Hello everyone,
And welcome to a quick new summer episode of the epic series
Sounding More Authentic in German
In this series, I tell you about everyday words and phrasings that you’re probably not using enough. Or too much. Either way, it’s easy tweaks for you to make your German sound way more authentic.
And today, we’ll talk about
Naked Modal Verbs
Heck yeah, some NSFW content. Make sure to not read that at work.
Seriously though, what I mean by naked modal verbs are modal verbs that come without a follow up verb.
- I can’t to the park.
This sounds super weird in English, but in German, it’s super duper common.
- Ich kann nicht in den Park.
This is super idiomatic.
Like… in gamer terms, this structure is basically a permanent Authenticity+20 skill.
Today, we’ll learn all about this and also clear up a common misunderstanding about them that you can find when you ask about these phrasings. So if you’re ready, let’s dive in.
The core thing of modal verbs in German, English and many other languages is that they kind of “modify” another verb.
- Ich kann Deutsch sprechen.
- I can speak German.
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
- Ich muss jetzt gehen.
- I must go now.
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
But in spoken German, this is actually pretty flexible.
- Ich kann Deutsch.
- I can speak German. /I know German.
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
- Ich muss los.
- I gotta go. / I have to head out.
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
These are super natural and common in daily life. I would even say they’re more natural than the version where the verb is present.
Learners are actually often confused by these when they first see them and think that the verb is omitted. And that’s also often the explanation you’ll find online.
But that’s not really it!
When hear “Ich muss los.” for example, I do NOT really supplement a specific verb in my mind. I wouldn’t even know which one. gehen makes the most sense, logically, but it doesn’t FEEL like it was missing. It would feel artificially added.
Rather, to my native speaker brain, losmüssen is basically a normal verb.
And same for “Ich kann Deutsch.”. I do NOT feel like sprechen is omitted. Instead, können feels like a complete verb by itself. A bit like “have knowledge” or “have command of”. Or even simply “I know German.”
Let’s look at a few more examples.
- Morgen muss ich ins Büro.
- I have to go to the office tomorrow.
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
- Ich kann morgen nicht zum Yoga.
- I can’t go to yoga tomorrow.
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
- Ich will ans Meer.
- I want to go to the sea.
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
- “Miau”
“Yo, ich glaub, deine Katze will rein.” - “Meow.”
“Yo, I think your cat wants to be let inside/in.”
(here, we can use the same phrasing in English,
I think, but let me know in case I’m wrong.)
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
- Darf deine Katze raus?
- Is your cat allowed to go outside?
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
In all of these, we basically have the modal verb and some sort of direction, and that’s definitely the most common pattern.
You can also sometimes with just time sometimes.
- Ich kann bis 6.
- I can till 6.
And you’ll even hear the following sometimes.
- Kann ich noch ein Bier?
- Can I have another beer?
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
This does sound a bit childish though, and here, it does feel like the verb haben was just skipped.
The phrasings with a direction though sound totally valid by themselves.
And like I said… they may sound SUPER weird when you translate them to English.
- I can home earlier today.
This sounds awful, but trust me… the German version sounds super authentic.
- Ich kann heute früher nach Hause.
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
And again… it does NOT feel like we just skipped gehen.
Putting gehen in there does not feel like COMPLETING something. It feels like ADDING something EXTRA.
To me, nach Hause können almost feels like a verb in its own right.
Like… take this example of two people sorting through their clothes to de-clutter a bit:
- “Was ist mit dem Pullover? Brauchst du den noch?”
“Nein, der kann weg.“ - “What about the sweater? Do you still need it?”
“No, it can away.” (“No, it can be put away”)
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
Here, it’s completely unclear which verb you’d even put there. Nothing really fits. Like… if you were to add gehen, that would actually sound wrong.
if you really wanted to add something, you’d need a passive voice construction, but it’d still be completely unclear what the verb is … be thrown away? Be put away? Be laid aside?
We don’t know and it doesn’t matter, because in the native speaker’s mind, there wasn’t anything that then got skipped. wegkönnen is just a verb by itself and it combined the modality of can with a direction.
