German · A2 · Family moment
Rules and Choices in German
Use nicht dürfen to explain what your child must not do, and nicht müssen to explain what they do not have to do. These phrases help you set clear boundaries and offer choices.
What you'll learn
- State rules using du darfst nicht.
- Explain that something is optional using du musst nicht.
- Place the main verb in its infinitive form at the end of the sentence.
German phrases for rules and choices
Du darfst nicht über die Straße rennen.
You must not run across the road.
Du darfst nicht expresses a prohibition: this action is not allowed.
Du musst heute deinen schweren Schulranzen nicht tragen.
You do not have to carry your heavy school bag today.
Du musst nicht means there is no need to do something. It does not forbid it.
Du darfst nicht ohne Helm Fahrrad fahren.
You must not ride your bike without a helmet.
Ohne Helm means 'without a helmet.' The rule forbids riding without one.
Du musst deine Hausaufgaben nicht vor dem Mittagessen fertig machen.
You do not have to finish your homework before lunch.
The timing is optional: the homework does not need to be finished before lunch.
Du darfst das Taschengeld deines Freundes nicht ausgeben.
You must not spend your friend's pocket money.
Deines Freundes means 'your friend's,' referring to a male friend. For a female friend, use deiner Freundin.
Du musst nicht dein ganzes Taschengeld ausgeben.
You do not have to spend all your pocket money.
Dein ganzes Taschengeld means 'all your pocket money.' Spending all of it is not necessary.
Du darfst nicht in der Küche Fußball spielen.
You must not play football in the kitchen.
In der Küche means 'in the kitchen.' This rule forbids playing football there.
Du musst heute nicht zum Fußballtraining gehen.
You do not have to go to football practice today.
Heute limits the lack of obligation to today. Going is optional, not forbidden.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
die Straße
road; street
Über die Straße means 'across the road.'
der Schulranzen
school bag; school satchel
Commonly used for the structured school bags carried by younger children.
der Helm
helmet
German commonly uses ohne Helm without an article to mean 'without a helmet.'
die Hausaufgaben
homework
German uses a plural noun here, unlike English 'homework.'
das Taschengeld
pocket money
Geld means 'money.' Taschengeld is money a child receives for personal spending.
ausgeben
to spend
Use it with money. After a modal verb, the full infinitive stays together at the end.
das Fußballtraining
football practice; soccer practice
Zum Fußballtraining gehen means 'to go to football practice.'
Not allowed or not necessary?
English 'must not' becomes nicht dürfen: an action is forbidden. English 'do not have to' becomes nicht müssen: an action is not necessary, but it is still allowed. Do not translate 'must not' as nicht müssen.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Prohibition | du darfst nicht + infinitive | Du darfst nicht rennen. — You must not run. |
| No obligation | du musst nicht + infinitive | Du musst nicht rennen. — You do not have to run. |
Modal verbs and word order
When speaking directly to one child, use du with darfst or musst. In these statements, the modal verb comes second and the main verb goes at the end in its infinitive form. Nicht does not always come directly after the modal verb.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Rule | Du + darfst + nicht + other information + infinitive | Du darfst nicht in der Küche Fußball spielen. |
| Optional activity | Du + musst + heute + nicht + other information + infinitive | Du musst heute nicht zum Fußballtraining gehen. |
| Object before nicht | Du + darfst + object + nicht + infinitive | Du darfst das Taschengeld deines Freundes nicht ausgeben. |
More examples
Du darfst heute nicht Fahrrad fahren.
You must not ride your bike today.
A firm rule: riding the bike is not allowed today.
Du musst heute nicht Fahrrad fahren.
You do not have to ride your bike today.
A choice: riding the bike is not necessary today.