Modal verbs (Modalverben) are a huge part of German grammar and can really step up your language game. Today, we’re diving deep into two of the most common ones: müssen (to have to, must) and können (to be able to, can). These little verbs help you express both necessity and ability, which are essential for communicating like a native speaker. We’ll break down the rules, give you some practical examples, and even compare the two to help you grasp how to use them in real-life situations.
What are Modal Verbs?
Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that add nuance to the meaning of a main verb. They indicate necessity, ability, permission, or obligation. In this post, we’ll focus on müssen and können, two modal verbs that express necessity and ability, respectively.
Müssen – Expressing Necessity
The verb müssen is used when something is necessary or required. In English, it translates to “must” or “have to.”
Conjugation of “Müssen”
Here’s how you conjugate müssen in the present tense:
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | muss | I must/have to |
| du | musst | you must/have to (informal) |
| er/sie/es | muss | he/she/it must/has to |
| wir | müssen | we must/have to |
| ihr | müsst | you all must/have to |
| sie/Sie | müssen | they/you (formal) must/have to |
Example Sentences with “Müssen”
- Ich muss früh aufstehen. (I have to get up early.)
- Du musst dein Zimmer aufräumen. (You have to clean your room.)
- Er muss zur Arbeit gehen. (He has to go to work.)
- Wir müssen das Projekt heute abschließen. (We have to finish the project today.)
- Ihr müsst pünktlich sein. (You all have to be on time.)
- Sie müssen den Termin einhalten. (They must keep the appointment.)
- Ich muss morgen früh aufstehen (I have to get up early tomorrow.)
- Du musst das Formular ausfüllen. (You have to fill out the form.)
- Er muss jeden Tag im Büro arbeiten. (He has to work in the office every day.)
- Sie muss den Hund füttern. (She has to feed the dog.)
- Wir müssen uns beeilen, sonst verpassen wir den Zug. (We have to hurry, or we’ll miss the train.)
- Ihr müsst leise sein, das Baby schläft. (You all have to be quiet, the baby is sleeping.)
- Sie müssen noch viele Dinge erledigen. (They have to take care of many things.)
- Ich muss meine Hausaufgaben machen. (I have to do my homework.)
- Er muss heute länger arbeiten. (He has to work longer today.)
- Wir müssen uns morgen treffen. (We have to meet tomorrow.)
note that only the modal verb is conjugated and not the verb at the ending!
Learn about Masculine/Feminine or Singular to Plural in German
Können – Expressing Ability
Können is used to express ability or possibility. It translates to “can” or “to be able to” in English.
Conjugation of “Können”
Here’s the conjugation of können in the present tense:
| Pronoun | Conjugation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| ich | kann | I can/am able to |
| du | kannst | you can/are able to (informal) |
| er/sie/es | kann | he/she/it can/is able to |
| wir | können | we can/are able to |
| ihr | könnt | you all can/are able to |
| sie/Sie | können | they/you (formal) can/are able to |
Example Sentences with “Können”
- Ich kann gut Deutsch sprechen. (I can speak German well.)
- Du kannst heute schwimmen gehen. (You can go swimming today.)
- Er kann das Problem lösen. (He can solve the problem.)
- Wir können zusammen kochen. (We can cook together.)
- Ihr könnt den Film später schauen. (You all can watch the movie later.)
- Sie können den Bericht morgen schicken. (They can send the report tomorrow.)
- Ich kann sehr gut kochen. (I can cook very well.)
- Du kannst mir beim Umzug helfen. (You can help me with the move.)
- Er kann das nicht alleine machen. (He can’t do that alone.)
- Sie kann schon gut Deutsch sprechen. (She can already speak German well.)
- Wir können am Wochenende ins Kino gehen. (We can go to the cinema on the weekend.)
- Ihr könnt das später erledigen. (You all can take care of that later.)
- Sie können den Text übersetzen. (They can translate the text.)
- Kannst du bitte das Fenster öffnen? (Can you open the window, please?)
- Ich kann heute nicht kommen. (I can’t come today.)
- Wir können zusammen lernen. (We can study together.)
Learn More about Verb Conjugation in German – -en Ending, Vowel Change a to ä, Vowel Change e to I(e)
Or check out adjectives, connecting words and quantifiers to improve your fluency
When to Use “Müssen” vs. “Können”
Let’s compare the two verbs to understand their differences better:
Müssen indicates something you have to do—it’s a necessity:
- Ich muss Hausaufgaben machen.
(I have to do homework.)
Können shows that you are able to do something or have the capability:
- Ich kann die Hausaufgaben machen.
(I can do the homework.)
Notice how müssen suggests an obligation, while können talks about the possibility or ability.
Common Mistakes When Using “Müssen” and “Können”
- Confusing “müssen” with “sollen” – Remember, müssen means must or have to, while sollen means should or ought to.
Example: Du musst das machen (You have to do that) vs. Du sollst das machen (You should do that). - Forgetting to conjugate the modal verbs – Modal verbs like müssen and können are conjugated while the main verb stays in the infinitive at the end of the sentence.
Example: Ich muss gehen. (I have to go.)