So yeah, I know that using this type of phrasing might feel weird to your brain at first and takes a bit of getting used to, but it’s definitely worth the effort, because it’s just so idiomatic.
At least for the phrasings that involve a location or destination in some way.
Maybe don’t do the “Can I another beer?” stuff, or at least wait till you heard it from native speakers a few times.
And I think that’s where we’ll wrap it up for today.
Now, I first wanted to do a quiz of course, but then I couldn’t think of enough questions, so I then decided to skip it. But then, I got an idea of how to do it, but I also kind of want to get this post out before going camping. So yeah… maybe later.
Meanwhile, let me know any questions you have about this in the comments. You’re also welcome to try out some examples, and I’ll give you feedback on them. And if you feel like it, share how it works in your native language. Like… does this work in Spanish for instance? I feel like the Romance language can’t do it, but maybe I’m wrong.
So yeah… let’s talk more in the comments. I really hope you enjoyed this one, have a great week and wir sehen uns nächstes Mal.
Bis dann!
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It is worth pointing out that German can have two modal verbs in one sentence whereas English only allows one modal verb in a sentence.
I never noticed that but it’s true.
– Das muss man können.
– You must can that.
The reason is (I think) that some German modal verbs can stand by themselves with a direct object.
– Ich kann das.
– Ich mag das.
– Ich will das.
So these can be then combined with a modal verb. And this even works for “sollen” which CAN’T stand by itself.
– Ich soll das. … nope
I just started reading up on C1 grammar topics and one of the first is “subjective modal verbs.” Some examples that seem new to me include “Er soll/will im Lotto gewonnen haben” and “Er dürfte krank sein.” In hindsight I wonder if I have misunderstood things I’ve read in the past due to not knowing about this “subjective” usage. How common or important are these usages? Do you have any blog posts to help with it?
Wow, this should be taught earlier than C1 because they actually are fairly common. Not all of them equally, but “sollen” for the “allegedly” is, and same for an assuming “dürfte”.
I don’t have a dedicated article about this type of use, but I do have one about “dürfen” in particular. I can’t remember if I talked about this sense there, but here it is:
https://yourdailygerman.com/meaning-duerfen-german/
I also talk about uses of modal verbs in the basic lesson about them:
https://yourdailygerman.com/german-modal-verbs/
And I think I should do an article on “sollen” :).
In English we do have things like “I want out,” or “The dog wants in.” But want isn’t exactly a modal verb, so maybe it doesn’t count (even though you used “will” as an example).
Yeah, “want” technically isn’t a modal verb, but it’s a great bridge to the German phrasing. And the German translation of “want” (will) is a modal verb. The definition of “modal verb” is not as clear and consistent across languages than textbooks would have us believe.
So if I understand the article, as long as there is a sense of direction or implication of what is being done; then I can drop the 2nd verb. For example, Ich muss zur Arbeit instead of Ich muss zur Arbeit gehen.
That’s a good guideline, but it’s important to keep in mind that it doesn’t feel like “gehen” was skipped.
And it’s not always about location.
– “Thomas?”
– “Ich kann grad nicht.”
Here, the core message is that he cannot pay attention to whatever the other person wants but many verbs could fit here in theory.
Does this feel like part of the verb was skipped? And would it sound stiff or funny at all if there was something extra at the end, like “hingegangen”?
Great example!!
There is residue of a movement verb, but it’s really really uninteresting which it was. Could be “gehen”, or “fahren” or even “fliegen” if you talk about a very far away place.It doesn’t feel like something is missing.
Great article, honestly buying the lifetime subscription for your website was the best decision i made in my German learning-journey. Thanks
Wow, happy to hear that :)!
I was in Berlin about two weeks ago, the same day there was “swim-in” in the Spree. Someone told us it was part of a movement to try to make that part of the river open for swimming again.
Are there places where the river doesn’t have concrete banks? I was hoping to find a spot like that, but we were only there a few days.
I had this idea that Berlin would be like NYC, but it seems so much cleaner and greener. And quieter.
Treptower Park, Insel der Jugend and Alt-Stralau are an area where the river is much much wider and the banks for low. There’s even ladders every 20 meters. The portion in Mitte is shit in comparison. You really feel like you’re in a lake when you are at my secret beach on Alt Stralau.
