Modals: müssen and können
The verb 'müssen'
This is the present tense pattern for müssen – to have to, or must.
| German | English |
| ich muss | I have to, I must |
| du musst | you have to, you must (singular, informal) |
| er muss | he has to, he must |
| sie muss | she has to, she must |
| es muss | it has to, it must |
| wir müssen | we have to, we must |
| ihr müsst | you have to, you must (plural, informal) |
| Sie müssen | you have to, you must (singular or plural, formal) |
| sie müssen | they have to, they must |
| German | ich muss |
|---|---|
| English | I have to, I must |
| German | du musst |
|---|---|
| English | you have to, you must (singular, informal) |
| German | er muss |
|---|---|
| English | he has to, he must |
| German | sie muss |
|---|---|
| English | she has to, she must |
| German | es muss |
|---|---|
| English | it has to, it must |
| German | wir müssen |
|---|---|
| English | we have to, we must |
| German | ihr müsst |
|---|---|
| English | you have to, you must (plural, informal) |
| German | Sie müssen |
|---|---|
| English | you have to, you must (singular or plural, formal) |
| German | sie müssen |
|---|---|
| English | they have to, they must |
Ach! Ich muss schwimmen! – Ugh! I have to swim!
Hilfe! Ich muss fliehen!/Ich muss weg! – Help! I must get away!
Ruhe, bitte! Wir müssen ruhig sein. – Silence please! We must be quiet.
Ich muss hier warten. – I must wait here.
Question
So how would you say…?
- they must
- she must
- he has to
- sie müssen
- sie muss
- er muss
The verb 'können'
Now look at the pattern for können - to be able to, or can. Again, the first person singular form (ich) and the third person singular form (er, sie, es) are the same. Remember that man will behave in the same way as the third person singular forms.
| German | English |
| ich kann | I am able to, I can |
| du kannst | you are able to, you can (singular, informal) |
| er kann | he is able to, he can |
| sie kann | she is able to, she can |
| es kann | it is able to, it can |
| wir können | we are able to, we can |
| ihr könnt | you are able to, you can (plural, informal) |
| Sie können | you are able to, you can (singular or plural, formal) |
| sie können | they are able to, they can |
| German | ich kann |
|---|---|
| English | I am able to, I can |
| German | du kannst |
|---|---|
| English | you are able to, you can (singular, informal) |
| German | er kann |
|---|---|
| English | he is able to, he can |
| German | sie kann |
|---|---|
| English | she is able to, she can |
| German | es kann |
|---|---|
| English | it is able to, it can |
| German | wir können |
|---|---|
| English | we are able to, we can |
| German | ihr könnt |
|---|---|
| English | you are able to, you can (plural, informal) |
| German | Sie können |
|---|---|
| English | you are able to, you can (singular or plural, formal) |
| German | sie können |
|---|---|
| English | they are able to, they can |
Ich kann fliegen. – I can fly.
Er kann jonglieren. – He can juggle.
Question
What are these phrases in German?
- we can
- you can (formal)
- I am able to
- wir können
- Sie können
- ich kann
Did you know?
There's a German Kinderlied – children's song – that uses the modal verb müssen:
Wenn sich die Igel küssen, dann müssen, müssen, müssen sie ganz behutsam sein.
It means 'when hedgehogs kiss each other, they must, must, must be really careful.'
Sounds like sage advice.
