1. Strukturen 3B.1 LEKTION 3B © 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. 3B.1-1 Modals Startblock In both English and German, modal verbs modify the meaning of another verb.

2. Strukturen 3B.1 LEKTION 3B © 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. 3B.1-2 Modals Modals express an attitude towards an action, such as permission, obligation, ability, desire, or necessity. May, can, and must are examples of English modals.

3. Strukturen 3B.1 LEKTION 3B © 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. 3B.1-3 Modals Except for sollen, all of the German modals are irregular in their present tense singular forms.

4. Strukturen 3B.1 LEKTION 3B © 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. 3B.1-4 Modals When you use a modal to modify the meaning of another verb, put the conjugated form of the modal in second position. Put the infinitive of the other verb at the end of the sentence. Ich muss Französisch lernen. I have to study French. Ich will Französisch lernen. I want to learn French.

5. Strukturen 3B.1 LEKTION 3B © 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. 3B.1-5 Modals To form a yes-or-no question, move the modal verb to the beginning of the sentence, while the verb it modifies remains at the end. Du ̈ rfen expresses permission. Willst du Wasser trinken? Do you want to drink water? Könnt ihr eurer Mutter helfen? Can you help your mother? Mama, darf ich heute Nachmittag schwimmen gehen? Mom, may I go swimming this afternoon? Nein, Lina, du darfst nicht heute schwimmen gehen. No, Lina, you may not go swimming today.

6. Strukturen 3B.1 LEKTION 3B © 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. 3B.1-6 Modals Können expresses ability. Mü ssen expresses obligation. Peter kann Ski fahren. Peter can ski. Kannst du Fahrrad fahren? Can you ride a bicycle? Anita und Markus müs sen viel lernen. Anita and Markus have to study a lot. Muss Maria Spanisch lernen? Does Maria have to learn Spanish?

7. Strukturen 3B.1 LEKTION 3B © 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. 3B.1-7 Modals Sollen conveys the expectation that a task be completed (to be supposed to). Note that, unlike the English should or ought, sollen implies an expectation that comes from someone other than the subject. Du sollst das Buch lesen. You are supposed to read the book. Soll ich nach Hause gehen? Am I supposed to go home?

8. Strukturen 3B.1 LEKTION 3B © 2014 by Vista Higher Learning, Inc. All rights reserved. 3B.1-8 Modals Wollen expresses desire. Sie wollen Musikerinnen werden. They want to become musicians. Willst du eine Katze haben? Do you want to get a cat?