ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ НАУКА И ИННОВАЦИОННЫЕ ИДЕИ В МИРЕ
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THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MODAL VERBS IN ENGLISH AND
GERMAN LANGUAGES
Zakirova Sohiba Abdusaliyevna
Teacher of the Department of Practical
Subjects of the German Language
at Uzbekistan State World Language University,
Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Abstract
This article explores the differences between modal verbs in English and
German, two widely spoken languages with unique grammatical systems. Although
both languages use modal verbs to express similar meanings - like ability, permission,
and obligation - their structure and usage are quite different. This comparison helps
learners avoid common mistakes and improve fluency in both languages. These
insights are especially helpful for students learning English and German as a second
language.
Keywords: modal verbs, English grammar, German grammar, grammar
structure, language structure, modal verbs differences, second language.
Introduction
Languages often share similar grammatical elements, yet their usage and
structure can vary greatly. One such element is modal verbs, which play a significant
role in expressing necessity, possibility, ability, permission, and obligation. Both
English grammar and German grammar include modal verbs in everyday
communication and formal writing. Despite the similarity, the two languages differ in
how modal verbs are conjugated, placed in sentences, and used in different tenses.
These differences in syntax and structure can be challenging for learners. This article
provides a language comparison to help learners avoid common mistakes and better
understand both systems.
ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ НАУКА И ИННОВАЦИОННЫЕ ИДЕИ В МИРЕ
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Werner Abraham (2021) emphasizes that, unlike English, German modal verbs
can function as full lexical verbs and are influenced by aspectual and Aktionsart
embeddings. This syntactic flexibility underscores the complexity of German modal
constructions compared to their English counterparts.
In a corpus - based study, Dieter Mindt (1995) analyzes the frequency and usage
patterns of English modal verbs, revealing that modals like "would", "could", and
"will" dominate in expressing modality. This contrasts with German, where modal
verbs exhibit a broader range of syntactic behaviors and contextual dependecies.
Further, Odiljonova et al. (2020) provide a comparative analysis of modal verbs
in both languages, noting that while English modals are relatively fixed in form,
German modals display greater morphological variation and are more sensitive to
contextual factors.
According to Svenja Kranich (2016) explores the epistemic modality in English
and German, highlighting that German modal verbs often carry nuances that are
contextually determined, whereas English modals tend to have more standardized
interpretations.
By examining each language's system individually and then comparing them
side by side, this article aims to give learners a clearer understanding of how modality
is expressed and how to apply modal verbs correctly.
Modal verbs in English
Modal verbs are auxiliary (helping) verbs that express necessity, possibility,
permission, ability, or obligation. They are used with the bare form of the main verb
(without "to") and do not change form according to the subject.
List of common modal verbs: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will,
would.
Characteristics of Modal verbs.
1. No "-s" in third person singular (e.g., He can, NOT He cans)
2. Followed by the base of the main verb (e.g., She must go, NOT She must goes)
ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ НАУКА И ИННОВАЦИОННЫЕ ИДЕИ В МИРЕ
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3. Do not need auxiliary verbs in questions or negatives (e.g., Can you swim?,
You must not smoke)
Modal Verb
Function
Example
Can
Ability
She can play the
violin.
Permission
Can I use your car?
Possibility
It can be cold in
February.
Could
Past ability
I could run faster
when I was 15.
Polite request
Could you open the
window, please?
Possibility
It could rain later.
May
Permission (formal)
May I leave early
today?
Possibility
He may come to the
party.
Might
Weak possibility
We might go to the
park.
Must
Strong
necessity/obligation
You must wear a
seatbelt.
Logical
conclusion
(deduction)
She must be at home
(I am sure she is).
Shall
Offers/Suggestions
Shall we start the
lesson?
Future (formal. UK
English)
I shall run before
dark.
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Should
Advice
You should drink
more water.
Expectation
The bus should arrive
soon.
Will
Future
I will send you
tomorrow.
Promise/ Willingness
I will help you with
that.
Would
Polite request
Would you like some
coffee?
Hypothetical
condition
I would travel if I had
money.
Semi-modal verbs
1. Ought to - advice. You ought to respect your parents.
2. Have to - obligation. I have to submit the form today.
3. Be able to - ability. She is able to solve difficult problems.
4. Need to - necessity. You need to drink more water.
Modal + Perfect Infinitive (past use)
Structure
Function
Example
Should have + V3
Unfulfilled advice
You
should
have
studied more.
Could have + V3
Missed possibility
I could have won the
race.
Might have + V3
Uncertain
past
possibility
She
might
have
forgotten the meeting.
Must have + V3
Strong past certainty
He must have left
already.
