Modal Auxiliaries

Present Tense

*Infinitive form is used when it is immediately preceded by an infinitive.

	Objective (indicates the attitude of the subject or of an implied agent)	Subjective (indicates the attitude of the speaker toward the content of the message)
dürfen	may, to be allowed to (in the neg., a prohibition)	In the subjunctive, the speaker suggests an uncertain assumption.
können	can, to be able to, to know (a language or how to do sth)	In the subjunctive, the speaker suggests the possibility of sth.
mögen	to like, want, may	The speaker infers sth or considers sth possible.
müssen	must, to have to	The speaker knows something is true based on evidence.
sollen	should, to be supposed to, ought, to be expected to	The speaker does not know whether something is true, but other people say it is.
wollen	to want to, intend to (indicates the intention or desire)	The speaker doubts the truth of the assertion.

Wann sollen wir in die Stadt gehen?	When should we go to town?
Morgen sollen wir in die Stadt gehen.	We are supposed to go to town tomorrow.
Ich möchte mit dir gehen, aber ich darf nicht.	I would like to go with you, but I’m not allowed to.
Wenn du mit uns gehen willst, darfst du heute Abend meine Freundin anrufen.	If you want to go with us, you may call my friend this evening.
Er wollte mit uns gehen, aber er konnte nicht. Er hatte seinen Rucksack verloren und hatte deshalb kein Geld dabei.	He wanted to go with us, but he couldn’t. He had lost his backpack and therefore had no money with him.
Er hätte mit uns gehen können, aber er hat vergessen, mit uns zu treffen.	He could have gone with us, but he forgot to meet us.
Obwohl er mit uns hätte gehen können, entschied er sich stattdessen, allein zu Hause zu bleiben.	Although he could have gone with, he decided instead to stay home alone.