Modal (mod.) verbs (verbs) have a fundamental difference from ordinary full-valued verbs, which is that they do not express any specific meaning, but only characterize the attitude towards the action taking place or the state being described, which are conveyed by semantic verbs. That's why mod. verb almost always paired with semantic ones.

The attitude expressed by modal verbs is understood as the presence of desire, obligation, duty, ability, skill, permission, permission, etc., as well as antonymous prohibitions, reluctance, etc. when using mods. verb in negative sentences.

The German language has a total of six true modal verbs:

Präsens: Conjugation mod. verb

Präteritum: Conjugation mod. verb

Use of mod. verb will be demonstrated in the speech using subsequent examples.

• Deine Verwandten müssen uns rechtzeitig über ihre Ankunft benachrichtigen. – Your relatives need to inform us about their arrival in a timely manner (they need this, it is in their interests).
• Sein Fahrer soll uns um 19:00 vom Ausstellungsgebäude abholen. – His driver must pick us up from the exhibition pavilion at 19:00 (he must, must do this, this is an order).
• Peter kann seine Geschwister selbst in den Kindergarten bringen. – Peter himself can take his sisters and brothers to kindergarten (he is able to do this).
• Die Gäste dieser Herberge dürfen die Schwimmhalle kostenlos besuchen. – Residents of this camp site can visit the pool for free (they have the right, they are allowed).
• Mein Kind will seine Katze mitnehmen. – My child wants to take his cat with him (this is his desire, wish).
• Ich mag keine Spiegeleier. – I don’t like scrambled eggs (I don’t like the taste of them, I can’t stand them; construction mod. verb + object).
• Meine Eltern möchten die Wände im Schlafzimmer tapezieren. – My parents would like to cover the bedroom walls with wallpaper (construction mod. verb + semantic verb).

Having considered the above examples, let us summarize all the main features of the modes. verb in in German:

• Verb. This category is never used in its own meaning independently, since it is not complete and requires specification, which is introduced into the sentence by semantic verbs, which, together with modal ones, make up compound verbal predicates, where the modal verb acquires personal endings.
• Maud. verb are subject to their own conjugation rules that must be learned. In the first and third person singular Präsens, modal verbs do not acquire personal endings. In the singular of all persons Präsens in fashion. verb there is an alternation of root vowels (the only exception is the verb sollen).
• Maud. verb do not have the quality of transitivity / intransitivity, the only exception is the verb. mögen in the meaning of loving someone, feeling sympathy for someone, loving some foods (taste). In these meanings after the verb. mögen is not followed by the infinitive of the semantic verb, but by the corresponding object.

Modal verbs are a special group of verbs; they themselves do not express an action, but only express the attitude of the subject to the action.

Therefore, a modal verb cannot be alone in a sentence; it always needs a friend - a semantic verb, which is always used in the infinitive. And together they form a complex verbal predicate.

Intrigued? Let's dig into these special verbs. Meet:

können

können expresses skill or physical ability. Translated as “to be able to”

Ich kann diesels Problem lösen. – I can (capable) solve this problem.

Wer kann mir das erklären?– Who can explain this to me?

durfen

durfen expresses permission or prohibition. Translated as “be able, have permission, right”

Darf ich mein Platz nehmen?– May I take my seat?

mussen

mussen expresses the need to perform this or that action under the influence of internal pressure (that is, we ourselves realize that it is necessary to do this), translated as “to be obliged, to be forced”

Ich muss die Eltern besuchen.– I have to visit my parents.

Ich muss sparen.- I have to save money.

Ich muss um 8.30 Uhr im Büro sein. – I need to be in the office at 8:30. (I realize this myself)

sollen

sollen used to express an order, compliance with rules or law, translated as “to be obliged”

Ihr sollt die Arbeit heute abgeben!– You must hand in your work today!

wollen

wollen expresses a firm desire or decision to perform an action, translated as "want"

Ich will eine Tasse Tee trinken.- I want to drink a cup of tea.

mögen

mögen means interest in something, love, translated as “to desire, to love”

1. It is also used to express an assumption.

Sie mag krank sein.- She may be sick.

Was mag das bedeuten?– What could this mean?

2. In the meaning of “to love, to like” it has almost ceased to be modal and is used independently

Ich mag Eis. – I love ice cream.

möchten (verb mögen in the Konjunktiv II subjunctive mood), in contrast to the modal verb wollen, which expresses a firm desire, expresses a desire, a polite request, and is used independently without another verb.

Ich möchte eine Tasse Tee trinken.– I would like to have a cup of tea.

Modal verbs. Word order in a sentence

In an affirmative sentence, the modal verb is in second place, and the semantic verb is at the end of the sentence.

Ich will Automechaniker werden.

In an interrogative sentence without a question word, the modal verb comes first, the semantic verb at the end of the sentence.

Kanst du Deutsch sprechen?

In an interrogative sentence with a question word, the modal verb is in second place, the semantic verb at the end of the sentence.

Was kannst du mir zeigen?

