wollen ‘to intend to/want to’ (see 103 )
dürfen ‘to be allowed/permitted to’ (see 104.2)
mögen ‘to like to’NOTE The use of mögen as a modal is actually quite rare in this meaning; other constructions such as
gern(e) machen are much more common: Ich gehe gern(e) nach Paris ‘I like going to Paris’
(see also 39.3d).
sollen ‘to be expected to/thought to/believed to’ (see 86.1e, p. 310)Note that this verb expresses other people’s anticipation or expectation.lassen ‘to allow/cause something to happen or someone to do something’
möchten ‘would like to’NOTE This is actually a Subjunctive II form (see 39.2) of mögen, and is a common polite alternative to
wollen.
(b) In addition to their main meanings, the following idiomatic meanings should be
noted:können often covers the meaning of dürfen:Kann ich morgen zum Fußballspiel?
Can/May I go to the football match tomorrow?See 42.3i (p. 116).
or it can express supposition:Das kann die Antwort sein.
That may be the answer.müssen with a negative (nicht, kein) means ‘doesn’t have to’:Das müssen Sie nicht sagen.
You don’t have to say that.See also 86.4 (p. 316).
müssen can express an assumption or a deduction:Er muss schon gegessen haben.
He must already have eaten.Er muss schon gegangen sein.
He must already have gone.Das müsste reichen.
That should/ought to be enough.See also 35.7 (p. 80), 39.3d (p. 95) and 89.1 (p. 322).
35
VERBS