1. dürfen (to be permitted, may)8 Z; Z+ U( [! V! ~3 J8 i1 x# V6 T
Present: Darf ich rauchen? May I smoke?
6 L% P9 g$ X# I2 E# H# \ Past/Preterite: Er durfte das nicht. He wasn't permitted to do that.
" Z, j1 n) g6 Q% x Pres. Perfect/Perfekt: Er hat dort nicht parken dürfen. He was not permitted to park there.7 T" X* [$ @$ E9 q( z
Past Perfect/Plusquamperfekt: Wir hatten das damals machen dürfen. We had been allowed to do that back then.! a0 p2 h! ~: A% K4 E
Future/Futur: Wir werden das machen dürfen. We will be allowed to do that.
9 c% H* _0 _5 S$ B0 h- ~3 K* f2 a Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Wenn ich dürfte... If I were permitted...
0 T7 A0 _2 D( @, U' i# [/ O- { NOTE: For all modals with umlauts, the simple past (preterite/Imperfekt) has no umlaut, but the subjunctive form always has an umlaut!; R& L, T7 P1 I) O; ~
Sample Idiomatic Expressions:- F- c# C1 v7 K/ v3 r
Was darf es sein? May I help you? (store clerk)
/ A6 `1 I G- J J Wenn ich bitten darf. If you please.! J m- Q0 P4 j: n& Y
2. können (to be able, can, know)5 S, o% l; a2 k3 [1 a8 @5 [- N1 f
Present: Er kann gut fahren. He can drive well.$ z6 ~# B: l0 O1 U
Past/Preterite: Er konnte sie nicht leiden. He couldn't stand her.
2 d& M6 r! d0 w F' z+ |/ p4 o' E Pres. Perfect/Perfekt: Er hat sie nicht leiden können. He couldn't stand her.+ Q" [& ^6 ~0 b! l, b- n
Past Perfect/Plusquamperfekt: Er hatte sie nicht leiden können. He had not been able to stand her.* ~' Y8 S3 [. S" D# Y8 L
Future/Futur: Er wird sie nicht leiden können. He won't be able to stand her. h, |( ]4 w9 m- \' ^6 k$ k
Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Wenn ich ihn nur leiden könnte... If I could only stand him...
! P! R- w+ }4 ~; t7 S NOTE: For all modals with umlauts, the simple past (preterite/Imperfekt) has no umlaut, but the subjunctive form always has an umlaut!
U# I( @% c6 i8 o8 a& h/ Y. V Sample Idiomatic Expressions:
( f, ~4 W) ^2 I7 w Sie könnten sich irren. You could be mistaken.4 v. x& S$ z$ L9 D" T
Das kann man wohl sagen. You can say that again.
2 o: h- Y: `- U& P2 s: v Er kann Deutsch. He knows German. ("can German")
, y2 X" Y* `% s q) j* `5 c9 u Er kann Sie jetzt sprechen. He can see you now. (doctor, dentist)
2 w7 r9 ~+ I# D) k 3. müssen (to have to, must)
1 h5 p. \2 m% r$ ~; D9 P Present: Ich muss dort Deutsch sprechen. I have to speak German there., G* O, w- L* a, O
Past/Preterite: Er musste es nicht tun. He didn't have to do it.
* A( X9 X5 [/ T5 w/ S; \ Pres. Perfect/Perfekt: Wir haben mit der Bahn fahren müssen. We had to go by train.
8 j. p6 @2 O" L Future/Futur: Sie wird morgen abfahren müssen. She will have to depart tomorrow.
- i* u% `- @( g$ U Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Wenn ich müsste... If I had to..., |) C& n+ C. n) l
NOTE: For all modals with umlauts, the simple past (preterite/Imperfekt) has no umlaut, but the subjunctive form always has an umlaut!( a* a6 S1 o$ c% i
Sample Idiomatic Expressions:
" `7 b# W/ ?( V5 F Ich muss nach Hause. I have to go home.
3 a q1 q9 P# C3 G: g ~ Muss das sein? Is that really necessary?6 _% f1 S; {& e- h
So müsste es immer sein. That's how it should be all the time.
, I, ~2 g! k) b3 F 4. mögen (to like)
1 b5 ]& E/ n7 E Present: Er mag die Suppe. He likes the soup.
! T. }$ c/ P* [( j( E g5 t Past/Preterite: Er mochte die Stadt nicht. He didn't like the city.8 C- D+ g( k: o* M# m7 `
Pres. Perfect/Perfekt: Er hat das Essen nicht gemocht. He didn't like the food.
. q5 J+ ?9 U/ H5 q. N Future/Futur: Er wird das schon mögen. He'll like that.) d+ |; p$ E# _! u# m
Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Ja, er möchte Wein. Yes, he'd like (some) wine.
" @, c3 ?: J6 v% O, l Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Ich möchte... I would like...
7 F( m& T5 l7 m; x4 Z NOTE: For all modals with umlauts, the simple past (preterite/Imperfekt) has no umlaut, but the subjunctive form always has an umlaut!( l/ R: i- A4 _& t5 z
Sample Idiomatic Expressions:
' }5 X# @" d/ W5 a1 t Das mag wohl sein. That well may be. / That may be so.
, j4 L9 s* o/ H Das mag der Himmel verhütten! Heaven forbid!( q. N5 m/ R& X/ x7 B( c; r
Er mag/mochte etwa 1,3 Meter groß sein. He must be/must have been about 1.3 meters tall.
/ _$ s: _) x- O& ~# K 5. sollen (to be supposed to, should/ought to)7 K: Y+ }$ u: \& _
Present: Er soll reich sein. He's supposed to be rich. / It's said that he's rich.
# U5 p: v. m# D9 j. @) R, ]" A Past/Preterite: Er sollte gestern ankommen. He was supposed to arrive yesterday.( D! E8 O, ]) D( Z( W4 W/ t
Pres. Perfect/Perfekt: Du hast ihn anrufen sollen. You should have called him.% D8 U3 P! m1 S
Future (in sense of): Er soll das morgen haben. He'll have that tomorrow.% }1 f* T: A) |( R9 k3 V4 |) ]2 b
Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Das hättest du nicht tun sollen. You shouldn't have done that.
@7 Y) r" T6 z+ ], |; e2 N1 M Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Wenn ich sollte... If I should...
- G# T% I8 z) {3 ~ Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Sollte sie anrufen... If she should (happen to) call...$ c; E& z4 x- j( Z% p
Sample Idiomatic Expressions:
0 ^9 l! G& B' p) g2 W, I Das Buch soll sehr gut sein. The book is said to be very good.
/ K5 w) d+ R/ n: {% i+ P5 u" W Du sollst damit sofort aufhören! You're to stop that right now! |