Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

CC German Grammar > Modal verbs > Flashcards

Modal verbs Flashcards

You may prefer our related Brainscape-certified flashcards:
German Verbs flashcards
1
Q

What is a modal verb?

A

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

He can swim, may I come?

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Translate to German

She can swim well

A

Sie kann sehr gut schwimmen

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

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Translate to German

I must go home

A

Ich muss nach Hause

Verbs of movement can sometimes be omitted

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Translate to German

Can you come to the cinema with me?

A

Darfst du mit ins Kino kommen?

Here dürfen means to be allowed to or may

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Translate to German

I’m not allowed to eat chocolate

A

Ich darf keine Schokolade essen

Here dürfen means must not, may not

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Translate to German

May I?

A

Darf ich?

Here dürfen is expressing politeness

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Conjugate in the present tense

dürfen

A
  • ich darf
  • du darfst
  • er darf
  • wir dürfen
  • ihr dürft
  • sie/Sie dürfen
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Translate to German

We can’t do it

A

Wir können es nicht schaffen

Here können means to be able to do something

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Could you go there tomorrow?

A

Könntest du morgen hinfahren?

Here können means to be able to do something

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Translate to German

Can I have a coffee?

A

Kann ich einen Kaffee haben?

Here können is used as an alternative to dürfen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Translate to German

That can be

A

Das kann sein

Here können expresses possibility

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Translate to German

That can’t be

A

Das kann nicht sein

Here können expresses possibility

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Conjugate in the present tense

können

A
  • ich kann
  • du kannst
  • er kann
  • wir können
  • ihr könnet
  • sie/Sie können
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Translate to German

Do you like chocolate?

A

Magst du Schokolade?

Here mögen expresses likes and dislikes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

They do not like it

A

Sie mögen es nicht

Here mögen expresses likes and dislikes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Translate to German

Would you like to visit her?

A

Möchtest du sie besuchen?

Here mögen expresses would like to

17
Q

Translate to German

Would you like to drink something?

A

Möchten Sie etwas trinken?

Here mögen expresses would like to

18
Q

It may be that it was wrong

A

Es mag sein, dass es falsch war

Here mögen expresses expressing possibility

19
Q

Conjugate in the present tense

mögen

A
  • ich mag
  • du magst
  • er mag
  • wir mögen
  • ihr mögt
  • sie/Sie mögen
20
Q

Translate to German

She had to get up at six every day

A

Sie musste jeden Tag um sechs aufstehen

Here müssen expresses have to, must, or need to

21
Q

Does it have to be that way?

A

Muss das sein?

Here müssen is used informally

22
Q

Translate to German

That film is worth seeing

A

Den Film muss man gesehen haben

Here müssen is used informally

23
Q

Translate to German

You don’t need to say that

A

Das brauchst du nicht zu sagen

Here brauchen is used intead of müssen

24
Q

Conjugate in the present tense

müssen

A
  • ich muss
  • du musst
  • er muss
  • wir müssen
  • ihr müsst
  • sie/Sie müssen
25
Q

Translate to German

You should do this immediately

A

Das sollten Sie sofort machen

Here sollen means ought to or should

26
Q

Translate to German

She didn’t know what to do

A

Sie wusste nicht, was sie tun sollte

Here sollen means ought to or should

27
Q

Translate to German

You should call your girlfriend

A

Du sollst deine Freundin anrufen

Here sollen means supposed to

28
Q

Conjugate in the present tense

sollen

A
  • ich soll
  • du sollst
  • er soll
  • wir sollen
  • ihr sollt
  • sie/Sie sollen
29
Q

Translate to German

She wants to become a truck driver

A

Sie will LKW-Fahrerin werden

Here wollen means to want to

30
Q

Translate to German

Do you want one?

A

Willst du eins?

Here wollen is an alternative to mögennative to mögen

31
Q

Translate to German

Do you want a drink?

A

Willst du etwas trinken?

Here wollen is an alternative to mögennative to mögen

32
Q

Translate to German

He doesn’t want to say anything

A

Er will nichts sagen

Here wollen means to be willing to

33
Q

Translate to German

I was just about to call

A

Ich wollte gerade anrufen

Here wollen means something you were going to do

34
Q

Conjugate in the present tense

wollen

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

CC German Grammar (108 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions