German · A2 · Family moment
Clear Rules Together in German
Use clear, friendly German to distinguish firm rules from optional tasks. Nicht dürfen means something is not allowed; nicht müssen means something is not necessary.
What you'll learn
- Explain rules using du darfst nicht.
- Make it clear that a task is optional using du musst nicht.
- Place the main verb at the end of a simple sentence with a modal verb.
German phrases for clear rules together
Du darfst dein Passwort nicht weitergeben.
You must not share your password.
Nicht dürfen expresses a prohibition. Weitergeben means to pass something on to someone else.
Du musst das Projekt heute nicht fertig machen.
You do not have to finish the project today.
Heute nicht makes clear that finishing today is not necessary.
Du darfst beim Abendessen nicht dein Handy benutzen.
You must not use your phone during dinner.
Beim Abendessen means during dinner. This sentence sets a firm rule.
Du musst nicht in den Fußballverein eintreten.
You do not have to join the football club.
Nicht müssen leaves the choice open: joining is optional.
Du darfst das Tablet deiner Schwester nicht ausleihen, ohne zu fragen.
You must not borrow your sister's tablet without asking.
Ohne zu fragen means without asking. Borrowing is only allowed after asking.
Du musst heute Abend nicht den Müll rausbringen.
You do not have to take out the rubbish tonight.
Heute Abend means this evening or tonight. Rausbringen is common in everyday speech.
Du darfst hier nicht Fahrrad fahren.
You must not cycle here.
Hier means here. Nicht dürfen says that cycling in this place is not allowed.
Du musst nicht die ganze Klasse einladen.
You do not have to invite the whole class.
Nicht die ganze Klasse means not the whole class. Inviting everyone is not necessary.
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
das Passwort
password
The plural is die Passwörter.
das Handy
mobile phone
Handy is a common German noun for a mobile phone.
der Fußballverein
football club
In einen Verein eintreten means to join a club.
ausleihen
to borrow; to lend
Here it means to borrow. Context tells you which meaning is intended.
den Müll rausbringen
to take out the rubbish
Learn this as a useful household phrase.
Fahrrad fahren
to cycle; to ride a bicycle
Fahrrad is a noun, so it starts with a capital letter.
die ganze Klasse
the whole class
Ganze describes all the pupils in the class.
Not allowed or not necessary?
English “must not” becomes nicht dürfen, not nicht müssen. German nicht müssen means “do not have to”: the action is optional, not forbidden.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Prohibition | du darfst nicht + infinitive | Du darfst hier nicht Fahrrad fahren. — You must not cycle here. |
| No necessity | du musst nicht + infinitive | Du musst nicht die ganze Klasse einladen. — You do not have to invite the whole class. |
Modal verbs and word order
Use du when speaking to one child. The modal verb changes to darfst or musst and comes second in a statement. The main verb stays in its infinitive form at the end. Separable verbs such as weitergeben and einladen stay together after a modal verb.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Dürfen with du | du darfst | Du darfst dein Passwort nicht weitergeben. |
| Müssen with du | du musst | Du musst nicht die ganze Klasse einladen. |
More examples
Du darfst beim Abendessen nicht dein Handy benutzen.
You must not use your phone during dinner.
A firm boundary: using the phone is not allowed.
Du musst das Projekt heute nicht fertig machen.
You do not have to finish the project today.
Less pressure: finishing today is not required, but it is still allowed.