{"id":2479,"date":"2011-09-02T14:44:17","date_gmt":"2011-09-02T14:44:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/?p=2479"},"modified":"2011-09-02T00:55:30","modified_gmt":"2011-09-02T00:55:30","slug":"deutsche-modalverben-german-modal-verbs-i-durfen-konnen-mochten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/german\/deutsche-modalverben-german-modal-verbs-i-durfen-konnen-mochten\/","title":{"rendered":"Deutsche Modalverben – German modal verbs I: d\u00fcrfen, k\u00f6nnen, m\u00f6chten"},"content":{"rendered":"

Modal verbs modify an action or situation by expressing the ideas of permission, ability, obligation, necessity, etc.<\/p>\n

The six German modal verbs are:<\/p>\n

d\u00fcrfen \u2013 may \/ to be allowed to<\/p>\n

k\u00f6nnen \u2013 can \/ to be able to<\/p>\n

m\u00f6chten \u2013 to like to \/ to want to<\/p>\n

m\u00fcssen \u2013 must \/ to have to<\/p>\n

sollen \u2013 to be supposed to \/ should \/ ought to<\/p>\n

wollen \u2013 to want to<\/p>\n

At first, let\u2019s have a look at the three modal verbs: d\u00fcrfen, k\u00f6nnen, m\u00f6chten.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

d\u00fcrfen<\/strong><\/p>\n

The modal verb d\u00fcrfen<\/em><\/strong> expresses PERMISSION<\/em> or PROHIBITION<\/em> (\u2018must not\u2019). It can be translated with\u00a0 \u2018may\u2019, \u2018can\u2019 or \u2018to be allowed to\u2019. Compare the sentences below.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Das Kind spielt. \u2013 The child is playing. \/ The child plays.<\/p>\n

Das Kind darf spielen. \u2013 The child is allowed to play.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ich mache ein Foto von dem Geb\u00e4ude. \u2013 I am taking a picture of the building.<\/p>\n

Ich darf ein Foto von dem Geb\u00e4ude machen. \u2013 I am allowed to take a picture of the building.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ich helfe ihr. \u2013 I am helping her. \/ I help her.<\/p>\n

Ich darf ihr helfen. \u2013 I am allowed to help her.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

k\u00f6nnen<\/strong><\/p>\n

The modal verb k\u00f6nnen<\/em><\/strong> expresses ABILITY<\/em> and corresponds to the English \u2018can\u2019 and \u2018to be able to\u2019.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Sie schwimmt. \u2013 She swims. \/ She is swimming.<\/p>\n

Sie kann schwimmen.- She can swim. \/ She is able to swim.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Ich spiele Gitarre. \u2013 I play the guitar. \/ I am playing the guitar.<\/p>\n

Ich kann Gitarre spielen. \u2013 I can play the guitar. \/ I am able to play the guitar.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

m\u00f6chten<\/strong><\/p>\n

The modal verb m\u00f6chten<\/em><\/strong> is used to express INTENTION <\/em>or DESIRE<\/em>. It can be translated with \u2018to like to\u2019 or \u2018to want to\u2019.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Du gehst jetzt. \u2013 You are going\/leaving now.<\/p>\n

Ich m\u00f6chte, dass du jetzt gehst. \u2013 I like you to go now. \/ I want you to go now.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Claudia spielt Tennis. \u2013 Claudia is playing tennis. \/ Claudia plays tennis.<\/p>\n

Claudia m\u00f6chte Tennis spielen. \u2013 Claudia wants to \/likes to play tennis.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Here is a table where you can find all conjugated forms of the modal verbs d\u00fcrfen<\/em><\/strong>, k\u00f6nnen<\/em><\/strong>, and m\u00f6chten<\/em><\/strong> in the present tense.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/td>\n\n

d\u00fcrfen<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

k\u00f6nnen<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

m\u00f6chten<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

ich<\/strong>(I)<\/td>\n\n

darf<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

kann<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

m\u00f6chte<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Du<\/strong>(you;sgl.\u00a0 informal)<\/td>\n\n

darfst<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

kannst<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

m\u00f6chtest<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Sie<\/strong>(you; sgl. fomal)<\/td>\n\n

d\u00fcrfen<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

k\u00f6nnen<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

m\u00f6chten<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

er\/sie\/es<\/strong>(he\/she\/it)<\/td>\n\n

darf<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

kann<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

m\u00f6chte<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

wir<\/strong>(we)<\/td>\n\n

d\u00fcrfen<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

k\u00f6nnen<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

m\u00f6chten<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Ihr<\/strong>(you; pl. informal)<\/td>\n\n

d\u00fcrft<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

k\u00f6nnt<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

m\u00f6chtet<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

Sie<\/strong>(you; pl. formal)<\/td>\n\n

d\u00fcrfen<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

k\u00f6nnen<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

m\u00f6chten<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

sie<\/strong>(they)<\/td>\n\n

d\u00fcrfen<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

k\u00f6nnen<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

m\u00f6chten<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Exercise: Now it\u2019s your turn. Fill in the appropriate form of the modal verb in the present tense. You will find the infinitives in parentheses.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

1. Sonja ______ Klavier spielen. (k\u00f6nnen)<\/p>\n

2. Peter ______ Fussball spielen. (m\u00f6chten)<\/p>\n

3. Petra _______ nicht ausgehen. (d\u00fcrfen)<\/p>\n

4. Schade, dass ihr nicht mitkommen ________. (k\u00f6nnen)<\/p>\n

5. Sie ______ an der Situation nichts \u00e4ndern. (k\u00f6nnen)<\/p>\n

6. Er _______ drei Stunden nichts essen. (d\u00fcrfen)<\/p>\n

7. Wir _______ noch nicht Autofahren. (d\u00fcrfen)<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(Key: 1-kann; 2-m\u00f6chte; 3-darf; 4-k\u00f6nnt; 5-kann; 6-darf; 7-d\u00fcrfen )<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Modal verbs modify an action or situation by expressing the ideas of permission, ability, obligation, necessity, etc. The six German modal verbs are: d\u00fcrfen \u2013 may \/ to be allowed to k\u00f6nnen \u2013 can \/ to be able to m\u00f6chten \u2013 to like to \/ to want to m\u00fcssen \u2013 must \/ to have to…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":54,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[11971],"tags":[95044,95042,95043,95041,166],"class_list":["post-2479","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-grammar-language","tag-durfen","tag-konnen","tag-mochten","tag-modal","tag-verbs"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t