Use können, müssen, dürfen, wollen for ability and necessity

Published May 16, 2026·Updated May 26, 2026

Transcript

Read along, German & English, side by side

Hey, everyone. Great to have you back. I’m Tim. Hi. Today we’re talking about modal verbs, like can, must, may, and want. They’re really important in everyday life, right?

Totally. Hi from me too. Modal verbs are everywhere, every day. And don’t worry, we’ll take it slow and use plenty of examples. So you can hear and use them right away.

Exactly. Just to clarify, modal verbs are verbs that need another verb. For example, I can swim. Can is the modal verb, swim is the other verb. Sounds simple, right?

Yes, and let’s start with can. Can means you have the ability or it’s possible. Like, I can't come today. Or can you help me? Very normal in daily life.

Oh yes, I often say, can you send me an email real quick? In the office, you know? Or we can call later. Can is very handy, even for suggestions. Can we meet at eight?

Exactly, and if you want to be polite, can sounds quite nice already. You can also say, could you, which is very polite, but, uh, that’s more suitable for A2.

What's important is that the other verb comes at the end. Can you help me? Help goes to the end.

Quick story. I can play a little guitar, but I can't sing very well yet. My neighbors, uh, I think they prefer it that way. You hear can twice and then the verbs at the end - play, sing, sing.

Haha, yes. And sometimes it’s about possibility, not ability. For example, in Berlin you can ride a bike everywhere. That means it’s possible, not that everyone rides well, but you can.

Okay, next modal verb must. Must means obligation, necessity. So things you have to do. I must get up at seven. Or must I fill out this form?

Yes, and importantly, not must doesn’t mean forbidden. It means it’s not necessary. For example, you don’t have to cook today. That means you can cook, but you don’t need to. Forbidden is something else.

Exactly, and forbidden is then related to may. But wait a moment, one more example with must. In the office, my boss often says, you must send the report today. Then I know, oh man, no excuses. I have to do it today.

Yes, I know that. At my home, I must shop every Saturday. Otherwise, there’s nothing in the fridge. But sometimes I think, ah, I don’t have to cook, I can order something. You see, not must means I can skip it.

Great transition, may. May is permission. So, allowed or not allowed. Questions are often, may I sit here? Can you grill in the park? The answer can be, yes, you may. Or, no, you can’t do that here.

And be careful, not may means forbidden. So, you may not shout here. That’s, it's forbidden, it won’t work. Many people confuse that with not must, but that’s really something different.

I once had an embarrassing situation in the cinema. I asked, may I bring my drink in? And the man said, no, you can’t do that here. Well, I had to leave it outside. May clarifies rules.

Good example. One more, in the library, you may speak quietly, but you may not use your phone. Quiet means, not loud. So, a little speaking is okay, but cell phone, no, forbidden.

All right, let’s move on to want. Want is desire, intention. I want to go to bed early tonight. Or, do you want to eat pizza? That’s said very often, very direct.

Yes, and one more tip. Many also say would like, that’s more polite. So, I would like a coffee. But we'll stick with want today. With friends, I often say, I want a coffee. Quite normal, a bit more direct.

Want is also good for plans. For example, we want to go hiking this weekend. Or in questions for suggestions, do we want to go to the market later? That sounds friendly and active. Come on, let’s do it.

I love that. You can also mix, so different modal verbs in sentences, but step by step. Simple, clear sentences are great. First with one modal verb, then the full verb at the end. That’s the basis.

Let’s practice word order again, really quick. I say, I can’t work today. Can is in second position, work at the end. Or ask, can you come tomorrow? There, come comes to the back, nice and calm.

And with must, I must go now. Or with an object, I must take the train. With may, may I open the window, open at the end. With want, we want to cook later. Cook always at the back.

What are some typical mistakes you hear? I often hear, I not must go. You’re missing the important place for not. Better, I must not go, so not after must.

Yes, exactly. And some say, I may not go and mean, I don’t have to go. But I may not go means it’s forbidden to go. If it’s not necessary, I say, I don’t have to go. Big difference.

Another little everyday tip. For polite requests, can works great. Can you please help me? Or in the restaurant? Can we please pay? That sounds friendly and direct. Works almost always.

And for rules, always use may. Can you park here? The word allowed is also good. Allowed means okay, that’s fine. Forbidden means no, that won’t work. That way you remember it better.

With must, the word obligation helps me. I think, do I really have to? Is it an obligation? If yes, then must. I must pay my rent, of course. I must drink water, well, otherwise I feel bad.

And with want, you can express your goals. I want to speak more German. That’s strong and motivating. You’re telling your brain, hey, that's my plan. A little tip, say it out loud, every day.

Shall we have a mini-dialogue, something everyday? I’ll start. Hey, Julia, can you this afternoon?

I’ll reply, I can after 3 PM. And then? But I must shop first. There you have can for time, must for obligation. Then I ask, may we grill in the park? That checks the rule.

I then say, no, unfortunately we may not grill there. That’s forbidden. But we can bring sandwiches. And do you want lemonade? There’s want again for desire.

Perfect. Another work example. Must I prepare the meeting? Yes, but you may keep the presentation short. Keeping it short means, not long. And can you send it to me tomorrow? Very realistic.

And at home. I want to clean today. But I can't do much. I’m tired. Then someone says, you don’t have to do everything today. That’s nice. No pressure. We can clean together. Teamwork.

Haha, yes, I love that. Another mini-tip for questions about plans is, do we want? Very natural. Do we want to go swimming on Sunday? Or a little softer? Can we go swimming on Sunday? Both sound good. Just the tone is different.

Sometimes someone asks me, what exactly does may mean? I then say, may is like, is it okay? You’re asking for permission. If it’s okay, you may.

If it’s not okay, you may not. Quite clear.

And with can, I say, can your body or plan do that? So, ability or time? I can swim, but I can’t swim today because I must work. See, now can and must are together.

Oh, good sentence. And you hear also, because I must work. That’s already a little extra grammar. If that’s still difficult, no stress. You can just make two sentences. I can’t today. I must work. That works too.

Exactly, short sentences are totally okay. What’s important is that you speak. In the café, I want a coffee. Or politely, I would like a coffee. And if you’re unsure, just smile and speak slowly. That always helps.

That always helps, even Ken.

Before we wrap up. A quick exercise. I say German. You think in your head of the right modal verb. Example 1. It’s obligation. I get up early. Answer must. Example 2. Permission. I sit here. Answer may.

And example 3. Ability. I dance a little. Answer can. Example 4. Desire. I want pizza today. Answer want. Very good. If that works, you’re really on your way to success.

Last tip from my everyday life. I write little sentences on my phone. Something like, I must leave at 8. May I charge here? For my e-bike? Haha. Then I say it out loud. Once a day. That stays in your head.

I talk to myself while cooking. Really. I want salt. I can still chop vegetables. I must drain the water. That sounds funny, but it helps a lot. Give that a try.

Okay, folks. That was a lot. But very useful, I think. Can, must, may, want. You now have plenty of examples. Listen to the episode again and make your own sentences. Small steps every day.

Yes, and if you liked it, feel free to leave a like and subscribe to our channel. Also write your sentences with the modal verbs in the comments. We’ll read them and give feedback. Promised. Thank you.

Thanks for listening. We’ll hear from you again next week. Until then. Stay tuned and yes, practice a little every day. Bye.

Bye, dear ones. Take care. And remember, you can really do this. See you soon.