German modal verbs: können, müssen, wollen, dürfen, sollen, mögen/möchten + word order
The six German modal verbs, their irregular present-tense forms, what each one means, and the bracket rule that sends the main verb to the end as an infinitive.
German has six modal verbs that add meaning like ability, obligation, or wish to another verb: können (can/be able to), müssen (must/have to), wollen (want to), dürfen (be allowed to), sollen (should/be supposed to), and mögen / möchten (like / would like).
They are irregular in the singular and — the classic surprise — take no ending in the ich and er/sie/es forms:
| können | müssen | wollen | dürfen | sollen | möchten | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | kann | muss | will | darf | soll | möchte |
| du | kannst | musst | willst | darfst | sollst | möchtest |
| er/sie/es | kann | muss | will | darf | soll | möchte |
| wir | können | müssen | wollen | dürfen | sollen | möchten |
The key structure is the sentence bracket: the modal is conjugated in position 2, and the main verb goes to the very end as an infinitive. Ich muss heute arbeiten — the modal (muss) is second, and arbeiten stays uninflected at the end. English keeps both verbs together (I must work today); German splits them apart.
Examples
Ich muss heute arbeiten.
I have to work today.
Das Kind kann schon lesen.
The child can already read.
Ich möchte ein Buch kaufen.
I would like to buy a book.
Der Hund darf nicht ins Haus.
The dog is not allowed into the house.
Wir wollen morgen die Stadt sehen.
We want to see the city tomorrow.
Common mistakes
Modal verbs take NO ending in the ich form. It is kann, muss, will, darf, soll — never *kanne* or *musse*. Adding -e treats it like a regular verb, which it isn't.
The infinitive must go to the very END of the clause. Everything else (time, place, object) comes before it. English keeps the verbs together; German pushes the main verb to the end.
The main verb after a modal stays an INFINITIVE (kaufen), not a conjugated form (kaufe). Only the modal is conjugated; the second verb never changes.
Related topics
Practice
Ich muss heute lange ___.
Ich ___ ein Buch kaufen.
Wir wollen morgen die Stadt ___.