Subjective meaning of modal verbs

CA108

The subjective meaning of the modal verbs states the speaker's attitude towards the content of his/her statement. Through the subjective meaning of the modal verbs either the likelihood of a fact is assessed (hypothesis) or speech is reported i.e. the words of somebody.

Modal verbs that express hypothesis

modal verb	Examples	progression of possibility	transcription
müssen in the indicative	Paul muss um diese Zeit zu Hause sein.	95%	certainly
müssen in the Konjunktiv II	Paul müsste um diese Zeit zu Hause sein.	85%	most probably
dürfen in the Konjunktiv II	Paul dürfte um diese Zeit zu Hause sein.	75%	probably
können in the indicative	Paul kann um diese Zeit zu Hause sein.	50%	maybe
können in the Konjunktiv II	Paul könnte um diese Zeit zu Hause sein.	40%	possibly

Note on nur können

When the modal verb können is accompanied by the word nur, it shares the same meaning with müssen.

Example
Das kann nur eine Verwechslung sein.	=	Das muss eine Verwechslung sein.

CA108A

Negated modal verbs that express hypothesis

When modal verbs are negated, the levels of possibility described in the table above are differentiated. Negated können expresses something impossible.

affirmation	progression of possibility		negation *
Paul muss um diese Zeit zu Hause sein.	95%	95%	Paul kann um diese Zeit nicht zu Hause sein.
Paul müsste um diese Zeit zu Hause sein.	85%	85%	---
Paul dürfte um diese Zeit zu Hause sein.	75%	75%	Paul dürfte um diese Zeit nicht zu Hause sein.
Paul kann um diese Zeit zu Hause sein.	50%	50%	---
Paul könnte um diese Zeit zu Hause sein.	45%	40%	---

* only limited possibility.

CA108B

Indirect speech (reporting someone's statement)

Modal verbs sollen and wollen are used to report someone's words.

Sollen reports the statement of one or more people - who are not mentioned in the sentence- regarding the subject of the sentence. The speaker reports this statement without expressing his/her own attitude towards the truthfulness of the statement.

Example		transcription
Lisa soll schwanger sein.	=	Eine dritte Person / man behauptet, dass Lisa schwanger ist.

We use wollen to report a statement made by the sentence subject regarding the subject itself. This subject can only be in the 2nd or 3rd person. Thus, the speaker can report someone's statement regarding oneself and, at the same time, express a doubt regarding the truthfulness of this statement.

Example		transcription
Anton will der schnellste Läufer sein.	=	Anton behauptet, dass er der schnellste Läufer ist.

CA108C

Modal verbs, when used with their subjective meaning, refer mostly to the present time.

Examples	time
Paul muss zu Hause sein.	present
Paul soll zu Hause sein.	present

When, however, the hypothesis or the reported statement of someone refer to the past, the modal verb is combined with a perfect infinitive (Infinitiv II).

Examples	present	past
Paul muss zu Hause	sein	gewesen sein
Paul soll zu Hause	sein	gewesen sein

If the hypothesis or the reported statement are made in the past, the modal verb is in the Präteritum and is connected either with a present infinitive (simultaneity) or a perfect infinitive (anteriority). Under no circumstances is the modal verb in the present perfect, past perfect or in the future tenses.