Modal verbs Flashcards by christine collins

What is a modal verb?

Modal verbs modify or change other verbs to show such things as ability, permission or necessity

He can swim, may I come?

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She can swim well

Sie kann sehr gut schwimmen

In German, the infinitive goes to the end of the clause

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I must go home

Ich muss nach Hause

Verbs of movement can sometimes be omitted

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Can you come to the cinema with me?

Darfst du mit ins Kino kommen?

Here dürfen means to be allowed to or may

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I’m not allowed to eat chocolate

Ich darf keine Schokolade essen

Here dürfen means must not, may not

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May I?

Darf ich?

Here dürfen is expressing politeness

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Conjugate in the present tense

dürfen

ich darf
du darfst
er darf
wir dürfen
ihr dürft
sie/Sie dürfen

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We can’t do it

Wir können es nicht schaffen

Here können means to be able to do something

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Could you go there tomorrow?

Könntest du morgen hinfahren?

Here können means to be able to do something

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Can I have a coffee?

Kann ich einen Kaffee haben?

Here können is used as an alternative to dürfen

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That can be

Das kann sein

Here können expresses possibility

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That can’t be

Das kann nicht sein

Here können expresses possibility

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Conjugate in the present tense

können

ich kann
du kannst
er kann
wir können
ihr könnet
sie/Sie können

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Do you like chocolate?

Magst du Schokolade?

Here mögen expresses likes and dislikes

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They do not like it

Sie mögen es nicht

Here mögen expresses likes and dislikes

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Would you like to visit her?

Möchtest du sie besuchen?

Here mögen expresses would like to

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Would you like to drink something?

Möchten Sie etwas trinken?

Here mögen expresses would like to

It may be that it was wrong

Es mag sein, dass es falsch war

Here mögen expresses expressing possibility

Conjugate in the present tense

mögen

ich mag
du magst
er mag
wir mögen
ihr mögt
sie/Sie mögen

Translate to German

She had to get up at six every day

Sie musste jeden Tag um sechs aufstehen

Here müssen expresses have to, must, or need to

Does it have to be that way?

Muss das sein?

Here müssen is used informally

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That film is worth seeing

Den Film muss man gesehen haben

Here müssen is used informally

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You don’t need to say that

Das brauchst du nicht zu sagen

Here brauchen is used intead of müssen

Conjugate in the present tense

müssen

ich muss
du musst
er muss
wir müssen
ihr müsst
sie/Sie müssen

# Translate to German You should do this immediately

Das sollten Sie sofort machen | Here **sollen** means **ought to or should**

# Translate to German She didn't know what to do

Sie wusste nicht, was sie tun sollte | Here **sollen** means **ought to or should**

# Translate to German You should call your girlfriend

Du sollst deine Freundin anrufen | Here **sollen** means **supposed to**

# Conjugate in the present tense sollen

* ich soll * du sollst * er soll * wir sollen * ihr sollt * sie/Sie sollen

# Translate to German She wants to become a truck driver

Sie will LKW-Fahrerin werden | Here **wollen** means **to want to**

# Translate to German Do you want one?

Willst du eins? | Here **wollen** is an alternative to **mögen**

# Translate to German Do you want a drink?

Willst du etwas trinken? | Here **wollen** is an alternative to **mögen**

# Translate to German He doesn't want to say anything

Er will nichts sagen | Here **wollen** means **to be willing to**

# Translate to German I was just about to call

Ich wollte gerade anrufen | Here **wollen** means something you were **going to do**

# Conjugate in the present tense wollen

* ich will * du willst * er will * wir wollen * ihr wollt * sie/Sie wollen