1. dürfen (to be permitted, may)
/ v# W0 I+ W) `3 `6 w a; |0 `" q) F; Z Present: Darf ich rauchen? May I smoke?5 n& `$ t6 o- @3 l4 u# Z
Past/Preterite: Er durfte das nicht. He wasn't permitted to do that.2 x5 w! Y1 h ^# C7 \9 K
Pres. Perfect/Perfekt: Er hat dort nicht parken dürfen. He was not permitted to park there.
6 a& L( o$ X* c Past Perfect/Plusquamperfekt: Wir hatten das damals machen dürfen. We had been allowed to do that back then.
5 W! l7 k9 [. K A% S* j! E' W Future/Futur: Wir werden das machen dürfen. We will be allowed to do that.9 K. m! C) ]: C- ^5 x' V
Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Wenn ich dürfte... If I were permitted...
0 Z7 t" @# Y. d7 o NOTE: For all modals with umlauts, the simple past (preterite/Imperfekt) has no umlaut, but the subjunctive form always has an umlaut!: Y8 v# I i3 H! f0 {. j1 ?! n% j6 N8 o$ j
Sample Idiomatic Expressions:% g! i+ R5 a* U( [
Was darf es sein? May I help you? (store clerk)
6 c" l8 f" z4 g' j( C4 Z$ L Wenn ich bitten darf. If you please.
8 a* K5 N* t& j8 e( l 2. können (to be able, can, know) g8 N( D4 S5 _# F2 y
Present: Er kann gut fahren. He can drive well.. v- P6 K; q- z% E1 w
Past/Preterite: Er konnte sie nicht leiden. He couldn't stand her.
+ f1 _% K6 u* M7 e9 P$ {3 V$ [" a# | Pres. Perfect/Perfekt: Er hat sie nicht leiden können. He couldn't stand her.1 e0 I. s4 ]( Q0 h
Past Perfect/Plusquamperfekt: Er hatte sie nicht leiden können. He had not been able to stand her.
; \1 j5 {& C2 F* Z Future/Futur: Er wird sie nicht leiden können. He won't be able to stand her.' x. B, d; O1 ?5 y; _
Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Wenn ich ihn nur leiden könnte... If I could only stand him...
4 D6 F% |# g+ [# g) D# D5 e NOTE: For all modals with umlauts, the simple past (preterite/Imperfekt) has no umlaut, but the subjunctive form always has an umlaut!
! `1 Q& j0 a& ]# n6 p Sample Idiomatic Expressions:
1 _, i! I, p- G% T% c Sie könnten sich irren. You could be mistaken.
: l/ e8 C) B( ~4 X8 D# B Das kann man wohl sagen. You can say that again.4 p8 g- [: q ]6 `0 O0 l
Er kann Deutsch. He knows German. ("can German")2 [9 G; s3 _7 n, d4 q7 y
Er kann Sie jetzt sprechen. He can see you now. (doctor, dentist)
7 r& N% i1 f, U( t! q; L 3. müssen (to have to, must), z7 Z, k( [' P q5 Q
Present: Ich muss dort Deutsch sprechen. I have to speak German there.( ?3 y7 Z9 _5 {" S
Past/Preterite: Er musste es nicht tun. He didn't have to do it.
- h! }& i, }5 Q1 n/ O( v Pres. Perfect/Perfekt: Wir haben mit der Bahn fahren müssen. We had to go by train.
@6 Q2 I# F% q6 { Future/Futur: Sie wird morgen abfahren müssen. She will have to depart tomorrow.
3 x6 _7 c3 W0 W9 g# f Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Wenn ich müsste... If I had to...
* J4 k- h K4 c1 I NOTE: For all modals with umlauts, the simple past (preterite/Imperfekt) has no umlaut, but the subjunctive form always has an umlaut!% n2 I' w9 f3 _
Sample Idiomatic Expressions:( j2 n' P- O, D' l/ E( @# T2 i
Ich muss nach Hause. I have to go home.* E1 R+ b1 t' ]0 { m
Muss das sein? Is that really necessary?
& \: M9 b" F% {( [6 H0 c So müsste es immer sein. That's how it should be all the time.
. @+ T5 L, J, @7 ^ 4. mögen (to like). {/ O: w' e9 S$ d7 `0 w
Present: Er mag die Suppe. He likes the soup.
1 O* }; K( I3 t Past/Preterite: Er mochte die Stadt nicht. He didn't like the city.- P; N5 d0 o" @! b/ n# E6 P) y
Pres. Perfect/Perfekt: Er hat das Essen nicht gemocht. He didn't like the food.' j/ F& ]3 [; e* m; D# j
Future/Futur: Er wird das schon mögen. He'll like that." Q. b/ N T2 J3 V
Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Ja, er möchte Wein. Yes, he'd like (some) wine." E q' K! {/ c* D7 ?9 u
Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Ich möchte... I would like...
6 i- b C( o4 f" v, `3 Z5 f6 X NOTE: For all modals with umlauts, the simple past (preterite/Imperfekt) has no umlaut, but the subjunctive form always has an umlaut!6 z. i1 v7 P# n2 C6 z7 V; p; Q( c. {
Sample Idiomatic Expressions:; X; O y% f4 J2 b9 A) i3 P* m
Das mag wohl sein. That well may be. / That may be so.3 s: C6 D* P; e
Das mag der Himmel verhütten! Heaven forbid!
$ l/ `) S7 n6 u1 m6 F- S Er mag/mochte etwa 1,3 Meter groß sein. He must be/must have been about 1.3 meters tall. 0 M- B( x+ u: g9 c
5. sollen (to be supposed to, should/ought to), ~5 D2 p) i* Z. ~% l( I$ m' [4 v
Present: Er soll reich sein. He's supposed to be rich. / It's said that he's rich.! s% E6 A/ P7 l$ a3 z1 s' ^% \) ]4 J
Past/Preterite: Er sollte gestern ankommen. He was supposed to arrive yesterday.% ~, c' | q0 o) D) `2 P& d$ o; c7 J
Pres. Perfect/Perfekt: Du hast ihn anrufen sollen. You should have called him.
' _6 R0 {1 |4 G1 I+ U) j6 d Future (in sense of): Er soll das morgen haben. He'll have that tomorrow.
& `% M, V" L# T1 t; E Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Das hättest du nicht tun sollen. You shouldn't have done that.# r. V8 m, M- b% u2 t4 W2 J
Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Wenn ich sollte... If I should...
; |; ]9 k4 w) o" n7 u5 } Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Sollte sie anrufen... If she should (happen to) call...4 {4 F" C% {, e' u# n# e
Sample Idiomatic Expressions:
6 F- I9 R5 J `8 p6 ~, d Das Buch soll sehr gut sein. The book is said to be very good.
) ~% ^6 X. \$ w" N4 D7 n d Du sollst damit sofort aufhören! You're to stop that right now! |