Learning German modal verbs is absolutely essential for expressing what...
German203 views·Updated 8 Aug 2026·2 pagesComprehensive Table of German-English Modal Verbs in Present Tense
Sienna@smojo27
1
of 2
Essential Modal Verbs: Can, Want, and May
Modal verbs are your gateway to expressing abilities, desires, and permissions in German. Think of them as the building blocks that help you say "I can speak German" or "I want to travel."
The verb können (to be able to/can) follows a pattern you'll see repeated: ich kann, du kannst, er/sie/es kann. Notice how the vowel changes from 'ö' to 'a' in singular forms - this is typical for German modal verbs.
Wollen (to want to) works similarly but keeps the same vowel throughout: ich will, du willst, wir wollen. The formal Sie form always matches the plural sie form - Sie können and sie können look identical.
Quick Tip: Remember that modal verbs rarely stand alone - they usually pair with another verb at the end of the sentence, like "Ich kann Deutsch sprechen" (I can speak German).
2
of 2
Permission and Preference: Dürfen and Mögen
Dürfen (may/to be allowed to) is crucial when you need to ask for or give permission. The conjugation follows the familiar pattern: ich darf, du darfst, er/sie/es darf. You'll use this constantly in German-speaking countries when asking "Darf ich...?" (May I...?).
Mögen (to like) is slightly different from the others because it often expresses preference rather than ability or permission. The forms ich mag, du magst, wir mögen will help you express what you enjoy or prefer.
All these modal verbs share the same pattern for plural forms: wir, ihr, and sie endings are consistent across different verbs. Master these patterns now, and you'll find German conversation flows much more naturally.
Memory Hack: The formal Sie form always uses the same conjugation as the plural sie (they) form - one less thing to memorise!
We thought you’d never ask...
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
Similar content
Most popular content in German
9G
GermanGerman language quiz
purely for revision :)
71351
G
Germangerman simple questions
this quiz is for when you just start german and need to revise the first few words and things
8630
T
GermanTranslating, English from foreign language, key vocab- time/ bit of opionions
German time vocab, english to german
71070
C
GermanCelebrations German Vocab
German vocabulary flashcards focusing on key terms for celebrations, parties, and birthdays.
101070
GermanFuture Plans in German
Explore essential vocabulary and grammatical structures for discussing future plans in German. This resource covers key phrases for career aspirations, educational choices, and personal strengths and weaknesses. Ideal for GCSE Foundation Tier students preparing for exams or enhancing their language skills. Key concepts include job opportunities, apprenticeship options, and effective communication in future tense.
11880
GermanGerman Seasons & Days
Explore essential German vocabulary covering seasons, days of the week, and months. This summary includes key terms like 'Winter', 'Frühling', 'Montag', and more, perfect for Year 7 students beginning their German language journey.
71306
GermanGerman: Grammar (perfect tense, irregular verbs, future, imperative comparative, superlative)
grammar
11992
GermanEssential German Greetings
Explore essential German greetings and introductions with this concise summary. Learn how to ask and answer questions about names and well-being, along with numbers 1-19. Perfect for beginners looking to enhance their conversational skills in German.
721613
GermanGerman School Vocabulary
Explore essential German vocabulary related to school life, including subjects, adjectives, and daily routines. This summary covers key phrases for discussing your favorite subjects, teachers, and daily activities in a school setting. Ideal for Year 9 students looking to enhance their language skills.
111913
Most popular content
9
SociologyComprehensive Crime & Deviance Overview
Explore an extensive revision of crime and deviance topics, including theories, types of crime, and the impact of media. This resource covers key concepts such as Marxism, functionalism, gender and crime, and the influence of globalization on criminal behavior. Ideal for students seeking a thorough understanding of criminology and its various theories. Type: Full Topic Revision.
1251,7071,402
SociologySociology of Families: Comprehensive Revision
Dive into an extensive overview of family dynamics, perspectives, and patterns in sociology. This resource covers key concepts such as family diversity, gender roles, marriage, and the impact of social policies on family structures. Perfect for A-Level Sociology students preparing for Paper 2.