Yes, Berlin is quiet and green and yet, it has the culture and party that a capital city should have. It’s not an “urban” city in most parts and you’re rarely more than 10 minutes away from a big park, a bunch of connected green backyards or some Kleingartenanlage.
Oh, that sounds great. I really like the green and the spread-out-ness. The vibe, too. That part does remind me of NY. Wish we’d had more time there, and Bucharest too.
Hah, Bucharest was the only city where I felt like “This has a shot at being “tHe NeXt BeRlIn” that people are always searching.
It’s not as green though, the green-ness is really underrated and underappreciated.
While I would likely try to force the 2nd verb in as a learning, reading the examples makes sense to me because there is usually a direction implied, like you said:
This is good to know though in the event a book, newletter, etc is written more idiomatically — might help reduce a little confusion!
Also, I think the German ‘miau’ is hilarious and adorable compared to the English ‘meow’ :D
Im truly grateful for this opportunity that was given to me by the donors. Thank you everyone who made this possible. I will do my best to use this opportunity to its fullest potential.
Emanuel과 YDG 커뮤니티로부터 더 없이 깊은 감동을 받았습니다, 기회가 된다면 독일에서 꼭 만나서 은혜를 갚고 싶습니다 나도 에마누엘처럼 훌륭한 사람이 되고 싶어요 (: )X
Thank you :)
I’ll post the translation here from Korean for others who are curious (Google Translate):
Ich war tief berührt von Emanuel und der YDG-Community. Wenn ich die Chance habe, würde ich sie gerne in Deutschland treffen und ihre Freundlichkeit erwidern. Ich möchte auch ein großartiger Mensch wie Emanuel sein (: )X
I just want to thank everyone who paid a little extra to support those who can’t. Your generosity is making this journey possible for me and I couldn’t do it without you.
Yo, I think your cat wants inside.
Sounds kinda wrong / rather unidiomatic to me but that might just be me. Could be there are other english dialects where thats normal. Its definitely understandable and I think if i heard it from a native speaker in a setting where colloquial english was being spoken i’d just assume they were just being playful with the grammar.
To me, it sounds better with, “hey, your cat wants in”.
well, that definitely that sounds fine if you were planning some kind of fun adventure or lucrative business venture the cat wanted to get inolved in..
coming inside though, not sure. What kinda english do you speak?
Yeah, in my (Australian-English) book that phrasing only works in the “be a part of” something sense (such as a deal, or a plan more generally) and definitely not in the sense of “inside”.
American, and I considered the “wanting in to the deal” thing. But I still think if I was at someones house and I saw the cat pawing at the door, I might say “hey, the cat wants in”. But it definitely sounds shortened, while the German equivalent is normal.
I (from Canada) agree with Jeffrey.
We don’t say the cat wants inside.
We say “the cat wants in” and “the cat wants out”.
However, if you google the words “the cat wants in” and “the cat wants inside” you will get hits for both phrases, although the first one will produce more hits.
North Americans may associate the topic with Garrison Kiellor’s “Songs of the Cat” CD which he recorded with Frederica von Stade. I can’t highlight on this comment with say, yellow background, but if you look at the third point of this description about that, copied off the internet, you will see the phrase “eternal cat dilemma of WANTING IN AND OUT.”
In 1991, Frederica von Stade collaborated with Garrison Keillor on the recording Songs of the Cat (with pianist Richard Dworsky). The album is a playful mix of songs, poems, and humorous sketches all themed around cats.
Native English Speaker here. This construct sounds totally natural. So does “wants inside” to my ear, thought “wants in (out)” is more natural sounding. And before you ask: Southern California.
I’d default to “wants in,” but “wants inside” wouldn’t jump out at me as wrong or non-native either. (also AE)
“I’m wanting inside” sounds like West coast of Scotland, to my ear.
Yes we can!
I have been noticing this at work recently!! German colleagues will type „ich muss in den nächsten Call“ … and I would wonder where the gehen went? Now i know :D
Hah, yeah, great example. Super common.
As a parent, “ab ins Bett!”
