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Können, müssen and wollen

Why does “sein” appear after “muss”?

Take a look

The rule

Use können for an ability or a possibility, müssen for something necessary, and wollen for a wish or plan. The first verb changes with the person: ich kann, du kannst, er kann. A second verb stays in its dictionary form and usually goes to the end of the sentence: Das Projekt muss fertig sein. Möchten is a polite way to express a wish.

Remember: Changed modal first, basic verb at the end.

Goes with lesson 5, 9, 12 of the course.

What differs for you

English has can, must and want, so ability, duty and wishes are familiar. German adds a strong position rule: the modal verb is conjugated, while the other verb stays in its base form at the end. In “ich möchte schlafen”, the two verbs happen to be close. In longer course questions, words can stand between them; keep the pair together.

The forms

können, müssen, wollen
Personkönnenmüssenwollen
ichkannmusswill
dukannstmusstwillst
er/sie/eskannmusswill
wirkönnenmüssenwollen
ihrkönntmüsstwollt
sie/Siekönnenmüssenwollen

Common mistakes

Quick check

  1. Hier ___ man nicht rauchen. (prohibition)
    Choose the correct modal verb.
    1. kann
    2. darf
    3. muss
    4. will
    Answer
    darf — Prohibition = nicht dürfen
  2. Ich ___ gut Klavier spielen. (ability)
    Insert the correct modal verb.
    Answer
    kann — Ability = können
  3. müssen (you)
    Conjugate the modal verb.
    Answer
    musst — du + müssen = musst
  4. gehen / wir / ins Kino / wollen
    Put the words in the correct order.
    Answer
    Wir wollen ins Kino gehen. — Modal verb in position 2, infinitive at the end
  5. Er will nach Berlin fahren kann.
    Correct the mistake.
    Answer
    Er will nach Berlin fahren. — Only one modal verb per sentence in the present tense
  6. ___ ich bitte ein Glas Wasser haben? (polite)
    Choose the correct modal verb.
    1. Muss
    2. Will
    3. Könnte
    4. Soll
    Answer
    Könnte — Polite request = könnte
  7. Die Kinder ___ ihre Hausaufgaben machen. (obligation)
    Insert the correct form.
    Answer
    müssen — Obligation = müssen, 3rd person plural

The same exercises come back in the course — there Langula remembers what you know and asks again at the right moment. Learn German free →

Terms

Modal verb
A verb that expresses ability, need, or a wish: I can come.
Infinitive
The basic form of a verb before it changes for a person: to go.
Word order
The order of words in a sentence: Today I am coming.
BeforeThe perfect: talking about the pastAfterAdjective endings

Verbs

Sein and haben A1Why is it “ich bin” but “er ist”?→Separable verbs A1Why is “auf” at the end?→Reflexive verbs A2Why is mich in “Ich freue mich auf das Wochenende”?→Passive voice B1The passive voice is used when the action is more important than who performs it.→Subjunctive II B1Subjunctive II expresses unreal situations, wishes, polite requests, and hypothetical conditions.→Requests and commands A2What should you do in “Würze die Suppe”?→

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