1273,8692,306
CriminologyCriminology: Crime & Punishment Overview
Comprehensive mindmaps covering key concepts in the Crime and Punishment topic for WJEC Criminology Unit 4. This resource includes detailed insights into the Criminal Justice System, crime prevention strategies, sentencing models, and the roles of various agencies. Ideal for A-Level revision, ensuring you grasp essential theories and legislative processes to excel in your exams.
1254,9091,061
C
BiologyCell Biology and Cell structure
cell structures
113,3710
CriminologyWJEC Unit 4 Criminology
Criminology unit 4 detailed revision note
127,185125
SociologyMedia Studies: Key Concepts & Theories
Dive into the essential concepts and theories of media studies for AQA A-level Sociology. This comprehensive revision guide covers topics such as media influence, representations, globalization, and sociological perspectives, ensuring you grasp the critical elements needed for your exams. Perfect for students seeking to enhance their understanding of media's role in society.
1222,751514
1
Biology1.cells Gcse biology question cards
combined science higher biology
92,4044
G
PhysicsGCSE Physics - Energy stores and Systems
Pl-Energy topic to revise for GCSE
101,3942
SociologySociology of Education Overview
Explore comprehensive A-Level Sociology notes on the education system, covering key theories, policies, and sociological perspectives. This resource includes insights on marketisation, gender roles, cultural deprivation, and educational inequalities, providing a thorough understanding of how education shapes social stratification and individual achievement. Ideal for exam preparation and in-depth study.
12103,0313,041
Students love us — and so will you.
4.6/5App Store
4.7/5Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan SiOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha KlichAndroid user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
AnnaiOS user
German203 views·Updated 8 Aug 2026·2 pagesComprehensive Table of German-English Modal Verbs in Present Tense
Sienna@smojo27
Learning German modal verbs is absolutely essential for expressing what you can do, want to do, or are allowed to do. These powerful verbs follow specific conjugation patterns that, once mastered, will dramatically improve your German conversation skills.
1
of 2
Sign up to see the content. It's free!
- Access to all documents
- Improve your grades
- Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Essential Modal Verbs: Can, Want, and May
Modal verbs are your gateway to expressing abilities, desires, and permissions in German. Think of them as the building blocks that help you say "I can speak German" or "I want to travel."
The verb können (to be able to/can) follows a pattern you'll see repeated: ich kann, du kannst, er/sie/es kann. Notice how the vowel changes from 'ö' to 'a' in singular forms - this is typical for German modal verbs.
Wollen (to want to) works similarly but keeps the same vowel throughout: ich will, du willst, wir wollen. The formal Sie form always matches the plural sie form - Sie können and sie können look identical.
Quick Tip: Remember that modal verbs rarely stand alone - they usually pair with another verb at the end of the sentence, like "Ich kann Deutsch sprechen" (I can speak German).
2
of 2Sign up to see the content. It's free!
- Access to all documents
- Improve your grades
- Join milions of students
By signing up you accept Terms of Service and Privacy Policy
Permission and Preference: Dürfen and Mögen
Dürfen (may/to be allowed to) is crucial when you need to ask for or give permission. The conjugation follows the familiar pattern: ich darf, du darfst, er/sie/es darf. You'll use this constantly in German-speaking countries when asking "Darf ich...?" (May I...?).
Mögen (to like) is slightly different from the others because it often expresses preference rather than ability or permission. The forms ich mag, du magst, wir mögen will help you express what you enjoy or prefer.
All these modal verbs share the same pattern for plural forms: wir, ihr, and sie endings are consistent across different verbs. Master these patterns now, and you'll find German conversation flows much more naturally.
Memory Hack: The formal Sie form always uses the same conjugation as the plural sie (they) form - one less thing to memorise!
We thought you’d never ask...
Our AI Companion is a student-focused AI tool that offers more than just answers. Built on millions of Knowunity resources, it provides relevant information, personalised study plans, quizzes, and content directly in the chat, adapting to your individual learning journey.
