Two verbs, one at each end

A modal verb (can, must, want…) works with a second verb. The modal is conjugated in second position; the other verb drops to the very end as an infinitive:

• Ich muss meine Hausaufgaben machen. — I have to do my homework.
• Wir wollen ins Kino gehen. — We want to go to the cinema.

The end slot is the key habit: English keeps the verbs together ("can play well"), German splits them ("kann … spielen").

können — and why ich = er

Modals are irregular: the ich and er/sie/es forms are identical and take no ending. Most also change their vowel:

No -t on "er": it's er kann, never er kannt. The same shape (ich = er, no ending) is true for all six modals.

Where does the second verb go?

Your turn — a modal form

Meanings and "ich" forms

False friend: ich will means "I want", not "I will". The future is a different verb (werden) — coming up.

Which modal?

Pick the modal form

Your turn — the "du" form

mögen and möchte

Two forms you'll use constantly for opinions and orders:

• mögen = "to like" (a thing): Ich mag Pizza. — I like pizza.
• möchte = "would like" (polite wish): Ich möchte eine Cola. — I'd like a cola. Ich möchte ins Kino gehen. — I'd like to go to the cinema.

möchte is the polite favourite — softer than will ("want"). Like a modal, it sends any second verb to the end: möchte … gehen.

The future with werden

For a clear future, use werden ("will") + an infinitive at the end — just like a modal:

• Ich werde nach Spanien fahren. — I will travel to Spain.
• Wir werden ein Konzert besuchen. — We will go to a concert.

Remember from cluster 2: for the near future the plain present + a time word also works (Morgen fahre ich…). Use werden when you want to stress "will".

Future word order

Your turn — werden

gern, lieber, am liebsten

To say you like, prefer or most like doing something, add one small word after the verb:

No extra "to like" verb needed: gern does the job on its own. The opposite is nicht gern ("don't like"): Ich sehe nicht gern fern.

Which word?

Modal or ordinary verb?

A modal sends the main verb to the end. Sort these infinitives: modal, or ordinary?

Opinion phrases

Lift your marks by framing opinions. Watch the word order after a fronted phrase — the verb stays second:

• Ich finde Fußball toll. — I find football great.
• Ich denke / Ich glaube, dass Musik wichtig ist. — I think that music is important.
• Meiner Meinung nach ist Sport gesund. — In my opinion sport is healthy.

Two useful boosters: Meiner Meinung nach ("in my opinion") fills slot 1, so the verb comes next; and dass sends its verb to the end (more in cluster 8).

After "meiner Meinung nach"

Match the modal to its meaning

Tap a modal verb on the left, then tap its meaning on the right.

Your turn — an opinion

Your turn — a modal sentence

Your plans & opinions toolkit

Now we turn to the past. Press Finish to see your score.