LESSON 28

MODALVERBEN / MODAL VERBS - II

OBJECTIVE

 Revision of Modal verbs

 Introduction to modal verb ‘dürfen’ and ‘müssen’ and their meanings and applications.

SUMMARY

This session would be the continuation of the last session, where the concept of modal verbs was
introduced. In the previous session, the modal verb ‘können’ was discussed. In this session, two
modal verbs ‘dürfen’ and ‘müssen’ would be discussed. We would focus on the various meanings
and applications of these two modal verbs. Also, with the help of suitable examples and exercises
these verbs would be discussed in a detailed manner.

TEXT

In the previous session, we already discussed the various features of modal verbs. Also, we discussed
the modal verb ‘können’ and with the help of examples and exercises illustrated its various
meanings and applications. In this lesson, which is divided into two segments, modal verbs ‘dürfen’
and ‘müssen’ would be discussed in the first and second segment respectively.

DÜRFEN

Broadly, ‘dürfen’ has got following meanings:

 die Erlaubnis – permission

 das Verbot – prohibition
 höfliche Frage – polite question / enquiry

In the below given table, the conjugation of modal verb ‘dürfen’ is shown. Like the previous verb
‘können’, here also the conjugated forms of ‘dürfen’ are same for 1. Person and 3. Person singular
pronouns. Also, the letter ‘ü’ is not present with pronouns ‘ich, du & er/sie/es’.
ich darf wir dürfen
du darfst ihr dürft
SINGULAR PLURAL
er/sie/es darf sie dürfen
Sie dürfen Sie dürfen

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In the following sentences, different meanings of the verb ‘dürfen’ are illustrated.

 die Erlaubnis – permission

Papa, darf ich ins Kino gehen?

Here the verb ‘dürfen’ is associated in the context of seeking permission to do something. The
speaker is trying to seek permission from his/her father to go to the cinema.

 das Verbot – prohibition

Hier dürfen Sie nicht rauchen.

In this sentence, ‘dürfen’ means that a certain activity is not allowed or it is prohibited. Here, the
speaker is telling or informing a person that he/she is not allowed / permitted to smoke.

 höfliche Frage – polite question / enquiry

Darf ich hier bleiben?

In this sentence, ‘dürfen’ is used to ask a polite question. It may have a similarity with the context of
permission. However, it may appear that the speaker is seeking permission. This is applicable in
certain contexts. It is important to remember that certain modal verbs may appear to have similar
meanings or they even may overlap in contexts.
MÜSSEN

The modal verb ‘müssen’ has got three contextual meanings:

 die Notwendigkeit – necessity, requirement

 der Befehl – order, command
 die Pflicht – obligation, duty

In the below given table, the conjugation of modal verb ‘müssen’ is shown. Like the previous verbs
‘können’ and ‘dürfen’, here also the conjugated forms of ‘müssen’ are same for 1. Person and 3.
Person singular pronouns. Also, the letter ‘ü’ is absent with pronouns ‘ich, du & er/sie/es’.
ich muss wir müssen
du musst ihr müsst
SINGULAR PLURAL
er/sie/es muss sie müssen
Sie müssen Sie müssen

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In the following sentences, the meanings of ‘müssen’ in various contexts are illustrated.

 die Notwendigkeit – necessity, requirement

Ich habe einen Test. Ich muss lernen.

In this sentence, the modal verb ‘müssen’ is used to emphasise a necessity or a requirement, which
cannot be overlooked. Here, the speaker intends to say that he/she must learn for the test. This
statement shows that it is compulsory for the speaker to prepare for the test and there is no
alternative available to him/her.

 der Befehl – order, command

Ihr müsst arbeiten

In this sentence, the speaker is talking to a group of people informally and giving them an order or a
command, which means that the people have to listen to the speaker and do the work as required
by the speaker.

 die Pflicht – obligation, duty

Er muss im Büro lange bleiben.

In this sentence, the person has the obligation to remain in the office for long, which could mean
that also after the regular office / working hours. This sentence shows the meaning of ‘müssen’ as a
verb, which focuses on obligation or duty, which must be done. This contextual meaning may
overlap with the other meanings of ‘müssen’.

As mentioned earlier, with different modal verbs, contexts and meanings may appear similar or
overlap with each other. As such, modal verbs have to be used quite carefully in a given context in
order to communicate the desired meaning with the appropriate modal verb in an appropriate
context.

CASE STUDY – This lesson does not require any case study.

FAQs

Q: Can modal verbs ‘dürfen’ and ‘müssen’ exist without the infinitive verb?
A: Yes, these modal verbs can exist without another verb. However, that is only possible in certain
contexts. Otherwise, they require an infinitive verb at the end.

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Q: Are there additional meanings for the modal verbs ‘dürfen’ and ‘müssen’?
A: Yes, these verbs can take different forms of meaning, depending on the context. Also, they may
overlap each other in terms of meanings and contexts.
ASSIGNMENT

1. Please revise the contents of the video and the conjugation pattern for the modal verb ‘dürfen’
and ‘müssen’.
2. Please categorise these sentences with modal verb ‘dürfen’ and ‘müssen’ into their respective
categories as discussed in this lesson.
a) Ich muss für den Test lernen.
b) Darf ich hier mein Auto parken?
c) Er muss viel arbeiten.
d) Ich darf nicht ins Kino gehen.

QUIZ - Choose the correct response from the given options.

1. Hier ______ Sie nicht laut sprechen.

a) dürfen
b) dürft
c) darfst
d) darf

2. ______ ich am Wochenende meine Freunde nach Hause einladen?

a) Darf
b) Darfst
c) Dürft
d) Dürften

3. Wir _______ heute in den Zirkus gehen.

a) darfst
b) dürfen
c) dürftet
d) darf

4. Entschuldigen Sie, ________ ich hereinkommen?

a) darf
b) darftst
c) dürftet
d) darftet

5. Ihr ________ uns nicht besuchen.

a) darf
b) dürft
c) darfst
d) dürfen

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6. Ihr________ noch viel für den Test lernen.
a) musst
b) müsst
c) muss
d) müssten

7. Ich _______ morgen früh aufstehen.

a) muss
b) müssen
c) müsse
d) müsstet

8. Der Arzt sagt, mein Vater ______ jeden Tag die Tabletten nehmen.
a) müssen
b) müsstest
c) musst
d) muss

9. Warum ________ ihr hier länger bleiben?

a) musst
b) müsstet
c) müssten
d) müsst

10. Es regnet. Ich______ nach Hause gehen.

a) muss
b) müssten
c) musst
d) müsstet

TUTORIALS
https://www.dw.com/downloads/36252390/modalverb-drfenen.pdf
https://learngerman.dw.com/en/modal-verbs/gr-38303871
http://joycep.myweb.port.ac.uk/abinitio/chap10-13.html

LINKS
https://www.germanveryeasy.com/modal-verbs#Duerfen
https://www.germanveryeasy.com/modal-verbs#Muessen
https://www.dw.com/downloads/36252376/modalverben-mchten-knnen-mssenen.pdf

REFERENCES
Funk, H. Studio d. A1, Cornelsen, Berlin / Goyal Saab, Delhi

GLOSSARY

der Befehl – order, command

die Erlaubnis – permission

die Pflicht – obligation, duty
die Notwendigkeit – necessity, requirement
die Tabletten – tablets (plural)

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die Woche – week

das Verbot – prohibition, ban

das Handy – mobile phone
das Krankenhaus – hospital
eine höfliche Frage – a polite question, enquiry

helfen – to help
parken – to park
mitkommen – to come along
sprechen – to speak
bleiben – to stay. to remain
aufräumen – to clean
einsteigen – to get inside a bus, train, vehicle etc.
rauchen – to smoke
hereinkommen – to enter

laut – loudly
lange – long

im Unterricht – in the class

am Handy – over the phone
im Krankenhaus – in the hospital
für den Test – for the test
es regnet – it is raining
jeden Tag – daily, every day