German · A1 · Everyday language
Can, must, want in German
Use können (can), müssen (must), wollen (want) and dürfen (may) for everyday requests, rules and encouragement with your child. These verbs usually go with another verb at the end of the sentence.
What you'll learn
- Ask for help and permission.
- Talk about what someone must do or wants to do.
- Encourage your child and set clear limits.
- Put the main verb at the end of a sentence with a modal verb.
German phrases for can, must, want
Kannst du mir helfen?
Can you help me?
Use du when speaking to one child. Mir means “me” here.
Du musst eine Mütze tragen.
You must wear a hat.
Musst expresses necessity. Mütze is a cap or soft hat, such as a woolly hat.
Ich will spielen.
I want to play.
Will means “want” here, not the English future word “will.”
Darf ich einen Keks haben?
May I have a biscuit?
Darf ich …? asks for permission.
Wir müssen jetzt gehen.
We must go now.
Jetzt means “now.” Gehen goes at the end.
Du kannst das!
You can do it!
A natural way to encourage your child. No extra verb is needed in this expression.
Willst du mitkommen?
Do you want to come?
Mitkommen means “to come along,” making this a natural invitation.
Du darfst nicht hauen.
You may not hit.
Darfst nicht means “are not allowed to.” Hauen is a common everyday word for hitting, especially with children.
Hear these phrases and practise them
Tildi plays every phrase out loud, tests you in five-minute lessons and builds them into bedtime stories from your own picture books.
Try it free for 7 daysKey words
können
can; to be able to
Useful forms: ich kann, du kannst, wir können.
müssen
must; to have to
Useful forms: ich muss, du musst, wir müssen.
wollen
to want
Useful forms: ich will, du willst, wir wollen.
dürfen
may; to be allowed to
Useful forms: ich darf, du darfst, wir dürfen.
die Mütze
hat; cap
Plural: die Mützen. Used for soft hats, including woolly hats.
der Keks
biscuit; cookie
Plural: die Kekse.
helfen
to help
Use mir for “me” with helfen: Kannst du mir helfen?
mitkommen
to come along
After a modal verb, keep it together: Willst du mitkommen?
Modal verb + main verb
In a simple statement, the modal verb is in second position. The main verb goes at the end in its dictionary form (the infinitive), without zu (“to”).
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Want | ich will + infinitive | Ich will spielen. — I want to play. |
| Must | du musst + infinitive | Du musst eine Mütze tragen. — You must wear a hat. |
| We must | wir müssen + infinitive | Wir müssen jetzt gehen. — We must go now. |
Asking questions
For a yes/no question, put the modal verb first and the subject next. The main verb stays at the end. German does not add “do.”
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ask for help | Kannst du …? | Kannst du mir helfen? — Can you help me? |
| Ask for permission | Darf ich …? | Darf ich einen Keks haben? — May I have a biscuit? |
| Ask about a wish | Willst du …? | Willst du mitkommen? — Do you want to come? |
Not allowed versus not necessary
Use dürfen + nicht for something that is not allowed. Müssen + nicht means “do not have to,” not “must not.”
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Not allowed | du darfst nicht + infinitive | Du darfst nicht hauen. — You may not hit. |
| Not necessary | du musst nicht + infinitive | Du musst nicht mitkommen. — You do not have to come along. |
Why einen Keks?
In “have a biscuit,” the biscuit is the direct object. Masculine ein becomes einen for a direct object (the accusative). Feminine eine stays the same.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine noun | der Keks → einen Keks | Darf ich einen Keks haben? — May I have a biscuit? |
| Feminine noun | die Mütze → eine Mütze | Du musst eine Mütze tragen. — You must wear a hat. |
More examples
Darf ich spielen?
May I play?
A simple permission question.
Ich kann dir helfen.
I can help you.
Dir means “you” when used with helfen.
Wir wollen mitkommen.
We want to come along.
Use wollen with wir.