Modal verbs. Präsens (present)

Please note:

1. During conjugation, the umlaut disappears or the vowel changes altogether (compare machen - er macht, durfen – er darf)

2. Unlike ordinary verbs, no ending is added in the 1st person “-e”, in the 3rd person the ending “-” is not added t"(compare er macht And er soll)

There is only one conclusion - the conjugation of these verbs must be learned and thoroughly practiced.

Conjugation table for modal verbs in the present tense:

Modal verbs. Past tense

Please note:

1. The umlaut disappears in the past tense.

2. To form the past tense of the verb möchten (Konjunktiv II from mögen), wollen is used.

Präteritum:

Perfect (participle II):

To form Perfect, all modal verbs use the auxiliary verb haben.

Conjunctiv II:

Modal verbs - these are verbs that express not an action, but the speaker’s attitude to the action. Modal verbs can express possibility, necessity, desire, etc.

Modal verbs require after themselves a main verb, which is in the infinitive without a particlezu.

K m Odal verbs in German include the following verbs:

durfen(to be allowed, to be able to have the right)

Darf ich eintreten? - Can I come in?

Hier darf man nicht rauchen. - You can't smoke here.

können(to be able, to be able, to have the physical ability to do something)

Wir können diese Arbeit in einer Woche erfüllen. - We can complete this job in a week.

mögen(like)

Ich magTorte essen. - I like to eat cake.

The verb mögen can also express a wish, advice, recommendation and is often translated in this case with the word “let”:

Möge er glücklich sein! — Let him be happy!

mussen(expresses necessity due to internal conviction, duty)

Ich muss meinen Freunden helfen. - I have to help my friends.

Er musste die Arbeit von neuem beginnen. - He had (he was forced) to start the work again.

sollen(expresses necessity, obligation, obligation associated with someone’s instructions, the order established by someone, etc.)

Du sollst die Prüfung am 5. Januar ablegen. - You must take this exam on January 5th.

Der Zug soll in 3 Minuten ankommen. - The train should arrive in 3 minutes.

wollen(want, wish, often with a connotation of “intend to do something”)

Wir wollen diese Ausstellung besuchen. - We want to visit this exhibition.

The verb wollen can also be used to express the future tense, in which case it is not translated into Russian.

lassen(command, instruct, force, command)

Er ließ uns diese Regel gründlich wiederholen. - He ordered us (forced us) to repeat this rule thoroughly.

Bei gutem Wetter ließ er mich selbst das Auto fahren. - If the weather was good, he allowed me to drive the car myself.

The verb lassen in the imperative mood can also express an invitation, a call:

Lasst uns heute einen Ausflug machen! - Let's take a walk today!

The construction is quite often used lassen sich+ infinitive I. It usually has a passive meaning with a connotation of possibility and is translated into Russian by combining “mozhno” with the infinitive of the main verb or a verb in -sya (with a passive meaning):

Die Bedeutung dieser Experimente lässt sich leicht erklären. - The meaning of these experiments can be easily explained (... easily explained; easily explained...).

Turnover es lässt sich with negation is used in the sense of impracticability, the impossibility of one or another action and is translated by combining “impossible” with the infinitive of the main verb:

Es lässt sich nicht beweisen. - This cannot be proven.

Verb lassen when used independently it means “to leave”, “to leave”:

Wir lassen ihn nicht allein. - We don't leave him alone.

Modal verbs in German are usually used in combination with the infinitive of other verbs that denote action and perform the function of a complex predicate in a sentence:

Wir wollen noch eine Fremdsprache beherrschen. - We want to master another foreign language.

Verbs brauchen(need), scheinen(seem), glauben(to believe) when used with the infinitive of another (main) verb acquire the meaning of modality. The verb brauchen with the negation nicht means “one should not, does not need, does not need to do anything”:

Er braucht diese Regel nicht zu wiederholen. - He does not need (should not) repeat this rule.

Verbs scheinen And glauben express an assumption; when translating them into Russian, the words “apparently, it seems (as it seems, as it seems)” are used:

Sie scheint glücklich zu sein. - She seems (apparently) to be happy.

If you liked it, share it with your friends:

Join us onFacebook!

See also:

We suggest taking tests online:

Full-valued verbs usually act in a sentence as a predicate or a semantic part of the predicate. The vast majority of German verbs fall into this category.

Functional verbs are used in a sentence in combination with other verbs, being only part of the predicate. In this case, they usually lose (partially or completely) their independent semantic meaning.

Function verbs in German include:
• auxiliary verbs - haben, sein, werden;
• linking verbs - sein, werden, bleiben, heißen.

Using the auxiliary verbs haben, sein, werden, complex tense forms and passive voice are formed.

The verbs haben, sein can also be used as full verbs. In this case, these verbs are translated into Russian:
• haben- have:

• sein- to be, to be:

Modal verbs differ from ordinary full-valued verbs. They express not an action, but an attitude towards action. Modal verbs can express possibility, necessity, desire. Modal verbs in German include the following verbs:
• mussen- must, be obliged, be forced.

The verb müssen expresses necessity due to internal conviction, duty.

• sollen- must, be obliged.