You can download the app from Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
Similar content
Most popular content in German
9G
GermanGerman language quiz
purely for revision :)
71351
G
Germangerman simple questions
this quiz is for when you just start german and need to revise the first few words and things
8630
T
GermanTranslating, English from foreign language, key vocab- time/ bit of opionions
German time vocab, english to german
71070
C
GermanCelebrations German Vocab
German vocabulary flashcards focusing on key terms for celebrations, parties, and birthdays.
101070
GermanFuture Plans in German
Explore essential vocabulary and grammatical structures for discussing future plans in German. This resource covers key phrases for career aspirations, educational choices, and personal strengths and weaknesses. Ideal for GCSE Foundation Tier students preparing for exams or enhancing their language skills. Key concepts include job opportunities, apprenticeship options, and effective communication in future tense.
11880
GermanGerman Seasons & Days
Explore essential German vocabulary covering seasons, days of the week, and months. This summary includes key terms like 'Winter', 'Frühling', 'Montag', and more, perfect for Year 7 students beginning their German language journey.
71306
GermanGerman: Grammar (perfect tense, irregular verbs, future, imperative comparative, superlative)
grammar
11992
GermanEssential German Greetings
Explore essential German greetings and introductions with this concise summary. Learn how to ask and answer questions about names and well-being, along with numbers 1-19. Perfect for beginners looking to enhance their conversational skills in German.
721613
GermanGerman School Vocabulary
Explore essential German vocabulary related to school life, including subjects, adjectives, and daily routines. This summary covers key phrases for discussing your favorite subjects, teachers, and daily activities in a school setting. Ideal for Year 9 students looking to enhance their language skills.
111913
Most popular content
9SociologyComprehensive Crime & Deviance Overview
Explore an extensive revision of crime and deviance topics, including theories, types of crime, and the impact of media. This resource covers key concepts such as Marxism, functionalism, gender and crime, and the influence of globalization on criminal behavior. Ideal for students seeking a thorough understanding of criminology and its various theories. Type: Full Topic Revision.
1251,7071,402
SociologySociology of Families: Comprehensive Revision
Dive into an extensive overview of family dynamics, perspectives, and patterns in sociology. This resource covers key concepts such as family diversity, gender roles, marriage, and the impact of social policies on family structures. Perfect for A-Level Sociology students preparing for Paper 2.
1273,8692,306
CriminologyCriminology: Crime & Punishment Overview
Comprehensive mindmaps covering key concepts in the Crime and Punishment topic for WJEC Criminology Unit 4. This resource includes detailed insights into the Criminal Justice System, crime prevention strategies, sentencing models, and the roles of various agencies. Ideal for A-Level revision, ensuring you grasp essential theories and legislative processes to excel in your exams.
1254,9091,061
C
BiologyCell Biology and Cell structure
cell structures
113,3710
CriminologyWJEC Unit 4 Criminology
Criminology unit 4 detailed revision note
127,185125
SociologyMedia Studies: Key Concepts & Theories
Dive into the essential concepts and theories of media studies for AQA A-level Sociology. This comprehensive revision guide covers topics such as media influence, representations, globalization, and sociological perspectives, ensuring you grasp the critical elements needed for your exams. Perfect for students seeking to enhance their understanding of media's role in society.
1222,751514
1
Biology1.cells Gcse biology question cards
combined science higher biology
92,4044
G
PhysicsGCSE Physics - Energy stores and Systems
Pl-Energy topic to revise for GCSE
101,3942
SociologySociology of Education Overview
Explore comprehensive A-Level Sociology notes on the education system, covering key theories, policies, and sociological perspectives. This resource includes insights on marketisation, gender roles, cultural deprivation, and educational inequalities, providing a thorough understanding of how education shapes social stratification and individual achievement. Ideal for exam preparation and in-depth study.
12103,0313,041
Students love us — and so will you.
4.6/5App Store
4.7/5Google Play
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan SiOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha KlichAndroid user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
AnnaiOS user