Modal verbs are among the most important building blocks in German, because with them you express ability, permission or necessity. In the telc exam you encounter them constantly. Here you get meaning and examples.
The German modal verbs and their meaning
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- können expresses ability or possibility: “Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.”
- müssen expresses necessity: “Ich muss heute arbeiten.”
- dürfen expresses permission: “Du darfst hier parken.”
- sollen expresses a request or recommendation: “Du sollst mehr üben.”
- wollen expresses a will: “Ich will die Prüfung bestehen.”
- möchten is the polite wish: “Ich möchte einen Kaffee.”
Note that the singular forms are irregular: ich kann, du kannst, er kann.
How to build sentences with modal verbs
The modal verb goes in second position and is conjugated, the main verb stands in the infinitive at the end of the sentence: “Ich muss morgen früh aufstehen.” In a subordinate clause both verbs move to the end. For polite forms you often need the subjunctive II (Konjunktiv II), and in factual sentences you combine them with the passive.
In the telc exam
Modal verbs are a constant topic in the language elements. How to proceed there is in solving language elements strategically, and where the part sits in the procedure is shown by the page on the exam sections.
The bottom line
With the six modal verbs and their fixed word order you build solid sentences. Once you know meaning and form, gaps with modal verbs are quickly solved.
