Langvie / German grammar / German modal verbs können and wollen
German modal verbs können and wollen.
Modal verbs change the meaning of an action by expressing ability, permission, or intention. You will use them constantly when talking about what you can, want, or would like to do.
Present tense of können and wollen
In the singular, both verbs change their stem vowel, and the forms for ich and er, sie, es take no ending at all. In the plural, they keep their regular vowel and take standard verb endings.
| Person | können (can) | wollen (to want) |
|---|---|---|
| ich | kann | will |
| du | kannst | willst |
| er, sie, es | kann | will |
| wir | können | wollen |
| ihr | könnt | wollt |
| sie, Sie | können | wollen |
- Ich kann den Arzt anrufen.I can call the doctor.
- Wir wollen ein Medikament kaufen.We want to buy a medicine.
The sentence bracket
The conjugated modal verb sits in position 2, while the main verb moves to the very end of the clause in the infinitive. All information such as time, objects, and negations goes in the middle between the two verbs.
| Position 1 | Position 2 (modal) | Middle | End (infinitive) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ich | kann | heute nicht | kommen |
| Frau Meier | will | einen Termin | machen |
| Wir | können | die e-card | holen |
- Ich kann heute nicht kommen.I cannot come today.
- Anna will einen Termin machen.Anna wants to make an appointment.
Polite wishes with möchten
The verb möchten builds the exact same bracket as können and wollen. It is the polite way to express a wish or what you would like to do.
| Position 1 | Position 2 (möchten) | Middle | End (infinitive) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ich | möchte | ein Rezept | holen |
| Herr Klein | möchte | die Ordination | sehen |
- Ich möchte jetzt schlafen.I would like to sleep now.
- Ich möchte das Rezept bezahlen.I would like to pay for the prescription.
Omitting the infinitive
When the action or destination is completely clear from the situation, German often drops the infinitive at the end. This is common when expressing general ability or heading toward a place.
| Sentence | Meaning | Omitted verb |
|---|---|---|
| Ich kann das. | I can do that. | machen |
| Er will ins Zentrum. | He wants to go to the center. | fahren / gehen |
- Sie will in die Ordination.She wants to go to the doctor's office.
- Er will in die Apotheke.He wants to go to the pharmacy.
Exceptions to remember
- The first and third person singular never take a t ending. Er will einen Termin.
- The second verb must stay in the infinitive and cannot be conjugated. Ich kann nicht schlafen.
- Do not confuse wollen with the English will, as wollen expresses a wish or intention. Ich will ein Medikament kaufen.
Practice it in the course
This rule is chapter 24 of 31 in the A1 German course in Langvie, after The German perfect tense with haben and before German modal verbs müssen, dürfen and sollen. In the app the chapter goes on with 8 exercises and a short spoken conversation with an AI partner, which opens with Können Sie heute arbeiten, oder sind Sie krank?
Choose the correct form of können. Der Arzt ___ heute nicht kommen. (kann / kannst / könnt)
kann. The third-person singular of können is kann. The doctor cannot come today.
Practice this rule in Langvie.
Chapter 24 of the A1 course, with exercises, cards and a conversation in German.