Ich mag ihn sehr.
I like him a lot.
Ich habe ihn sehr gemocht.
I liked him a lot.
Ich will das Geld nicht.
I don’t want the money.
Ich habe das Geld nicht gewollt.
I didn’t want the money.
Ich lasse den Scheck auf dem Tisch.
I’m leaving the cheque on the table.
Ich habe den Scheck auf dem Tisch gelassen.
I (have) left the cheque on the table.
(c) Note that the ‘double infinitive’ pattern is also found with the verbs of perception
listed in 35.1, with the meaning ‘to hear/see/feel something happen/happening’:
Viele Leute haben das Ende der DDR nicht kommen sehen.
Many people did not see the end of the GDR coming.
Hast du sie singen hören?
Have you heard her sing/singing?
Haben Sie ihn atmen sehen?
Have you seen him breathe/breathing? (Did you see him breathe/
breathing?)35.4 Word order of modal verbs
For the word order used in modal constructions see 5.2e (p. 8), 5.4 (p. 9), 8.6 (p. 12) and
35.3 (p. 76).35.5 Omitting the infinitive
Note the tendency for the infinitive to be omitted when the meaning is obvious from
the context:
Nächste Woche muss ich nach Köln.
Next week I have to go to Cologne.
Ich kann ein bisschen Spanisch.
I can speak a little Spanish.See also 42.3i (p. 116)
35.6 Meanings of the modal verbs
See 35.1 (p. 74).
The modal verbs have a range of general and special meanings:(a) The general meanings are:
können ‘to be able to/have the ability to’ (see 87 and 97 )
müssen ‘to have to/be obliged to’ (see 85 )35
Modal verbs