Modal Verbs Flashcards

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1
Q

Modal Verbs

A

German has six modal verbs that you should memorize.They express an attitude about an action or condition described by the main verb. The modal auxiliary is conjugated and placed in the second position of the sentence. The main verb is in the infinitive form and placed at the end of the clause or sentence

Ichkanneine Fahrkartekaufen.(I can buy a ticket.)

Kannis the conjugated auxiliary verb andkaufenis the main verb in infinitive form.

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2
Q

können - to be able to, can

A
ich kann
wir können
du kannst
ihr könnt
er/sie/es kann
sie/Sie können
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3
Q

müssen - to have to, must

A
ich muß
wir müssen
du mußt
ihr müsst
er/sie/es muß
sie/Sie müssen

Nicht müssentranslates todo not have toordo not need to.

Du mußt es nicht machenisyou don’t have to do it.

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4
Q

dürfen - to be allowed/permitted to

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

Nicht dürfentranslates tomust not.

Du darfst es nicht machenisyou must not (or are not allowed) to do it.

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5
Q

sollen - to be supposed to

A
ich soll
wir sollen
du sollst
ihr sollt
er/sie/es soll
sie/Sie sollen
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6
Q

wollen - to want (to)

A
ich will
wir wollen
du willst
ihr wollt
er/sie/es will
sie/Sie wollen
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7
Q

mögen - to like

A
ich mag
wir mögen
du magst
ihr mögt
er/sie/es mag
sie/Sie mögen
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8
Q

Subjunctive of mögen - would like

A
ich möchte
wir möchten
du möchtest
ihr möchtet
er/sie/es möchte
sie/Sie möchten

This subjunctive of mögen expresseswould like toand is used more often than the indicative of mögen. Ich möchte eine Fahrkarte kaufenmeans I would like to buy a ticket.

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9
Q

Note:

A

Sometimes the infinitive is not required with modal verbs, if the meaning is clear enough without them. For example, you can often omit sprechen and tun after können and you can omit verbs of motion if there is an adverb of place.Ich kann Spanisch.I can/know how to speak Spanish.
Er will nach Hause.He wants to go home.

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