German Modal Verbs — Können, Wollen, Müssen
Modal verbs express ability, desire, obligation, and permission. They're among the most useful verbs in German and you'll use them in nearly every conversation. At A1, you need to know three main ones: können, wollen, and müssen.
The Three Essential Modal Verbs
| Verb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| können | can / to be able to | Ich kann Deutsch sprechen. |
| wollen | to want to | Ich will nach Berlin fahren. |
| müssen | must / to have to | Ich muss arbeiten. |
Conjugation Tables
Können (can)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| ich | kann |
| du | kannst |
| er/sie/es | kann |
| wir | können |
| ihr | könnt |
| sie/Sie | können |
Wollen (want to)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| ich | will |
| du | willst |
| er/sie/es | will |
| wir | wollen |
| ihr | wollt |
| sie/Sie | wollen |
Müssen (must)
| Pronoun | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| ich | muss |
| du | musst |
| er/sie/es | muss |
| wir | müssen |
| ihr | müsst |
| sie/Sie | müssen |
Pattern: Notice that ich and er/sie/es always have the same form for modal verbs. Also, the ich form never has an umlaut, even when the infinitive does (können → kann, müssen → muss).
Word Order with Modal Verbs
Modal verbs take position 2 in the sentence. The main verb goes to the end in its infinitive form:
- Ich kann gut kochen. — I can cook well.
- Wir wollen morgen einkaufen. — We want to go shopping tomorrow.
- Du musst um 8 Uhr aufstehen. — You have to get up at 8 o'clock.
Bonus: Möchten (would like)
Möchten is technically the subjunctive of "mögen" but at A1 it works as a polite "would like":
- Ich möchte einen Kaffee. — I'd like a coffee.
- Möchten Sie bestellen? — Would you like to order?
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting the infinitive at the end: "Ich kann sprechen Deutsch" → Incorrect. It should be "Ich kann Deutsch sprechen."
- Conjugating both verbs: "Ich kann koche" → Incorrect. Only the modal verb conjugates. The main verb stays as infinitive: "Ich kann kochen."
- Using "wollen" when "möchten" is more polite: "Ich will einen Kaffee" sounds demanding. In restaurants, use "Ich möchte einen Kaffee."
Related Grammar
- German Separable Verbs — how modal verbs interact with separable verbs
- The German Accusative Case — den, einen, keinen
- Der, Die, Das — German Articles
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