Modalverben im Präteritum

Stem without umlaut + -te + endings

konnte, musste, wollte, durfte, sollte, mochte. Endings: -te, -test, -te, -ten, -tet, -ten. ich and er identical, as always in the past.

• Ich konnte gestern nicht kommen, ich musste arbeiten. I couldn't come yesterday, I had to work.
• Wir wollten ins Kino, aber wir durften nicht. We wanted to go to the cinema, but we weren't allowed.

Quick check

Wir gestern lange auf den Bus warten.

Infinitive still at the end

The bracket is unchanged: modal at 2, infinitive last. Ich | musste | gestern lange | arbeiten.

• Sie sollte um acht Uhr da sein. She was supposed to be there at eight.
• Wir mussten gestern lange arbeiten. We had to work late yesterday.

Quick check

Which sentence is correct?

No Perfekt for modals in speech

'Ich habe nicht kommen können' exists but is heavy and rare. Say ich konnte nicht kommen. Same for sein/haben: war, hatte.

• Warum bist du nicht gekommen? – Ich konnte nicht. Why didn't you come? – I couldn't.
• Wir wollten ins Kino gehen, aber wir durften nicht. We wanted to go to the cinema, but we weren't allowed to.

the modals, sein and haben are the three groups that avoid the Perfekt. Everything else uses it.

Quick check

Which is the natural way to say „I couldn't come yesterday“?

The umlaut goes

können → konnte, müssen → musste, dürfen → durfte, mögen → mochte. wollen and sollen had none to lose: wollte, sollte.

• Als Kind mochte ich keinen Spinat. As a child I didn't like spinach.
• Als Kind durfte ich nicht lange fernsehen. As a child I wasn't allowed to watch TV for long.

Quick check

Als Kind ich nicht allein in die Stadt fahren. (wasn't allowed)

Words · tap to hear

The words you need

• konnte could, was able to
• musste had to
• wollte wanted to
• durfte was allowed to
• sollte was supposed to
• mochte liked
• leider unfortunately
• derTermin appointment · pl. -e
• derBericht report · pl. -e
• der / dieChef / Chefin boss
• als Kind as a child

Listen

Play it, then pick what you heard.

In context

Hear it in a real exchange

Yesterday I wanted to go to a concert with friends, but I couldn't: I had to work until eight. My boss said I was to finish a report. And my colleague was allowed to leave early – she had an appointment. As a child I wanted to become a musician. And you, what did you want to become?

Spot the mistake

Which one is right?

Spot the mistake

Which one is right?

Spot the mistake

Which one is right?

Cheat sheet

What to take with you

• Stem without umlaut + -te + endings
• Infinitive still at the end
• No Perfekt for modals in speech
• The umlaut goes