Chapter in 30 Seconds
Master the art of expressing wishes, rules, and advice using German modal verbs.
- Construct sentences using modal verbs without the particle 'zu'.
- Express personal desires and plans using 'wollen'.
- Navigate permissions and advice using 'dürfen' and 'sollen'.
Speak with purpose: express wishes, rules, and advice.
学べること
Hey, ready to unlock some super useful German? You already know the basics, and now we're going to take your speaking skills up a notch! In this chapter, 'Rules, Wishes, and Advice,' you'll dive into the world of German modal verbs. Specifically, you'll master how to use *wollen*, *dürfen*, and *sollen* like a native speaker. Ever wanted to say
I really want to visit the Brandenburg Gate!or
Can I sit here?or
You should definitely try this currywurst!? This chapter is your key! We'll show you the magic trick of dropping 'zu' after these modal verbs and how they always send the main action verb to the very end of the sentence – it's a pattern you'll quickly get the hang of. You'll learn how *wollen* helps you express your firmest plans and desires, even noticing its cool little vowel change in the singular form. Then, *dürfen* will empower you to talk about permissions and what's allowed (or strictly *nicht dürfen*, what's forbidden!), which is super handy when you're navigating new places or asking for something politely. Finally, *sollen* will become your go-to for giving friendly advice, recommendations, or gently relaying instructions from others without sounding bossy. By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to articulate your wishes, understand rules, and offer advice confidently, making your German conversations much more dynamic and natural!
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助動詞の後の 'zu' は不要 (können, wollen, müssen)助動詞を使う時は、「zu」はなし！動詞は文の «最後» に置くのがポイントだよ。
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意志と計画：助動詞 'wollen' (したい・するつもり)「wollen」はしっかりした計画や強い意図に使うよ。単数形では「o」が「i」に変わることを覚えておこう！
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助動詞 dürfen：許可と規則 (dürfen)「dürfen」は「許可」、「nicht dürfen」は「禁止」を表します。そして、本動詞はいつも文の「最後」にくることを覚えておきましょう！
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アドバイスと伝言・噂の表現 (sollen)「sollen」は、強い言い方にならずに、人からの「期待」や「おすすめ」、「命令」を伝えるときに使います。
Learning Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
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By the end you will be able to: Use modal verbs to correctly place the infinitive verb at the end of a sentence.
チャプターガイド
Overview
Hey there, amazing A2 German learner! Ready to supercharge your conversational skills? You've already built a solid foundation, and now it's time to unlock some truly powerful ways to express yourself in German.
This chapter,
Rules, Wishes, and Advice,is your key to doing just that. We're diving deep into some incredibly useful German grammar A2 topics, focusing on three essential modal verbs: wollen, dürfen, and sollen.
These verbs are absolute game-changers because they let you talk about what you *want* to do, what you *are allowed* to do, and what you *should* do. Imagine being able to confidently say,
I want to visit the Brandenburg Gate!or politely ask,
May I sit here?or even offer a friendly recommendation like,
You should definitely try this Currywurst!By mastering these verbs, your German will sound much more natural and dynamic, moving you closer to fluent communication. Understanding these common structures is a crucial step in your German language learning journey, making everyday interactions smoother and more effective.
You'll quickly get the hang of how these modal verbs work their magic on sentence structure, sending the main action verb to the very end. This pattern is a fundamental aspect of German sentence structure that you'll encounter again and again. So, let's get started and make your German more expressive and precise!
How This Grammar Works
At the heart of this chapter are three important modal verbs: wollen, dürfen, and sollen. Modal verbs in German are special because they always work with another verb, which expresses the main action. The coolest trick they perform is sending that main action verb (in its infinitive form) all the way to the end of the sentence.
Plus, there's a golden rule: you *never* use zu before the infinitive verb when a modal verb is present! This applies to all modal verbs, including können (to be able to), müssen (to have to), and mögen (to like), which you might have already encountered.
No 'zu' After Modal Verbs
This is a straightforward rule: when you use a modal verb, you simply drop zu before the second verb.
* ✗ Ich will zu essen. (I want to eat.)
* ✓ Ich will essen. (I want to eat.)
* ✗ Du sollst zu lernen. (You should learn.)
* ✓ Du sollst lernen. (You should learn.)
Wanting and Planning: The Verb 'wollen'
Wollen expresses a strong desire or a firm intention – what you *really* want to do. It's more direct than möchten (would like to). Pay attention to its singular conjugations, which have a vowel change:
* Ich will (I want)
* Du willst (You want)
* Er/Sie/Es will (He/She/It wants)
* Wir wollen (We want)
* Ihr wollt (You all want)
* Sie/sie wollen (They/You (formal) want)
* Example: Ich will nach Berlin fahren. (I want to drive to Berlin.)
* Example: Was wollt ihr heute Abend machen? (What do you all want to do tonight?)
The Modal Verb dürfen: Permissions & Rules
Dürfen is all about permission and what is allowed or forbidden. It’s perfect for asking politely or stating rules.