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Would have + V3
Hypothetical in the
past
I would have helped
if I had known.
Modal verbs in German
Modalverben (modal verbs) are auxiliary verbs used with the infinitive of
another verb to express ability, permission, necessity, obligation, desire, or possibility.
List of German modal verbs
German Modal Verb
English Equivalent
dürfen
may, to be allowed to
können
can, to be able to
mögen
to like
müssen
must, to have to
sollen
should, to be supposed to
wollen
want to
Key grammar rules
- Modal verbs are placed in second position in main clauses.
- The main verb is sent to the end of the sentence in infinitive form.
- Modal verbs are conjugated, but the main verb remains in the infinitive.
Example: Ich muss heute viel lernen. (I must study a lot today.)
Conjugation table (Present Tense)
Perso
n
dürf
en
könn
en
mög
en
müss
en
soll
en
woll
en
ich
darf
kann
mag
muss
soll
will
du
darf
st
kann
st
mag
st
muss
t
soll
st
wills
t
er/sie/
es
darf
kann
mag
muss
soll
will
ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ НАУКА И ИННОВАЦИОННЫЕ ИДЕИ В МИРЕ
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wir
dürf
en
könn
en
mög
en
müss
en
soll
en
woll
en
ihr
dürf
t
könn
t
mög
t
müss
t
sollt
wolt
sie/Si
e
dürf
en
könn
en
mög
en
müss
en
soll
en
woll
en
Meanings & Examples
1. dürfen (to be allowed to/may)
Ich darf heute Abend fernsehen. (I am allowed to watch TV tonight.)
2. können (can/to be able to)
Wir können Deutsch sprechen. (We can speak German.)
3. mögen (to like)
Er mag Pizza essen. (He likes to eat pizza.)
4. müssen (must/to have to)
Du musst deine Hausaufgaben machen. (You must do your homework.)
5. sollen (should/to be supposed to)
Ich soll mehr Wasser trinken. (I should drink more water.)
6. wollen (to want to)
Sie will Ärztin werden. (She wants to be a doctor.)
Modal verbs in past tense (Präteritum). Modal verbs are often used in simple past
(Präteritum) in conversation.
Verb
Ich (Präteritum)
dürfen
durfte
können
konnte
mögen
mochte
müssen
musste
sollen
sollte
wollen
wolte
ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ НАУКА И ИННОВАЦИОННЫЕ ИДЕИ В МИРЕ
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Example: Ich konnte gestern nicht kommen. (I could not come yesterday.)
Modal + Perfect tense (Modalverb + haben + Infinitiv + Modal)
Example: Ich habe Deutsch lernen müssen. (I had to study German.) This
structure uses haben + past participle of the main verb + modal verb at the end in
infinitive.
Verb
Meaning
Use
dürfen
to be allowed to
Permission
können
to be able to
Ability/possibility
mögen
to like
Preference/liking
müssen
must/have to
Necessity/obligation
sollen
should/supposed to
Duty/moral
obligation
wollen
to want to
Desire/intention
Conclusion
The article compares the use of modal verbs in English and German, focusing
on their functions, sentence structure, and forms. Both languages use modal verbs to
express ability, permission, necessity, obligation, and desire, but their usage and
grammar rules differ. In English, modal verbs like can, may, must, should, will, and
would are followed directly by the base form of the main verb. For example: She can
swim. In German, modal verbs are also followed by another verb, but the main verb
goes to the end of the sentence in its infinitive form. For example: Sie kann
schwimmen. Although modal verbs in both languages serve similar purposes, their
sentence construction, conjugation, and placement in German require more
grammatical awareness, especially when using them in different tenses.
References:
1. Abraham, W. (2008). Modal verbs: epistemics in German and English. In Modality
and its Interaction with the Verbal System (pp. 19-50). John Benjamins Publishing
Company.
ОБРАЗОВАНИЕ НАУКА И ИННОВАЦИОННЫЕ ИДЕИ В МИРЕ
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2. Abraham, W. (2021). The Syntax of Modal Verbs in German, Dutch, and English.
In Modality in Syntax, Semantics and Pragmatics (pp. 157–187). Cambridge
University Press.
3. Mindt, D. (1995). An Empirical Grammar of the English Verb: Modal Verbs.
Cornelsen Verlag.
4. Kranich, S. (2016). English-German Contrasts in Epistemic Modal Marking. In
Contrastive Pragmatics and Translation (pp. 123–145). John Benjamins Publishing
Company.
5. Odiljonova, M. O., Dehkanova, M. I., & Yigitaliyeva, M. A. (2020). Comparison of
Modal Verbs between German and English Languages. Thematics Journal of
Geography, 8(12), 1364–1368.