How to Use “Müssen” and “Können” in Sentences
Both müssen and können follow a specific sentence structure:
- Subject + Modal Verb (conjugated) + Object + Main Verb (infinitive at the end)
Let’s look at a few more example sentences:
- Ich muss das Buch lesen. (I have to read the book.)
- Du kannst das Buch lesen. (You can read the book.)
- Wir müssen heute arbeiten. (We have to work today.)
- Ihr könnt nach Hause gehen. (You all can go home.)
- Ich muss morgen arbeiten. (I have to work tomorrow.)
- Ich kann morgen arbeiten. (I can work tomorrow.)
- Du musst das Buch lesen. (You have to read the book.)
- Du kannst das Buch lesen. (You can read the book.)
- Er muss den Bericht schreiben. (He has to write the report.)
- Er kann den Bericht schreiben. (He can write the report.)
- Wir müssen die Prüfung bestehen. (We have to pass the exam.)
- Wir können die Prüfung bestehen. (We can pass the exam.)
- Ihr müsst das Projekt beenden. (You all have to finish the project.)
- Ihr könnt das Projekt beenden. (You all can finish the project.)
- Sie muss das Abendessen kochen. (She has to cook dinner.)
- Sie kann das Abendessen kochen. (She can cook dinner.)
- Ich muss pünktlich sein. (I have to be on time.)
- Ich kann pünktlich sein. (I can be on time.)
- Du musst das Auto reparieren. (You have to fix the car.)
- Du kannst das Auto reparieren. (You can fix the car.)
- Wir müssen eine Lösung finden. (We have to find a solution.)
- Wir können eine Lösung finden. (We can find a solution.)
- Sie müssen den Termin verschieben. (They have to reschedule the appointment.)
- Sie können den Termin verschieben. (They can reschedule the appointment.)
Learn to make longer sentences in lesson 21!
Tips for German Beginners Using Modal Verbs
- Practice, practice, practice! The more you use modal verbs in different contexts, the more natural they will feel. Try making up your own sentences to use müssen and können.
- Don’t forget the infinitive rule. Modal verbs need an infinitive at the end of the sentence, so make sure to always include it!
- Listen to native speakers. Modal verbs are used frequently in daily conversations. Listen to podcasts, watch German YouTubers, or practice with native speakers to get a feel for how these verbs are used.
Comparison of Müssen and Können
| Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Müssen | Must/Have to | Ich muss zur Schule gehen. (I have to go to school.) |
| Können | Can/Be able to | Ich kann zur Schule gehen. (I can go to school.) |
Notice how müssen expresses an obligation, while können simply refers to the ability to do something.
Nouns
| German Word | English Translation | Article | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| die Arbeit | the work | die | die Arbeiten |
| das Buch | the book | das | die Bücher |
| der Bericht | the report | der | die Berichte |
| die Prüfung | the exam | die | die Prüfungen |
| das Projekt | the project | das | die Projekte |
| das Abendessen | the dinner | das | die Abendessen |
| der Termin | the appointment | der | die Termine |
| die Lösung | the solution | die | die Lösungen |
| das Auto | the car | das | die Autos |
| der Bericht | the report | der | die Berichte |
| der Text | the text | der | die Texte |
| die Seite | the page | die | die Seiten |
Verbs
| German Verb | English Translation |
|---|---|
| arbeiten | to work |
| lesen | to read |
| schreiben | to write |
| bestehen | to pass (an exam) |
| beenden | to finish |
| kochen | to cook |
| sein | to be |
| reparieren | to repair |
| finden | to find |
| verschieben | to reschedule |
Adjectives
| German Adjective | English Translation |
|---|---|
| pünktlich | punctual |
| richtig | correct |
| neu | new |
Learn more Vocabulary about Hobbies, Food or Family in German
Top 5 Questions about Modal Verbs
- What are modal verbs in German?
Modal verbs are auxiliary verbs that help express ability, permission, or obligation. Common modal verbs include müssen, können, dürfen, wollen, and sollen. - How do you conjugate modal verbs in German?
Modal verbs are conjugated based on the subject, but the main verb stays in the infinitive at the end of the sentence. Example: Ich muss gehen (I have to go). - What is the difference between “müssen” and “können”?
Müssen expresses necessity, while können refers to ability.
Example: Ich muss arbeiten (I have to work) vs. Ich kann arbeiten (I can work). - How do modal verbs change sentence structure?
The modal verb is conjugated and appears after the subject, while the main verb stays in its infinitive form at the end of the sentence. Example: Er muss das Auto reparieren (He must repair the car). - Can I use modal verbs with any verb in German?
Yes! Modal verbs can be used with almost any main verb. Example: Ich kann schwimmen (I can swim), Ich muss lernen (I have to study).
Conclusion
Understanding modal verbs like müssen and können is a key step in mastering German. Whether you’re expressing what you must do or what you’re able to do, these verbs are essential tools for everyday communication. As we’ve explored in this post, the conjugations of modal verbs can be tricky at first, but with practice, they become second nature. Remember the subtle but important difference between müssen (must/have to) and können (can/be able to), as it can change the entire meaning of a sentence.
Keep practicing with the examples provided and don’t forget that the more you use these verbs in conversation, the more natural they’ll feel. Happy learning and viel Erfolg (good luck) as you continue your German journey! 😊
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