* Ich darf (I am allowed to)
* Du darfst (You are allowed to)
* Er/Sie/Es darf (He/She/It is allowed to)
* Wir dürfen (We are allowed to)
* Ihr dürft (You all are allowed to)
* Sie/sie dürfen (They/You (formal) are allowed to)
* Example: Darf ich hier sitzen? (May I sit here?)
* Example: Hier darf man nicht rauchen. (One is not allowed to smoke here.)
Giving Advice and Following Orders (sollen)
Sollen is used for giving advice, making recommendations, or relaying instructions or obligations from someone else (without necessarily being a strict command). It's softer than müssen (to have to).
* Ich soll (I should/am supposed to)
* Du sollst (You should/are supposed to)
* Er/Sie/Es soll (He/She/It should/is supposed to)
* Wir sollen (We should/are supposed to)
* Ihr sollt (You all should/are supposed to)
* Sie/sie sollen (They/You (formal) should/are supposed to)
* Example: Du sollst mehr Wasser trinken. (You should drink more water.)
* Example: Meine Mutter sagt, ich soll meine Hausaufgaben machen. (My mother says I should do my homework.)
Common Mistakes
- 1✗ Ich will zu gehen.
✓ Ich will gehen. (I want to go.)
*Explanation:* Remember, modal verbs like wollen, dürfen, and sollen are special – they *never* take zu before the infinitive verb that follows them.
- 1✗ Du sollst das Buch lesen.
✓ Du sollst das Buch lesen. (You should read the book.)
*Explanation:* While the example sentence is grammatically correct as is, a common mistake is placing the main verb *before* the end of the sentence when there are other elements. For example:
✗ Ich will nach Hause gehen. (I want to go home.) - This is correct.
✗ Ich will gehen nach Hause. - This is incorrect.
✓ Ich will nach Hause gehen. (I want to go home.)
*Explanation:* The main verb (gehen) always goes to the very end of the sentence when used with a modal verb like wollen.
- 1✗ Er wolle in den Park gehen.
✓ Er will in den Park gehen. (He wants to go to the park.)
*Explanation:* Be careful with the irregular conjugations of wollen in the singular forms: ich will, du willst, er/sie/es will. The vowel changes from 'o' to 'i'.
Real Conversations
A
A
Was willst du am Wochenende machen? (What do you want to do on the weekend?)
B
B
Ich will meine Freunde treffen und ins Kino gehen. (I want to meet my friends and go to the cinema.)
A
A
Entschuldigen Sie, darf ich hier kurz mein Gepäck abstellen? (Excuse me, may I briefly put my luggage here?)
B
B
Ja, das dürfen Sie gern machen. (Yes, you may certainly do that.)
A
A
Ich habe Kopfschmerzen. (I have a headache.)
B
B
Du sollst einen Tee trinken und dich ausruhen. (You should drink a tea and rest.)
Quick FAQ
Q
How do German modal verbs affect sentence structure?
Modal verbs send the main action verb (in its infinitive form) to the very end of the sentence.
Q
What's the main difference between wollen and möchten for A2 German learners?
Wollen expresses a strong desire or firm intention (I want to), while möchten is a more polite and softer expression of desire (
I would like to).
Q
Can dürfen be used for asking permission politely in German?
Yes, absolutely! Using dürfen is the standard and most polite way to ask for permission in German.
Q
When should I use sollen instead of müssen in German grammar?
Sollen is for advice, recommendations, or relaying someone else's request/instruction (you *should* do it). Müssen expresses a stronger, undeniable obligation or necessity (you *must* do it).
Cultural Context
In German-speaking cultures, these modal verbs are used constantly in daily life. Wollen is direct and expresses clear intent. While directness is common, dürfen provides a polite way to navigate social rules and ask for favors, which is appreciated.
Sollen is excellent for offering friendly advice without sounding demanding, which aligns with a general preference for clear, but not overly aggressive, communication.
重要な例文 (8)
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ヒントとコツ (4)
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英語の落とし穴に注意！
英語の「want to」や「have to」の「to」につられて、「zu」を入れちゃわないように気をつけて！ドイツ語の助動詞はシンプルだよ。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 助動詞の後の 'zu' は不要 (können, wollen, müssen)
Ich will schlafen. はOKだけど Ich will zu schlafen.は間違い！
⚠️
丁寧さの落とし穴
レストランで「wollen」を使うと、命令しているように聞こえちゃうかも。「Der Kellner」に注文するときは、「möchten」を使うのが安全だよ。そうしないと、特別な「怒れるシェフ」サービスが来るかもね！
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 意志と計画：助動詞 'wollen' (したい・するつもり)
🎯
許可のテスト
「können」と「dürfen」のどちらを使うか迷ったら、「誰かから許可されている？」「規則がある？」と考えてみましょう。イエスなら「dürfen」です。「Darf ich hier rauchen?」
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 助動詞 dürfen：許可と規則 (dürfen)
⚠️
👻ゴーストエンディング👻
「er/sie/es soll」に「-t」をつけないでくださいね！これはよくある間違いです。いつも「er soll」ですよ。「Er soll das Video löschen.」
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アドバイスと伝言・噂の表現 (sollen)
重要な語彙 (6)
wollen
to want
dürfen
to be allowed to
sollen
should/to be supposed to
die Regel (f)
the rule
der Ratschlag (m)
the piece of advice
besuchen
to visit
Real-World Preview
map-pin
At the Brandenburg Gate
Review Summary
- Subject + Modal + ... + Infinitive
- Ich will, du willst, er/sie/es will
- Ich darf, du darfst, er/sie/es darf
- Ich soll, du sollst, er/sie/es soll
よくある間違い
You added 'zu', but modal verbs act like magnets that pull the infinitive verb directly without 'zu'.
