Verbs / modal

Examples of modal verbs include: 'can', 'should' and 'want'. You almost always have to combine them with another verb to show what you can/should/want to do. For example:

1. I can speak German.
2. My sister should lose weight.
3. We want to go on holiday right now.

More modal verbs

Modal verbs

Making sentences with modal verbs

They follow exactly the same pattern as the future tense:

• Pronoun + Auxiliary verb + Infinitive (at the end)

In the future tense, '

' is the auxiliary verb. With modal verbs, the modal verb itself is your auxiliary verb. The only thing that changes, whether you're talking about the present or the past, is the modal verb.

müssen (to have to)

können (to be able to)

sollen (be supposed to)

dürfen (to be allowed to)

mögen (to like to)

wollen (to want to)

Present tense modal verbs used in a sentence

• Ich soll heute Abend meine Hausaufgaben machen -> I ought to do my homework this evening.
• Ich will ins Kino gehen -> I want to go to the cinema.
• In Brighton kann man im Meer schwimmen -> In Brighton you can swim in the sea.
• Darfst du zu Hause Alkohol trinken? -> Are you allowed to drink alcohol at home?

is usually used without an infinitive, as in

. If you want to say you like doing something, eg eating chocolate, use gern, as in '

'.

comes into its own in its 'imperfect subjunctive' version (

) which is one of the most useful verbs of all.

Using modals in the imperfect form is one of the easiest and most versatile ways of talking about the past.

Had to

Was able to

Was supposed to

Was allowed to

Liked to

Wanted to

Examples of modal verb use

Modal verbs are especially useful for talking about what you were allowed/had to do during work experience. For example:

• Ich musste Kaffee kochen -> I had to make the coffee.
• Ich durfte Autos reparieren -> I was allowed to repair cars.
• Ich durfte keine Telefonanrufe beantworten -> I was not allowed to answer any phone calls.
• Ich sollte von 9 bis 5 arbeiten -> I was supposed to work from 9 til 5.

The 'imperfect subjunctive' is just like the conditional - it means would like/would be allowed to etc. Everyone should know

(the most useful verb of all for making requests or suggestions). Higher candidates should also be familiar with

and

.

Would like to

Would be able to (Higher)

Should (Higher)

Sentences with modal verbs in the imperfect subjunctive

The 'imperfect subjunctive' is especially useful for making requests or suggestions, or for giving advice.

Would like to

• Ich möchte ein T-Shirt kaufen -> I'd like to buy a t-shirt.
• Möchtest du schwimmen gehen? -> Would you like to go swimming?

Would be able to/should (higher)

• Wir könnten einkaufen gehen -> We could go shopping.
• Man sollte nicht zu viel Fett essen -> One should not eat too much fat.

It is important that you can pronounce

correctly - they are very similar to the past forms. If you mix the pronunciations up you will accidentally change the meaning, eg:

• Ich mochte (mo-ch-te) ins Kino gehen -> I wanted to go to the cinema.
• Ich möchte (mer-ch-te) ins Kino gehen -> I'd like to go to the cinema.
• Wir konnten (konn-ten) Tennis spielen -> We were able to play tennis.
• Wir könnten (kurn-ten) Tennis spielen -> We could play tennis.

Common mistakes made by English speakers

• Getting the word order wrong (not putting the infinitive at the end).
• Pronouncing möchten/könnten like mochten/konnten.
• Adding a past participle when talking about the past.