The verb expresses necessity, obligation, obligation associated with someone’s instructions, the order established by someone, etc.

The verbs müssen and sollen can also be used to express an assumption, with the verb müssen to express one’s own assumption, and the verb sollen to express an assumption arising from someone else’s words.

• können- be able, be able (to have the physical ability to do something):

The verb können can also be used to mean “to be able to”:

• wollen- want, wish (often with a connotation of “intend to do something”):

The verb wollen is also used in the descriptive form of the 1st person imperative.

The verb mögen can also express a wish, advice, recommendation and is often translated in this case with the word “let.”

Modal verbs are verbs with the meaning of desire, possibility, ability, obligation:

• wollen - want
• können - be able to, be able to
• mussen - to be due, must
• sollen - to be due, must
• durfen -
• mögen -

These verbs are conjugated in a special way:

Some verbs have a single and completely understandable meaning - cf. wollen - want, können - be able, others seem to duplicate each other - cf. mussen - to be due, must and sollen - to be due, must, and still others generally have a whole range of meanings - cf. durfen - be able, have permission, dare, mögen - want, desire; be able; love, like. Let us explain all these meanings.

Verb wollen used in ordinary expressions of will:

• Ich will schlafen. - I want to sleep.
• Willst du nach Berlin fahren? - Do you want to go to Berlin?

In addition, this verb is involved in the formation of the imperative 1st l. plural "wollen wir" - Let's(do not confuse this form with wir wollen - we want):

• Wollen wir eine Pause machen! - Let's take a break!
• Wollen wir tanzen! - Let's dance!

The verb wollen denotes desire and will in general. And how to express a wish in a polite form, see below (verb mögen).

The phrases “I’m hungry” and “I’m thirsty” in German are not associated with a verb of will, but with indications of hunger or thirst. Wed:

• Ich habe Hunger. - I'm hungry.
• Ich habe Durst. - I'm thirsty.

Verb können means opportunity, ability, skill:

• Sie können mit dem Bus fahren. - You can go by bus.
• Ich kann gut schwimmen. - I can swim well/I am a good swimmer.

With language designations, the verb können can be used without another verb:

• Ich kann Russisch und Englisch. - I speak Russian and English.
• Ich kann ein wenig Deutsch. - I speak a little German.

The verbs müssen and sollen have the same basic meaning - to be due, must. But the shades of meaning of these verbs are completely different. Mussen means necessity as a result of internal conviction or objective circumstances (cf. the English verb must):

• Ich muss gehen. - I need to go.
• Alle Schüler müssen Hausaufgaben machen. - All schoolchildren must do their homework.

Sollen means necessity as a consequence of some considerations, rules, etc. and expresses a recommendation (cf. the English verb should). This verb is translated into Russian by the impersonal phrase “should”:

• Sie sollen weniger essen. - You should eat less.
• Soll ich meinen Pass zeigen? - Do I need to show my passport?

It is clear that I have no internal need to show my passport, and the need in this case is related to some circumstances or considerations. Compare two examples:

• Christa muss viel arbeiten. - Krista has to work hard.
• Christa soll viel arbeiten. - Krista should work hard.

The first example means that Christe have to work hard, second - what does she care? should work hard. You need to pay special attention to the difference between the verbs müssen and sollen in everyday life, since sollen is used in a number of familiar situations:

• Sie sollen nach rechts gehen. - You need to go right.
• Soll ich gleich bezahlen? - Should I pay right away?
• Wo soll ich den Schlüssel lassen? - Where should I leave the key?

The same pair as the verbs müssen and sollen, only in relation to possibility, is formed by the verbs können and dürfen. Verb können means the possibility as a result of free self-determination:

• Ich kann dieses Buch kaufen. - I can buy this book.
• Sie kann Tennis spielen. - She knows how to play tennis.

Verb durfen means possibility as a result of permission, permission:

• Darf ich fragen? - Can I ask?
• Wir dürfen diese Bücher nehmen. - We can borrow these books.

In various everyday matters, dürfen is used:

• Darf ich hinaus? - May go out?
• Darf ich gehen? - Can I go?

And it is no coincidence that on the packaging of low-calorie margarine, etc. for those who like to monitor their weight it is written:

• Du darfst! - You can!

Verb mögen- perhaps the most peculiar of all modal verbs. Firstly, in the present tense it means “to love, like”, etc.:

• Ich mag Fisch. - I love fish.
• Magst du Schwarzbrot? - Do you like black bread?

Secondly, this verb is mostly used in the subjunctive mood of the past tense (preterite) and then means a wish expressed in a polite form:

• Ich möchte diese Jacke kaufen. - I would like to buy this jacket.
• Möchten Sie weiter gehen oder bleiben wir hier? - Would you like to go further, or will we stay here?

The verb mögen in the past subjunctive mood is conjugated as follows:

When expressing any wishes in everyday life, the phrase “ich möchte” actually replaced the direct expression of will “ich will”. So if you want to buy something, watch something, etc., say “ich möchte” - and you can’t go wrong! But how can we say: “to want means to be able”? Very simply: Wer will, der kann!