Wrong:
Ich will zu essen.
正解:
Ich will essen.
The main verb 'essen' must go to the very end of the sentence.
Wrong:
Ich will essen Pizza.
正解:
Ich will Pizza essen.
Check your conjugation! It is 'du sollst', not 'du sollt'.
Wrong:
Du sollt gehen.
正解:
Du sollst gehen.
このチャプターのルール (4)
Next Steps
You have done an amazing job! Keep practicing these modals, and you will sound like a local in no time.
Write 5 sentences about your school or work rules.
クイック練習 (10)
文法的に正しい文を選んでください。
'Can you help me?' の一番良いドイツ語訳を選んでください。
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Kannst du mir helfen?
「zu」は不要だよ。メインの動詞「helfen」は正しく文末に置かれているね。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 助動詞の後の 'zu' は不要 (können, wollen, müssen)
「sollen」の正しい形を埋めましょう。
Was ___ ich jetzt machen? (What should I do now?)
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: soll
「ich」の場合、助動詞「sollen」は「soll」になります。語尾をつけないのを覚えておきましょう！
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アドバイスと伝言・噂の表現 (sollen)
文の間違いを見つけましょう。
Find and fix the mistake:
Er sollt seine Hausaufgaben machen.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Er soll seine Hausaufgaben machen.
3人称単数（er/sie/es）の「sollen」は「soll」です。「-t」の語尾はつきません。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アドバイスと伝言・噂の表現 (sollen)
正しい形を穴埋めしよう。
Wir wollen morgen nach Berlin ___.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fahren
メインの動詞は、「zu」なしの不定詞の形で文末に来るよ。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 助動詞の後の 'zu' は不要 (können, wollen, müssen)
空欄を埋めましょう
Ich ___ heute ins Kino gehen.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: darf
主語は「Ich」（単数）なので、母音が「ü」から「a」に変わります。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 助動詞 dürfen：許可と規則 (dürfen)
正しい文を選びましょう
文法的に正しい質問を選びましょう:
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Darf ich mein Handy hier laden?
ドイツ語の話法の助動詞の文では、本動詞（laden）は必ず文の最後に置かれます。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 助動詞 dürfen：許可と規則 (dürfen)
文法的に正しい文章を選びましょう。
Pick the right order for the verbs.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Du sollst heute Deutsch lernen.
助動詞「sollst」は2番目の位置に来て、動詞の原形「lernen」は文の最後にきます。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: アドバイスと伝言・噂の表現 (sollen)
文中の間違いを見つけて訂正してください。
Find and fix the mistake:
Er willt heute nicht arbeiten.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Er will heute nicht arbeiten.
「wollen」の三人称単数形（「er/sie/es」）は「will」です。「-t」の語尾は付きません。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 意志と計画：助動詞 'wollen' (したい・するつもり)
「wollen」の正しい形を空欄に入れてください。
Ich ____ am Wochenende nach Berlin fahren.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: will
「ich」の形では、母音が「o」から「i」に変わり、語尾は付きません。なので「will」が正しいです。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 意志と計画：助動詞 'wollen' (したい・するつもり)
この文の間違いを見つけて直そう！
Find and fix the mistake:
Ich muss heute zu arbeiten.
✓ Correct!
✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ich muss heute arbeiten.
「müssen」のような助動詞は、メインの動詞の前に「zu」を置かないよ。
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 助動詞の後の 'zu' は不要 (können, wollen, müssen)
Score: /10
よくある質問 (6)
これは言語の進化の違いなんだ。「ドイツ語の助動詞は、それ自体が文法的な役割を果たすから、動詞を元の形のまま使うことができるんだよ。
Ich kann schwimmen.厳密には「mögen」の接続法なんだけど、A2レベルでは助動詞と全く同じように扱って大丈夫！「zu」は使わないよ。
Ich möchte schlafen.
「wollen」は強い意図や計画（「〜したい/するつもりだ」）を表すよ。「möchten」は丁寧な表現（「〜したいのですが」）で、お願いごとやレストランでの注文に使うんだよ。
これはドイツ語の助動詞によく見られる特徴なんだ。単数形では母音の変化が起きることが多いよ。「単数形は『i』、複数形は『o』」って考えてみて！
「dürfen」は許可（〜してもいいですか？）を表し、「können」は身体的または精神的な能力（〜できますか？）を表します。例えば、「Ich kann Klavier spielen」（私はピアノが弾けます）と「Ich darf hier Klavier spielen」（ここでピアノを弾いてもいいです）の違いですね。
はい、単数形（ich, du, er/sie/es）では常に「ü」が「a」に変わります。複数形では「ü」に戻ります。
