5. sollen – should / supposed to

Ich soll mehr Wasser trinken. I should drink more water.

Was soll ich tun? What should I do?

6. wollen – to want to

Sie will Ärztin werden. She wants to become a doctor.

Wir wollen ins Kino gehen. We want to go to the cinema.

Person	können (can)	müssen (must)	dürfen (may)	sollen (should)	wollen (want)	mögen (like)
ich (I)	kann	muss	darf	soll	will	mag
du (you, sg.)	kannst	musst	darfst	sollst	willst	magst
er/sie/es (he/she/it)	kann	muss	darf	soll	will	mag
wir (we)	können	müssen	dürfen	sollen	wollen	mögen
ihr (you, pl.)	könnt	müsst	dürft	sollt	wollt	mögt
sie/Sie (they/You formal)	können	müssen	dürfen	sollen	wollen	mögen

Use the modal verb in the past tense + infinitive.

Person	können (could)	müssen (had to)	dürfen (was allowed to)	sollen (was supposed to)	wollen (wanted to)	mögen (liked)
ich (I)	konnte	musste	durfte	sollte	wollte	mochte
du (you, sg.)	konntest	musstest	durftest	solltest	wolltest	mochtest
er/sie/es	konnte	musste	durfte	sollte	wollte	mochte
wir (we)	konnten	mussten	durften	sollten	wollten	mochten
ihr (you, pl.)	konntet	musstet	durftet	solltet	wolltet	mochtet
sie/Sie (they/You formal)	konnten	mussten	durften	sollten	wollten	mochten

Ich musste arbeiten. I had to work.
Er konnte nicht kommen. He couldn’t come.

Modal verbs change the mood of the sentence – they add subtle meaning about the speaker's intention.
The main verb always goes to the end, in the infinitive form.
Modal verbs can be used in the present, past, and future tenses.

Modal Verb	English Meaning	Example (German)	Translation
dürfen	may, to be allowed	Ich darf gehen.	I’m allowed to go.
können	can, to be able to	Er kann schwimmen.	He can swim.
mögen	to like	Wir mögen Eis.	We like ice cream.
müssen	must, have to	Du musst lernen.	You must study.
sollen	should, supposed to	Soll ich helfen?	Should I help?
wollen	to want to	Sie will schlafen.	She wants to sleep.

Below is a comparison of the six main German modal verbs in meaningful pairs.

1. dürfen (may) vs. können (can)

Verb	German Example	English Translation
dürfen	Darf ich das Fenster öffnen?	May I open the window? (asking for permission)
können	Ich kann das Fenster nicht öffnen.	I can't open the window. (physically unable)

"dürfen"= permission
"können"= ability/possibility

2. mögen (to like) vs. wollen (to want)

Verb	German Example	English Translation
mögen	Ich mag klassische Musik.	I like classical music.
wollen	Ich will ein neues Klavier kaufen.	I want to buy a new piano.

"mögen" = general preference
"wollen" = intention, desire

3. müssen (must) vs. sollen (should)

Verb	German Example	English Translation
müssen	Ich muss morgen früh arbeiten.	I have to work early tomorrow.
sollen	Ich soll mehr Wasser trinken.	I should drink more water. (someone recommended it)

"müssen"= obligation/necessity
"sollen"= recommendation/duty

4. möchten (would like) vs. wollen (want)

Verb	German Example	English Translation
möchten	Ich möchte einen Tee, bitte.	I would like a tea, please.
wollen	Ich will jetzt essen.	I want to eat now.

"möchten" = polite
"wollen" = more direct (can sound demanding)

Pair	Used for	Stronger / More Direct
dürfen vs. können	permission vs. ability	—
mögen vs. wollen	liking vs. intention	wollen
müssen vs. sollen	necessity vs. suggestion	müssen
möchten vs. wollen	polite request vs. desire	wollen