Modal verbs show the attitude of the subject towards the action, e.g. the subject can, is able to, is supposed to, wants to or must do the action, e.g.
Er kann eine Messe besuchen. (He can visit a trade fair.) Wir sollen eine Messe besuchen. (We are supposed to visit a trade fair.) Sie möchte eine Messe besuchen. (She would like to visit a trade fair.) Ich muss eine Messe besuchen. (I must visit a trade fair. / I have to visit a trade fair.)
The modal verbs wollen, müssen, sollen, können, dürfen and “möchten” (the conditional of mögen) are normally used with another verb in the infinitive (without zu) which goes to the end of the clause, e.g.
Ich will jetzt gehen. (I want to go now.) Er muss ein Praktikum machen. (He has to do a work placement.) Wann sollst du da sein? (When are you supposed to be there?) Sie kann das Treffen organisieren. (She can organise the meeting.) Darf ich das haben? (May I have that?) Wir möchten den Film sehen. (We would like to see the movie.)
Sometimes this other verb can be dropped if the meaning is already clear from the context, e.g.
Willst du keine Hilfe [haben]? (You don’t want [to have] any help?) Er will keine Sahne [essen]. (He doesn’t want [to eat] any cream.)
Modal verbs may also be used without another verb in the infinitive if a verb of motion (to go [gehen], to go/drive [fahren], to fly [fliegen]) or the idea of to do (machen, tun) is clearly understood, e.g.
Er muss jetzt nach Hause [gehen]. (He has to go home now.) Im Sommer möchte sie nach Deutschland [fahren/fliegen]. (In summer she wants to go/fly to Germany.) Nein, ich kann das alleine [machen]. (No, I can do this by myself.)
mögen is mainly used with a noun or a pronoun, e.g.
Er mag seine Chefin. (He likes his boss.) Wir mögen die neue Kantine. (We like the new canteen.) Sie mag die Musik von Debussy. (She likes the music of Debussy.) Er mag sie. (He likes her.)
können is also used to express the idea of knowing a language or knowing how do to something, e.g.
Er kann Deutsch. (He knows German [how to speak and read it].) Sie kann gut Englisch. (She has a good command of English.)
Können Sie Auto fahren? (Do you know how to drive?) Sie kann schwimmen. (She knows how to swim. / She can swim.)
Modal verbs in the present tense & the conditional form of "mögen":
Modal verbs in the simple past tense:
Modal verbs in the subjunctive II:
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