Most of the modal verbs are irregular. In the chapter
past
tenses we have already seen some remarks about modal
verbs. More in detail we'll discuss them in chapter modal
verbs. Modal verbs are those verbs that don't actually
express an activity in itself but give an additional
quality to the main verbs.
She must
buyshoes.
She can buy
shoes.
She shall
buy shoes.
She may buy
shoes.
Let's have a look at the conjunctive I of modal verbs.
In English we'll notice that actually with the modal verbs
the conjunctive does not work with would as a modal -
which is actually logical that you two modals are not
to be used in one construction. Therefore the modal itself
is put into imperfect.
dürfen
*
present
conjunctive
I
English
ich darf
ich dürfe
I may
du darfst
du dürfest
you may
er / sie / es darf
er / sie / es dürfe
he / she / it may
wir dürfen
wir dürfen
we may
ihr dürft
ihr dürfet
you may
sie dürfen
sie dürfen
they may
können
*
present
conjunctive I
English
ich kann
ich könne
I can
du kannst
du könnest
you can
er / sie / es kann
er / sie / es könne
he / she / it can
wir können
wir können
we can
ihr könnt
ihr könnet
you can
sie können
sie können
they can
* only the modal müssen in the form of "to have to" is
put into conjunctive with would (he would have to) because there is no distinctive
form of to must to recognise the conjunctive (or better
the imperfect).
