German Grammar
Modal verbs let you say what you can, must, want and are allowed to do — the backbone of everyday German. There are six, they are irregular in a predictable way, and they follow one neat sentence pattern.
Key takeaways
- German has six modal verbs: können, müssen, dürfen, sollen, wollen, mögen.
- They are irregular in the singular, and the ich and er/sie/es forms are identical with no ending (ich kann, er kann).
- The modal sits in second position; the main verb goes to the end as an infinitive.
- mögen means “to like”; its form möchte means “would like” — perfect for ordering.
- Keep können (ability) and dürfen (permission) apart — English blurs them, German does not.
What modal verbs do
Modal verbs are the little helpers that express attitude towards an action — whether you can, must, want to, may, should or like to do something. They almost always team up with a second verb (the main action) in its basic infinitive form. Learn these six and you can suddenly express intention, obligation and possibility — the machinery of real conversation.
The six German modal verbs
| Modal | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| können | can, to be able to | Ich kann schwimmen. |
| müssen | must, to have to | Ich muss arbeiten. |
| dürfen | may, to be allowed to | Du darfst gehen. |
| sollen | should, to be supposed to | Du sollst mehr schlafen. |
| wollen | to want to | Ich will Deutsch lernen. |
| mögen | to like | Ich mag Kaffee. |
How to conjugate them (present tense)
Modals are irregular, but in a friendly, predictable way. Two things to notice: the vowel usually changes in the singular, and the ich and er/sie/es forms are identical, with no ending.
| können | müssen | dürfen | sollen | wollen | mögen | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | kann | muss | darf | soll | will | mag |
| du | kannst | musst | darfst | sollst | willst | magst |
| er/sie/es | kann | muss | darf | soll | will | mag |
| wir | können | müssen | dürfen | sollen | wollen | mögen |
| ihr | könnt | müsst | dürft | sollt | wollt | mögt |
| sie/Sie | können | müssen | dürfen | sollen | wollen | mögen |
The sentence pattern: modal second, main verb last
This is the golden rule. The modal is conjugated in second position, and the main verb goes to the very end as an infinitive. Together they form the verb bracket you may know from German word order:
mögen vs möchte — an essential pair
These two look related and confuse almost every learner. Keep them apart:
- mögen = to like (something): „Ich mag Schokolade.“ (I like chocolate.)
- möchte = would like (the polite subjunctive form): „Ich möchte einen Kaffee.“ (I would like a coffee.)
Use möchte whenever you are ordering or asking for something politely — it is one of the most useful forms in the whole language.
können vs dürfen — ability vs permission
English blurs these with “can,” but German keeps them distinct:
Modals can stand alone
In everyday German, the main verb is often dropped when it is obvious — especially verbs of motion and “to do”:
The mistakes almost everyone makes
- Adding -t to er/sie/es: it is „er kann“, never „er kannt.“
- Leaving the main verb in the middle: the infinitive belongs at the end — „Ich muss arbeiten“, not „Ich muss arbeiten heute“ → „Ich muss heute arbeiten.“
- Mixing up mögen and möchte, or können and dürfen.
How to master German modal verbs
Memorise the six ich forms first, then drill the modal-second / infinitive-last pattern until it is automatic. Because modals build the verb bracket, they pair naturally with word order and general verb conjugation. Ready to check yourself? Take the free German level test or try our German quizzes.
Grammar sticks fastest when you actually use it. Practise with a friendly native tutor on italki and these rules turn into instinct.
Practise with a tutor on italki →Frequently asked questions
What are the six German modal verbs?
They are können (can), müssen (must), dürfen (may/be allowed), sollen (should), wollen (want) and mögen (like). Together they express ability, obligation, permission, expectation and desire.
How do you conjugate modal verbs in German?
Modals change their vowel in the singular and take no ending on ich and er/sie/es — for example ich kann, du kannst, er kann. The plural forms return to the infinitive: wir können, ihr könnt, sie können.
What is the difference between mögen and möchten?
Mögen means “to like” something (Ich mag Kaffee — I like coffee). Möchte, its subjunctive form, means “would like” and is used to order or request politely (Ich möchte einen Kaffee — I would like a coffee).
Where does the second verb go with a modal?
The main verb moves to the very end of the clause in its infinitive form, while the modal stays in second position: „Ich muss heute arbeiten“ (I have to work today).