Here, the case and preposition have the real information, so you don’t need a verb too. Then we can add a modal verb to this, because it is already a informationally complete phrase, “du musst jetzt ins Bett!”. But something like “ein Bier” isn’t complete and so “ich kann ein Bier” isn’t complete and sounds lazy or like you’ve maybe already had one too many.
But, to me “ich kann noch ein Bier” is ok? “Noch ein Bier” feels like it has the necessary completeness.
“Ich kann noch ein Bier.” definitely sounds incomplete, but it could work if the context is set. Like… you’re discussing with your friends whether to take another one or leave. Better not do it as a learner though, people will just think it’s a mistake.
Or as a grandparent, “Ab in die Posen!”
:-)
I don’t get it :=(
Hahaha, yeah a drunk person might say that.
Guest: Kannichnoeins?
Bartender: Ich glaube, du hattest genug.
Guest: Neeee, eins kannischnoch.
Lololol
Aber was macht er mit dem Kaninchen?? (Ja ja ich weiß, kann ich noch eins)
Das hat ein paar Sekunden bei mir gedauert :)
I’m a bit confused about _der kann weg_ – is it put away or throw away? Those are very different, in British English at least. Put away is to put something where it belongs, like in a drawer or a cupboard for a sweater, or putting away the milk in the fridge. (But I just realised it doesn’t work for rubbish – even though it belongs in the bin we’d never say we’re putting it away there.)
And yes, “the cat wants out” is idiomatic English but quite colloquial. “Is the cat allowed out/ is the cat allowed outside” is pretty standard.
(My German is less advanced than some here, hence having more to say about English – but I love all these articles. One of my favourite things about learning languages is how it makes me think about my first language in ways I otherwise wouldn’t.)
It completely depends on the context. You can’t know from the sentence alone. The common theme is that “thing” is not here anymore. Someone in another comment mentioned this:
– Ist das Kunst oder kann das weg?
Here,there’s a strong implication that we’re talking about “removing” as in “throwing away”. But it could be “weggeräumt werden” or” weggeschmissen werden”… so you’d need a passive construction.
– Ich kann nicht weg, wegen der Wäsche.
Here, the implication is that I can’t leave. So the verb could be “gehen” or “fahren” or whatever.
Nein! Du kannst jetzt aufhören. Ich habe seit Jahren Fragen darüber. Ich will mehr. Ich freue mich sehr das du diese Thema angefangen hat. Du muss auf jeden Fall weiter gehen. (oder soll ich sage nur “Du muss auf jeden Fall weiter.” <chuckles>)
Es schient mir, das es viele ‘gehen’ gibt verschwunden sind. Ja ja ja, ich weiss – und du hast gesagt – das nichts ist verschwunden.
Du muss gut verstehen wie schwerig das für uns ist, oder? Bei einer Sprache in der “Sie sieht schön aus” MUSS das ‘aus’ haben um verstehen zu sein…. alles oder nichts, ja? (I do understand this…just go with me on this rant…).
Aber dann hast du geschrieben:
Meine Augen weit offen. Mein Kopf beginnt zu schmerzen. Es kann nicht sein! Dieser Satz ist der einzige der auf English total geht.
Ich habe sooooo viele Fragen für dich.
zB “Ich will das Flugzeug” geht das? Wie wäre es damit: ” Sie soll ihm ” (there’s some good potential there, no?)
Du musst uns, eh…mir vor allem, versprechen, dass Sie dieses Thema auf jeden Fall schaffen werden. Cliffhanger!
:)
This does sound like I have to continue elsewhere. Like… you chat with a friend in the street and you’re like “Sorry, aber ich muss weiter, ich hab nicht viel Zeit.”
It’s a nice example for how “gehen” would actually sound weird even though it’s the core thing you want to do.
Was willst du denn zu diesem Thema noch wissen? Sag Bescheid :)
Yes, good one! Und wie ist es mit “Du kannst mich mal?” Weiss jeder, dass wir “am Arsch lecken” meinen?
I think this one is intentionally omitting the end, to avoid too much perversity :-D But it’s well pointed though ;-)
Yeah, this one is clear and unambiguous, so I think most people would know.
In addition,
“Ich kann’s nicht mehr ab!”
“Ich muss halt weg.”
“Du, was soll’s?