Video Lesson V-G0009

die Modalverben 1/6

modal verbs 1/6

Video Lesson V-G0009

die Modalverben 1/6
modal verbs 1/6

© Institut Winkler Press 2008. All rights reserved.

Video Lesson V-G0009
die Modalverben 1/6
modal verbs 1/6

Institut Winkler Press

Kirsten Winkler
la cour es menou
35190 La Baussaine
France

www.iwpress.net

www.deutschhappen.com
www.learngerman4free.com
www.deutschsprechen.net

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 Video Lesson V-G0009
die Modalverben 1/6
modal verbs 1/6

The modal verbs wollen and möchten

Hi this is Kirsten. Welcome to the first of six videos about „Modalverben“ modalverbs.
Modalverbs change the meaning of a sentence. In most sentences with modalverbs you will find two
verbs, the modalverb which will be conjugated and a verb in its infinitiv.

Modalverbs can have six different meanings:

1) a wish
2) a possibility, an ability
3) an offer, a demand
4) an advice
5) a need
6) a permission, a prohibition

In this first video we will learn the modalverb for expressing a wish. The two modalverbs in german
for expressing a wish are wollen and möchten. Wollen is considered as a bit rude and can be best
translated with „to want something“. möchten is more polite and can be translated with „would like
to“.

As I already mentioned, the modalverb will be conjugated in the sentence and the verb you use
stays in its infinitiv. Here is an example:

I want to sleep.
Ich will schlafen.

The modalverb „wollen“ is conjugated in the first person singular, present tense. The verb
„schlafen“ to sleep is in its infinitiv. Second example:

You want to sleep.

Du willst schlafen.

This time „wollen“ is conjugated in the second person singular, present tense. The verb „schlafen“
stays in the infinitiv.

1 © Institut Winkler Press 2008. All rights reserved.

Video Lesson V-G0009
die Modalverben 1/6
modal verbs 1/6
And here are two examples with „möchten“, as you know, the more polite way.

He would like to eat.

Er möchte essen.

They would like to eat.

Sie möchten essen.

Same pattern as „wollen“. The „möchten“ is conjugated, „essen“ stays in the infinitiv.

You will find the conjugations of „wollen“ and „möchten“ in the present tense underneath this
video.

Thanks for watching this video lesson of Deutsch Happen. If you liked it, please subscribe to my
YouTube channel and visit my free website www.deutschhappen.com. See you in the second part of
modalverbs, expressing a possibility or an ability.

© Institut Winkler Press 2008. All rights reserved. 2

 Video Lesson V-G0009
die Modalverben 1/6
modal verbs 1/6

Conjugation of wollen in the Present Tense

ich will
du willst
er, sie, es will
wir wollen
ihr wollt
sie, Sie wollen

Conjugation of möchten in the Present Tense

ich möchte
du möchtest
er, sie, es möchte
wir möchten
ihr möchtet
sie, Sie möchten

3 © Institut Winkler Press 2008. All rights reserved.