Languages › German German Modal Verbs: Conjugation of 'Duerfen,' 'Koennen,' and 'Moegen' Tenses and Sample Sentences Share Flipboard Email Print Hauke Dressler / LOOK-foto / Getty Images German Grammar History & Culture Pronunciation & Conversation Vocabulary By Hyde Flippo Hyde Flippo German Expert Hyde Flippo taught the German language for 28 years at high school and college levels and published several books on the German language and culture. Learn about our Editorial Process Updated on February 27, 2020 Conjugating the German modal verbs is an important part of learning the language. The tables below show how to conjugate three modal verbs, dürfen, können, and mögen, including examples of how they are used in sample modal sentences and expressions. There are actually six modal verbs in German: Dürfen> may, be permitted Können > can, be ableMögen > like Müssen > must, have toSollen > should, ought to Wollen > want to Modals derive their name from the fact that they always modify another verb. Additionally, they are always used in tandem with the infinitive form of another verb, as in, Ich muss morgen nach Frankfurt fahren (ich muss + fahren), which translates as "I have to go to Frankfurt tomorrow." Conjugating the Modals The modal verbs in the table are presented in all of their tenses. For all modals with umlauts, the simple past (preteriteImperfekt) has no umlaut, but the subjunctive form always has this diacritical mark. Durfen - be allowed/permitted, may PRÄSENS(Present) PRÄTERITUM(Preterite/Past) PERFEKT(Pres. Perfect) ich darfI may (am permitted) ich durfteI was allowed ich habe gedurft *I was allowed du darfstyou may du durftestyou were allowed du hast gedurft *you were allowed er/sie darfhe/she may er/sie durftehe/she was allowed er/sie hat gedurft *he/she was allowed wir/Sie/sie dürfenwe/you/they may wir/Sie/sie durftenwe/you/they were allowed wir/Sie/sie haben gedurft *we/you/they were allowed ihr dürftyou (pl.) may ihr durftetyou (pl.) were allowed ihr habt gedurft *you (pl.) were allowed * In the present perfect or past perfect tense with another verb, the double infinitive construction is used, as in the following examples: ihr habt sprechen dürfen = you (pl.) were allowed to speakich hatte sprechen dürfen = I had been allowed to speak Sample Modal Sentences for Dürfen Present: Darf ich rauchen? May I smoke?Past/Preterite: Er durfte das nicht. He wasn't permitted to do that.Pres. Perfect/Perfekt: Er hat dort nicht parken dürfen. He was not permitted to park there.Past Perfect/Plusquamperfekt: Wir hatten das damals machen dürfen. We had been allowed to do that back then.Future/Futur: Wir werden das machen dürfen. We will be allowed to do that.Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Wenn ich dürfte... If I were permitted... Sample Idiomatic Expressions for Dürfen Was darf es sein? May I help you? (store clerk)Wenn ich bitten darf. If you please. Können–be able, can PRÄSENS(Present) PRÄTERITUM(Preterite/Past) PERFEKT(Pres. Perfect) ich kannI can, am able ich konnteI could ich habe gekonnt *I could du kannstyou can du konntestyou could du hast gekonnt *you could er/sie kannhe/she can er/sie konntehe/she could er/sie hat gekonnt *he/she could wir/Sie/sie könnenwe/you/they can wir/Sie/sie konntenwe/you/they could wir/Sie/sie haben gekonnt *we/you/they could ihr könntyou (pl.) can ihr konntetyou (pl.) could ihr habt gekonnt *you (pl.) could * In the present perfect or past perfect tense with another verb, the double infinitive construction is used, as in the following examples: Wir haben schwimmen können. = We were able to swim.Ich hatte schwimmen können. = I had been able to swim. Sample Modal Sentences for Können Present: Er kann gut fahren. He can drive well.Past/Preterite: Er konnte sie nicht leiden. He couldn't stand her.Pres. Perfect/Perfekt: Er hat sie nicht leiden können. He couldn't stand her.Past Perfect/Plusquamperfekt: Er hatte sie nicht leiden können. He had not been able to stand her.Future/Futur: Er wird sie nicht leiden können. He won't be able to stand her.Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Wenn ich ihn nur leiden könnte... If I could only stand him... Sample Idiomatic Expressions for Können Sie könnten sich irren. You could be mistaken.Das kann man wohl sagen. You can say that again.Er kann Deutsch. He knows German. ("can German")Er kann Sie jetzt sprechen. He can see you now. (doctor, dentist) Mögen - like, want, may PRÄSENS(Present) PRÄTERITUM(Preterite/Past) PERFEKT(Pres. Perfect) ich magI like ich mochteI liked ich habe gemocht *I liked du magstyou like du mochtestyou liked du hast gemocht *you liked er/sie maghe/she likes er/sie mochtehe/she liked er/sie hat gemocht *he/she liked wir/Sie/sie mögenwe/you/they like wir/Sie/sie mochtenwe/you/they liked wir/Sie/sie haben gemocht *we/you/they liked ihr mögtyou (pl.) like ihr mochtetyou (pl.) could ihr habt gemocht *you (pl.) could * In the present perfect or past perfect tense with another verb, the double infinitive construction is used, as in the following examples: Wir haben schwimmen mögen. = We liked to swimIch hatte schwimmen mögen. = I had liked to swim mögen is often used in its subjunctive (möchte) "would like" form:Ich möchte lieber Kaffee (haben). = I would rather have coffee.Wir möchten ins Kino. = We'd like to go to the movies. Sample Modal Sentences for Mögen Present: Er mag die Suppe. He likes the soup.Past/Preterite: Er mochte die Stadt nicht. He didn't like the city.Pres. Perfect/Perfekt: Er hat das Essen nicht gemocht. He didn't like the food.Future/Futur: Er wird das schon mögen. He'll like that.Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Ja, er möchte Wein. Yes, he'd like (some) wine.Subjunctive/Konjunktiv: Ich möchte... I would like... Sample Idiomatic Expressions for Mögen: Das mag wohl sein. That well may be. / That may be so.Das mag der Himmel verhütten! Heaven forbid!Er mag/mochte etwa 1,3 Meter groß sein. He must be/must have been about 1.3 meters tall. Cite this Article Format mla apa chicago Your Citation Flippo, Hyde. "German Modal Verbs: Conjugation of 'Duerfen,' 'Koennen,' and 'Moegen'." ThoughtCo, Apr. 5, 2023, thoughtco.com/modal-verbs-conjugation-duerfen-koennen-moegen-4069875. Flippo, Hyde. (2023, April 5). German Modal Verbs: Conjugation of 'Duerfen,' 'Koennen,' and 'Moegen'. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/modal-verbs-conjugation-duerfen-koennen-moegen-4069875 Flippo, Hyde. "German Modal Verbs: Conjugation of 'Duerfen,' 'Koennen,' and 'Moegen'." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/modal-verbs-conjugation-duerfen-koennen-moegen-4069875 (accessed June 2, 2023). copy citation By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies