Mastering Modal Verbs in German

What You'll Master: All six modal verbs with full conjugation tables, the two-verb sentence structure, Accusative objects, negation rules, the critical muss nicht vs. darf nicht distinction, pronunciation with phonetics, cultural context, real-life scenarios, and the most common learner mistakes — with corrections. By the end, you'll use modals instinctively in conversation.

Why Modal Verbs Are the Heart of German Expression

Imagine you're standing at a crossroads in Berlin, trying to ask for directions. You don't just need vocabulary — you need to express possibility, obligation, and desire. Modal verbs are the linguistic tools that make this possible. Without them, your German sounds flat and robotic; with them, you suddenly have the power to say not just what is, but what can be, must be, should be, and wants to be.

German has six core modal verbs: können (can/to be able to), müssen (must/to have to), wollen (want to), dürfen (may/to be allowed to), sollen (should/to be supposed to), and mögen (to like). Each carries its own personality, its own cultural weight. Together, they form the backbone of everyday German communication — from polite requests at a café to firm obligations at work.

This lesson takes you from complete novice to confident user of all six modals. You'll learn exact conjugation patterns (including the quirky stem-vowel changes that trip up most beginners), understand how word order shifts when modals appear, and discover the cultural nuances that separate a natural German speaker from someone simply translating from English.

Quick Reference: All Six Modals at a Glance

Before diving into the detail, here is your complete cheat sheet. Return to this table anytime you need a fast reminder — the full breakdowns follow in each section below.

Modal	Meaning	ich / er form	wir / sie form	Core use
können	can / be able to	kann	können	Ability, possibility
müssen	must / have to	muss	müssen	Necessity, obligation
wollen	want to	will	wollen	Desire, intent
dürfen	may / be allowed to	darf	dürfen	Permission, prohibition
sollen	should / be supposed to	soll	sollen	External obligation
mögen	to like	mag	mögen	Preference, liking

Memory Pattern: Notice the pattern across every modal: the ich form and the er/sie/es form are always identical — and neither ever takes the regular -e ending that normal German verbs use. This is the unmistakable signature of a modal verb. If you see ich = er, you're looking at a modal.

The Six Modal Verbs: Personalities and Meanings

Before memorizing conjugation tables, it pays to understand each modal as having a distinct personality. Native speakers reach for different modals not just for grammatical reasons, but because each one carries emotional and social weight. Getting this feel right is what separates a fluent speaker from someone who is merely grammatically correct.

Können (can / to be able to) expresses ability or possibility. It's the most neutral and versatile of the six — your go-to modal when describing what someone is capable of doing. Ich kann Deutsch sprechen says something about your skill. It can also express general possibility: Das kann richtig sein (That can be correct).

Müssen (must / to have to) conveys necessity or strong obligation. It comes from an internal or external compulsion — a deadline, a duty, or a logical conclusion. Er muss das Buch lesen (He must read the book) carries urgency. Germans use müssen constantly for schedules and duties.

Wollen (want to) expresses desire or intent. It's direct and personal — sometimes almost too direct for English ears. Sie will ein Auto kaufen (She wants to buy a car) states a clear intention without softening. Germans use wollen without hesitation where English speakers might say "I'd like to."

Dürfen (may / to be allowed to) is the modal of permission. Culturally, this is enormously important in Germany, where rules and permissions are taken seriously. Wir dürfen hier spielen signals that someone has given explicit authorization. Its negative form — darf nicht — is a firm, unambiguous prohibition.

Sollen (should / to be supposed to) expresses obligation coming from an external source — someone else's expectation or instruction. Du sollst die Tür schließen means someone else has asked or required this. This distinguishes it sharply from müssen, which can arise from inner necessity.

Mögen (to like) expresses preference or liking. In present-tense usage it describes what someone enjoys: Ich mag die Blumen (I like the flowers). Its Subjunctive II form — möchten (would like) — is one of the most important words in everyday German, used for polite requests and ordering in shops and restaurants.

The Anatomy of a Modal Verb Sentence

Modal verbs follow a strict and elegant sentence structure. Once you internalize this pattern, you will never place words in the wrong order again. The rule is simple but non-negotiable, and it applies to every modal verb in every tense at this level.

The Two-Verb Rule

Every modal verb sentence in the present tense contains exactly two verbs: the modal verb (conjugated, in position 2) and a second verb in the infinitive form (unconjugated, at the very end of the sentence). Think of the modal as a bracket that holds the infinitive at arm's length, with everything else — objects, adverbs, time expressions — filling the space between them.

Position 1 (Subject)	Position 2 (Modal)	Middle (Objects, Adverbs)	End (Infinitive)
Ich	kann	Deutsch	sprechen.
Er	muss	das Buch	lesen.
Sie	will	ein Auto	kaufen.
Wir	dürfen	hier	spielen.
Du	sollst	die Tür	schließen.
Ich	mag	klassische Musik	hören.

Notice that the infinitive never changes. Whether the subject is ich, er, or wir, the infinitive stays in its base form. The modal verb alone carries all the conjugation work — the infinitive is just along for the ride.

Questions and Inverted Word Order

In yes/no questions, the modal moves to position 1 and the subject shifts to position 2, but the infinitive stays firmly at the end. This is a completely regular pattern — the infinitive never moves:

Kannst du mir helfen? — Can you help me? (Modal first, subject second, infinitive last.)

Darf ich fragen? — May I ask? (Same structure: modal → subject → infinitive.)

Willst du morgen ins Kino gehen? — Do you want to go to the cinema tomorrow?

Direct Objects and the Accusative Case

When a sentence includes a direct object, it slots between the modal and the infinitive. The direct object always takes the Accusative case — meaning masculine nouns change their article from der to den:

Ich will den Hund sehen. (I want to see the dog.) — den Hund is Accusative masculine. Compare: der Hund is Nominative (the dog as subject), but den Hund is Accusative (the dog as object).

Pro Tip: The Accusative only changes the article for masculine nouns (der → den). Feminine (die), neuter (das), and plural (die) stay the same. So when you're checking your modal sentences, only worry about masculine nouns.

Complete Conjugation Tables

Modal verbs are irregular in the singular forms. This is not arbitrary — it reflects the ancient Germanic Ablaut vowel-change pattern that has survived into modern German. Compare können (infinitive) with kann (singular): the vowel shifts entirely. This happens in four of the six modals. The plural forms, reassuringly, match the infinitive stem almost exactly.

Können — can / to be able to

Person	Form	Example sentence
ich	kann	Ich kann schwimmen. (I can swim.)
du	kannst	Du kannst gut kochen. (You can cook well.)
er/sie/es	kann	Er kann Klavier spielen. (He can play piano.)
wir	können	Wir können helfen. (We can help.)
ihr	könnt	Ihr könnt mitkommen. (You all can come along.)
sie/Sie	können	Sie können Deutsch sprechen. (They/You can speak German.)

Pro Tip: Watch out — ich will means "I want to," NOT "I will." This false friend trips up nearly every English speaker learning German. When you want to say "I will do something" in the sense of future, Germans often use the present tense or werden. Ich will always means desire, never future intention.

Müssen — must / to have to

Person	Form	Example sentence
ich	muss	Ich muss arbeiten. (I must work.)
du	musst	Du musst früh aufstehen. (You must get up early.)
er/sie/es	muss	Sie muss das Buch lesen. (She must read the book.)
wir	müssen	Wir müssen gehen. (We must go.)
ihr	müsst	Ihr müsst leise sein. (You all must be quiet.)
sie/Sie	müssen	Sie müssen warten. (They must wait.)

Wollen — want to

Person	Form	Example sentence
ich	will	Ich will lernen. (I want to learn.)
du	willst	Du willst ein Buch kaufen. (You want to buy a book.)
er/sie/es	will	Er will nach Berlin fahren. (He wants to drive to Berlin.)
wir	wollen	Wir wollen essen. (We want to eat.)
ihr	wollt	Ihr wollt spielen. (You all want to play.)
sie/Sie	wollen	Sie wollen kommen. (They want to come.)

Dürfen — may / to be allowed to

Person	Form	Example sentence
ich	darf	Ich darf hier parken. (I may park here.)
du	darfst	Du darfst fragen. (You may ask.)
er/sie/es	darf	Es darf nicht sein. (It must not be.)
wir	dürfen	Wir dürfen spielen. (We may play.)
ihr	dürft	Ihr dürft reinkommen. (You all may come in.)
sie/Sie	dürfen	Sie dürfen gehen. (They may go.)

Sollen — should / to be supposed to

Person	Form	Example sentence
ich	soll	Ich soll pünktlich sein. (I am supposed to be punctual.)
du	sollst	Du sollst die Tür schließen. (You should close the door.)
er/sie/es	soll	Er soll anrufen. (He is supposed to call.)
wir	sollen	Wir sollen helfen. (We are supposed to help.)
ihr	sollt	Ihr sollt ruhig sein. (You all should be quiet.)
sie/Sie	sollen	Sie sollen kommen. (They are supposed to come.)

Mögen — to like

Person	Form	Example sentence
ich	mag	Ich mag Kaffee. (I like coffee.)
du	magst	Du magst Musik. (You like music.)
er/sie/es	mag	Sie mag die Blumen. (She likes the flowers.)
wir	mögen	Wir mögen dieses Restaurant. (We like this restaurant.)
ihr	mögt	Ihr mögt klassische Musik. (You all like classical music.)
sie/Sie	mögen	Sie mögen Deutschland. (They like Germany.)

Unlike the other five modals, mögen in everyday present-tense speech rarely uses an infinitive — instead it takes a direct noun object: Ich mag Kaffee, not Ich mag Kaffee trinken (though the latter is also correct and adds emphasis). This makes mögen feel slightly different from the others in daily conversation.

Möchten: The Polite Cousin of Mögen

Möchten (would like) deserves its own dedicated section because it appears more frequently in everyday spoken German than almost any other modal form. Technically it is the Subjunctive II of mögen, but at this level treat it as a completely independent, extremely polite way to express a want or request. You will hear it in every restaurant, shop, hotel, and office in Germany.

Person	Möchten form	Example sentence
ich	möchte	Ich möchte ein Wasser, bitte. (I would like a water, please.)
du	möchtest	Was möchtest du trinken? (What would you like to drink?)
er/sie/es	möchte	Er möchte den Vertrag lesen. (He would like to read the contract.)
wir	möchten	Wir möchten bestellen. (We would like to order.)
ihr	möchtet	Möchtet ihr mitkommen? (Would you all like to come along?)
sie/Sie	möchten	Was möchten Sie? (What would you like?)

Cultural Tip: In Germany, using möchten instead of wollen is a significant and immediately noticed marker of politeness. Walking into a bakery and saying Ich will ein Brötchen sounds blunt, almost rude — like a demand. Ich möchte ein Brötchen, bitte is warm, socially fluent, and appropriate. This single switch will make a visible difference to how native speakers respond to you from your very first week in Germany.

Negation with Modal Verbs

Negating a modal verb sentence is structurally simple, but the choice between nicht and kein — and especially the choice between muss nicht and darf nicht — carries enormous meaning. Getting this wrong can cause genuine misunderstandings in real life.

Placing Nicht

In a modal sentence, nicht sits directly before the infinitive. The word order is: Subject → Modal → (Objects/Adverbs) → nicht → Infinitive:

Positive	Negative	Meaning
Ich kann kommen.	Ich kann nicht kommen.	I can / cannot come.
Er muss arbeiten.	Er muss nicht arbeiten.	He must work / doesn't have to work.
Sie darf rauchen.	Sie darf nicht rauchen.	She may smoke / may not smoke.
Wir sollen lernen.	Wir sollen nicht lernen.	We should / shouldn't learn.
Du willst bleiben.	Du willst nicht bleiben.	You want / don't want to stay.

The Critical Distinction: Muss Nicht vs. Darf Nicht

This is the single most important negation rule in the entire lesson. Confusing these two forms can change your meaning from "optional" to "forbidden" — a serious communication error:

Du musst nicht kommen. — "You don't have to come." It is entirely optional. No obligation exists. You are free either way.

Du darfst nicht kommen. — "You are not allowed to come." It is forbidden. Someone has prohibited it.

In English, "you don't have to" and "you must not" are clearly distinct. But because both German versions negate an obligation, English speakers instinctively reach for muss nicht for both — which produces the wrong meaning half the time. Burn this distinction into memory before moving on.

Memory Pattern: Müssen is about necessity. Removing the necessity (muss nicht) = "not required." Dürfen is about permission. Removing the permission (darf nicht) = "not permitted." Necessity vs. permission — that is the entire difference.

Choosing the Right Modal: Nuance and Overlap

Several modal pairs feel interchangeable to English speakers, but native Germans hear them very differently. These distinctions are not subtle academic points — they are things Germans notice in daily speech, and getting them right is what makes you sound fluent rather than merely functional.

Müssen vs. Sollen — Different Sources of Obligation

Both express obligation, but from entirely different sources. Müssen comes from circumstances, inner necessity, logical conclusions, or external facts. Sollen comes from another person's explicit instruction, a schedule, or a social expectation.

Ich muss arbeiten. — I must work. The pressure comes from within or from circumstances: there's a deadline, I need money, I feel compelled by the situation itself.

Ich soll arbeiten. — I'm supposed to work. Someone else — my boss, my schedule, a prior agreement — has required this of me. If it were entirely my own decision or circumstance, I would use müssen.

A useful test: ask yourself "Would this obligation exist even if no one told me?" If yes, use müssen. If it exists because someone said so, use sollen.

Wollen vs. Möchten — Directness vs. Politeness

Both express wanting, but register — the level of formality — differs dramatically. Wollen is direct and perfectly normal among friends or in casual contexts. Möchten softens the want into a polite wish, appropriate with strangers, service staff, or in formal situations.

Ich will ein Bier. — I want a beer. Totally fine between friends at a bar.

Ich möchte ein Bier, bitte. — I would like a beer, please. The correct form with a waiter, in a restaurant, or with anyone you don't know well.

Können vs. Dürfen — Ability vs. Permission

In English, both "can" and "may" are used for permission — "Can I sit here?" is perfectly normal. In German, they are strictly separate categories: können = physical or mental ability, dürfen = authorized permission.

Ich kann schwimmen. — I can swim. I have the physical skill. This says nothing about whether it's allowed.

Ich darf hier schwimmen. — I may swim here. It is permitted at this location. I might or might not know how.

Using kann when asking for permission (Kann ich hier sitzen?) is grammatically understandable but sounds slightly odd to native speakers — as if you're questioning whether you're physically capable of sitting, rather than asking if the seat is taken.

Pronunciation Guide

Pronouncing modal verbs correctly is essential for being understood. The vowel sounds shift significantly between the infinitive and the singular forms — this is the Ablaut pattern in action, the same ancient vowel alternation that explains English pairs like "sing/sang" or "run/ran."

Verb	Infinitive sound	Ich/Er/Es form	Phonetic example
können	KÖN-nen (rounded ö)	kann (open a)	Ich kann sprechen = ISH KAN SHPREKH-en
müssen	MÜS-sen (front ü)	muss (short u)	Er muss lesen = AIR MOOS LAY-zen
wollen	VOL-len (o)	will (short i)	Sie will kaufen = ZEE VIL KOW-fen
dürfen	DÜRF-en (front ü)	darf (open a)	Ich darf fragen = ISH DARF FRAH-gen
sollen	ZOL-len (o)	soll (same o)	Du sollst gehen = DOO ZOLST GAY-en
mögen	MÖ-gen (rounded ö)	mag (open a)	Ich mag Musik = ISH MAHK moo-ZEEK

Pronunciation Tip: The German ch sound in sprechen (SHPREKH-en) has no direct English equivalent. Form it by positioning your tongue as if to say "k," then breathe out without closing your throat — like a soft hiss from the back of the mouth. Practice the sequence: ich (ISH), machen (MAHKH-en), sprechen (SHPREKH-en). The ü in müssen and dürfen is made by rounding your lips into an "oo" shape while trying to say "ee." Hold the lip position and shift the sound — there is no English shortcut for this. Consistent practice over weeks is the only route.

28 Authentic Example Sentences

The following sentences are drawn from real conversational contexts — ordering food, making plans, describing obligations, expressing preferences, and navigating rules. Study each one for three things simultaneously: the modal in position 2, the infinitive at the end, and any Accusative object in between.

Können — Ability and Possibility

German	English	What to notice
Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.	I can speak German.	No object — modal directly before infinitive.
Kannst du mir helfen?	Can you help me?	Question form: modal in position 1, subject in position 2.
Er kann den Hund sehen.	He can see the dog.	Den Hund = Accusative masculine (der → den).
Wir können morgen kommen.	We can come tomorrow.	Morgen sits in the middle field before the infinitive.
Sie können die Rechnung bezahlen.	You can pay the bill.	Formal Sie; die Rechnung = Accusative feminine (unchanged).

Müssen — Necessity and Obligation

German	English	What to notice
Er muss das Buch lesen.	He must read the book.	Das Buch = Accusative neuter (unchanged).
Ich muss früh aufstehen.	I must get up early.	Separable verb: aufstehen remains one unit as the infinitive.
Sie müssen warten.	They must wait.	No object — pure obligation, no Accusative needed.
Du musst den Brief schreiben.	You must write the letter.	Den Brief = Accusative masculine (der Brief → den Brief).
Wir müssen das Problem lösen.	We must solve the problem.	Das Problem = Accusative neuter.

Wollen — Desire and Intention

German	English	What to notice
Sie will ein Auto kaufen.	She wants to buy a car.	Ein Auto = Accusative neuter (indefinite, unchanged).
Ich will ein Buch lesen.	I want to read a book.	Personal intention with no external pressure.
Er will nach Berlin fahren.	He wants to drive to Berlin.	Nach Berlin = directional phrase, no article needed.
Wir wollen das Konzert sehen.	We want to see the concert.	Das Konzert = Accusative neuter.

Dürfen — Permission and Prohibition

German	English	What to notice
Wir dürfen hier spielen.	We may play here.	Permission granted by a person or institution.
Darf ich fragen?	May I ask?	Classic polite phrase; question form puts modal first.
Du darfst nicht rauchen.	You must not smoke.	Darf nicht = strict prohibition, not merely unnecessary.
Die Kinder dürfen das Spielzeug benutzen.	The children may use the toy.	Das Spielzeug = Accusative neuter.

Sollen — External Obligation

German	English	What to notice
Du sollst die Tür schließen.	You are supposed to close the door.	Someone else gave this instruction.
Er soll um 9 Uhr ankommen.	He is supposed to arrive at 9 o'clock.	External schedule or expectation, not inner compulsion.
Ihr sollt ruhig sein.	You all should be quiet.	Teacher or parent has requested this.

Mögen — Preference and Liking

German	English	What to notice
Ich mag die Blumen.	I like the flowers.	Die Blumen = Accusative plural (unchanged). No infinitive here.
Sie mag klassische Musik.	She likes classical music.	No article with abstract nouns like Musik in this usage.
Ich möchte ein Wasser, bitte.	I would like a water, please.	Möchten = the polite form; standard in any service context.

Real-Life Scenario Conversations

Seeing modal verbs in isolated sentences is useful, but hearing them in flowing dialogue is where they truly click. Each scenario below shows a natural German exchange followed by a breakdown of every modal used.

At a Restaurant

Kellner: Guten Abend! Was möchten Sie bestellen? — Good evening! What would you like to order?

Gast: Ich möchte ein Schnitzel mit Salat, bitte. Und kann ich die Weinkarte sehen? — I would like a schnitzel with salad, please. And may I see the wine list?

Kellner: Natürlich. Darf ich Ihnen auch ein Dessert empfehlen? — Of course. May I also recommend a dessert?

Möchten appears twice for polite ordering. Können is used for a request (can I see). Dürfen is used by the waiter to ask permission to make a suggestion — a formal, respectful register choice that signals professionalism.

At Work

Chef: Du musst den Bericht bis Freitag abgeben. — You must submit the report by Friday.

Mitarbeiter: Ich soll auch das Meeting vorbereiten? — Am I supposed to prepare the meeting too?

Chef: Ja, aber du kannst die Präsentation von Lisa nehmen. — Yes, but you can take Lisa's presentation.

Müssen for the deadline (external circumstance). Sollen for an instruction someone gave. Können for an available option or ability.

Making Plans

Anna: Willst du morgen ins Kino gehen? — Do you want to go to the cinema tomorrow?

Ben: Ich will, aber ich kann leider nicht kommen — ich muss arbeiten. — I want to, but unfortunately I can't come — I have to work.

Anna: Schade. Wir wollen am Wochenende wandern, magst du mitkommen? — Shame. We want to go hiking on the weekend, would you like to join?

Notice how wollen expresses desire while können addresses ability/availability. Mögen in the question form magst du is a softer, more inviting alternative to willst du.

Rules and Public Signs

Hier darf man nicht parken. — One may not park here. (Man = impersonal "one/people.")

Im Museum darf man nicht fotografieren. — Photography is not permitted in the museum.

Kinder müssen um 22 Uhr zu Hause sein. — Children must be home by 10 PM.

Rauchen ist verboten. Sie dürfen hier nicht rauchen. — Smoking is forbidden. You may not smoke here.

Common Mistakes and How to Fix Them

These are the six errors German learners make most frequently with modal verbs. Reading this section now will save you from forming bad habits that are hard to unlearn later.

Mistake 1 — Conjugating the infinitive

❌ Ich kann spricht Deutsch. — Wrong. Two conjugated verbs in one clause.

✓ Ich kann Deutsch sprechen. — The second verb is always the bare infinitive, unconjugated.

Mistake 2 — Adding -e to the ich form

❌ Ich könne / Ich müsse — Regular verbs take -e for ich, but modals do not.

✓ Ich kann / Ich muss / Ich will / Ich darf / Ich soll / Ich mag — no -e, ever.

Mistake 3 — Putting the infinitive in the middle

❌ Ich kann sprechen Deutsch. — The infinitive drifted into the middle field.

✓ Ich kann Deutsch sprechen. — The infinitive is always the last element in the clause.

Mistake 4 — Confusing muss nicht and darf nicht

❌ Using muss nicht to mean "must not" or "is forbidden."

✓ Muss nicht = not required (optional). Darf nicht = not permitted (forbidden).

Mistake 5 — Using wollen in formal contexts

❌ Ich will ein Brötchen. to a baker you don't know — sounds abrupt and demanding.

✓ Ich möchte ein Brötchen, bitte. — always use möchten with service staff and strangers.

Mistake 6 — Forgetting the Accusative case change

❌ Er muss der Brief schreiben. — der Brief is Nominative; it's the object here, not the subject.

✓ Er muss den Brief schreiben. — Direct objects take the Accusative: der → den for masculine nouns.

Mistake 7 — Confusing ich will and "I will"

❌ Translating "I will go" as Ich will gehen when you mean future tense.

✓ In German, ich will gehen means "I want to go" (desire, not future). For future meaning, Germans use the present tense: Ich gehe morgen — or Ich werde gehen for explicit future. This false cognate causes confusion for English speakers at every level.

Cultural Depth: Modals in German Social Life

Grammar and culture are inseparable. German modal verbs are a window into how Germans think about social structure, authority, and personal agency — and understanding this context will make the grammar feel natural rather than arbitrary.

The prominence of dürfen and darf nicht in everyday German reflects a cultural emphasis on explicit rules and clear permissions. In public spaces, on transport, in offices — you will constantly encounter darf nicht. Germans tend to state rules explicitly and directly, and dürfen is the grammatical vehicle for this clarity. When someone says Das darf man hier nicht tun (One may not do that here), it is not judgment — it is information, delivered in good faith.

Sollen carries particular weight in German workplace culture. Because it encodes "someone else expects this," it appears constantly in job descriptions, instruction manuals, and professional communication: Der Mitarbeiter soll pünktlich erscheinen (The employee is supposed to be punctual). This modal allows Germans to communicate institutional expectations with precision — separating what the institution requires (sollen) from what circumstances require (müssen).

The wollen vs. möchten distinction reflects a broader German social awareness of directness versus register-appropriate politeness. Germany has a well-deserved reputation for directness — but within that directness, specific registers of courtesy are strongly maintained in commercial and formal settings. Choosing möchten in a shop is not timidity; it is social fluency. Native speakers notice and appreciate it.

Step-by-Step: Building Your First Modal Sentences

Use this checklist every time you construct a modal verb sentence from scratch. Follow it in order until the structure becomes automatic — which, with consistent practice, usually takes two to three weeks of daily use.

Choose your subject. Who is doing (or not doing) the action? Identify the Nominative subject: ich, du, er, sie, es, wir, ihr, sie/Sie.
Select the right modal. Ability → können. Necessity → müssen. Desire → wollen. Permission → dürfen. External obligation → sollen. Preference/polite request → mögen/möchten.
Conjugate the modal for your subject. Remember: ich and er/sie/es are always identical, and neither takes a final -e.
Place the modal in position 2. In a normal statement, the modal is the second element. In a yes/no question, it moves to position 1.
Add objects and adverbs in the middle field. Direct objects take the Accusative. Time, manner, and place adverbs follow the modal. Order within the middle field: Time → Manner → Place.
End with the bare infinitive. The second verb — the actual action — goes last, unconjugated, no matter what.
Check the Accusative. If you have a masculine direct object, its definite article changes from der to den. Feminine (die), neuter (das), and plural (die) do not change.

Conclusion: Modals as Building Blocks

Modal verbs transform German from a language of simple statements into a language of nuanced possibility. With the six modals fully in hand — their conjugations, their sentence positions, their cultural weights, and their mutual distinctions — a vast range of everyday German suddenly becomes accessible. You can express what you want, what you must do, what you're allowed to do, what someone else expects of you, and what you'd prefer not to do.

The patterns you've learned here are not isolated grammar points. When you encounter the German Perfect tense, you'll use modal verbs again alongside past participles in a structure that mirrors what you've practiced here. When you study the Subjunctive mood, you'll recognize that möchten — which you've already been using fluently — is itself a Subjunctive II form. Every modal verb you practice now is an investment that compounds in every lesson that follows.

Practice in real contexts, not just exercises. Order your next coffee with möchten. Describe your weekend plans with wollen. When you see a no-parking sign, read the German and identify the modal. Let the verbs become part of how you think in German — not rules you recall, but instincts you reach for.

In the next lesson, you'll encounter modal verbs again in the Perfect tense — learning how to talk about what you had to do, were able to do, or wanted to do in the past. The foundation you've built here makes that step considerably easier.