All Six German Modal Verbs With Real Examples
By Marcus Roth · Applied linguist & Spoklin curriculum leadUpdated 10 min read
German's six modal verbs are können (can), müssen (must), dürfen (may), wollen (want), sollen (should), and möchtén (would like). They conjugate irregularly in singular forms and force the main infinitive to the clause end, creating German's characteristic sentence bracket.
Modals are force multipliers: six verbs unlock thousands of nuanced sentences covering ability, necessity, permission, and desire.
The six modals at a glance
| Modal | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| können | can | Ich kann schwimmen. |
| müssen | must | Du musst gehen. |
| dürfen | may | Darf ich fragen? |
| wollen | want | Wir wollen gewinnen. |
| sollen | should | Soll ich helfen? |
| möchte | would like | Ich möchte Kaffee. |
The Satzklammer (sentence bracket)
- Modal occupies position 2
- Main infinitive closes the bracket at the end
- Ich muss heute lange arbeiten.
- Think in frames and long sentences become architecture
Singular forms drop their vowels
| können | dürfen | |
|---|---|---|
| ich | kann | darf |
| du | kannst | darfst |
| er | kann | darf |
| wir | können | dürfen |
Frequently asked questions
Difference between sollen and sollte?
sollen reports external duty; sollten (subjunctive) gives advice. Same softening pattern as könnte and würde.
Do separable verbs split after modals?
No. The whole infinitive moves to the end intact: Ich muss früh aufstehen keeps auf- attached.
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