Modal verbs and their infinitives

In brief

German modal verbs express what someone can, must, may, or wants to do. The modal verb changes to match the subject; the other verb stays in its infinitive form and goes at the end of the sentence. Common modals include können (can), müssen (must), dürfen (may), and wollen (want to).

Form

Subject + conjugated modal verb + other information + infinitive at the end: Ich kann heute kommen. In the singular, learn forms such as ich kann, du kannst, er/sie kann; ich muss, du musst, er/sie muss.

Usage

• Use können for ability or possibility: Ich kann schwimmen.
• Use müssen for necessity and dürfen for permission.
• Use wollen to say what someone wants to do.

Examples

• Ich kann heute kommen. — I can come today.
• Du musst jetzt gehen. — You have to go now.
• Darf ich hier sitzen? — May I sit here?
• Wir wollen Pizza essen. — We want to eat pizza.

Common mistake

❌ Ich kann sprechen Deutsch.

✅ Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.

In German, the infinitive goes at the end of the clause after a modal verb.

Remember

The modal verb is conjugated; the second verb remains an infinitive at the end.