A2 · SUPPLEMENTARY GRAMMAR PRACTICE
Modal verbs in the Präteritum with infinitives
Past modal forms often appear with a final infinitive. Learn konnte, musste, durfte, wollte, sollte and mochte. Distinguish obligation, permission and ability. Umlauts disappear in konnte, musste, durfte and mochte, unlike the corresponding Konjunktiv II forms könnte, müsste, dürfte and möchte.
Reference
| Present | Past ich / er / sie / es |
|---|---|
| kann | konnte |
| muss | musste |
| darf | durfte |
| will | wollte |
| soll | sollte |
| mag | mochte |
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Use it yourself
Write or say two new sentences using this pattern. Compare the forms and word order with the reference above.
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