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WORD GRAMMAR
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Verb
- Conjugation in indicative
- Person and number
- Tenses
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- Valency
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- Noun
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Verb
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SENTENCE GRAMMAR
- Clause types
- Complex clauses
- Constituents of a sentence
- Sentence structure
- Word order in a sentence
- Negation
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. |
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.