Intermediate German Grammar Topics
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German-The General Subjunctive (Konjunktiv II)4 Topics
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German-The Past Subjunctive (Konjunktiv II)4 Topics
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German-Konjunktiv II Double Infinitive4 Topics
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German-Infinitive Clauses4 Topics
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German-"anstatt zu" and "ohne zu"4 Topics
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German-Passive Voice Present Tense4 Topics
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German-Passive Voice Modal Verbs4 Topics
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German-Passive Voice Alternatives4 Topics
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German-The Verb lassen4 Topics
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German-Relative Clauses4 Topics
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German-Modal Particles4 Topics
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German-Genitive Prepositions4 Topics
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German-Als Ob and Als Wenn4 Topics
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German-Haben + Double Infinitive4 Topics
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German-Two-Part Conjunctions4 Topics
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German-Demonstrative Pronouns4 Topics
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German-Verbs with Prepositions4 Topics
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German-Je... desto... umso Clauses4 Topics
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German-Relative Pronoun Types4 Topics
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German-Selber and Selbst4 Topics
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German-Uses of Es4 Topics
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German-Idioms4 Topics
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German-Review of all Tenses4 Topics
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German-Accusative and Dative Prepositions Review4 Topics
Participants 265
Lesson-German Haben + Double Infinitive
Stephen Sovenyhazy April 22, 2024
1. Modal Verbs in the Present tense.
When using modal verbs in the present tense in German, we must remember that their conjugation pattern is irregular, and that they are typically used with another verb in the infinitive, which moves to the end of the sentence or clause.
Examples:
Ich muss ihn heute anrufen. I must call him today.
Wir können morgen losfahren. We can depart tomorrow.
2. Modal Verbs in the simple past (Pretäritum)
When forming sentences in the simple past (Pretäritum), we need to use the simple past of conjugation of the modal verb, but the second verb will stay in the infinitive and remains at the end of the sentence.
Examples:
Ich musste ihn heute anrufen. I had to call him today.
Wir konnten gestern losfahren. We were able to depart yesterday.
3. Modal verbs in the present perfect (das Perfekt)
All modal verbs use “haben” to form the present perfect. They each have a participle, as they can be used without an accompanying infinitive, in which case they act like irregular strong verbs.
Examples:
Ich habe das gedurft. I was allowed (to do) that.
Sie hat es gemusst. She had to (do it.)
When the modal verb is associated with another verb in the sentence, we need to form a double infinitive, with the modal verb in the infinitive at the very end, preceded by the other verb in the infinitive.
Examples:
Ich habe ihn gestern anrufen müssen. I have had to call him yesterday.
Wir haben es nicht wissen können. We could not have known that.