GrammarA1· Im Café

Modalverben: möchten und können

Modal verbs: would like and can

Kartoffel · your teacher

Hi! Let's look at this one together — step by step, no rush.

6 parts · about 4 min

1What & when

In one line

In a statement, möchte or kann comes second; the other verb goes last.

Before

Ich trinke einen Kaffee.

Watch the sentence change …

möchte takes and changes for the person. trinke goes to the very end in its dictionary form: trinken.

„Ich möchte einen Kaffee trinken.“ — I'd like to drink a coffee.

Kartoffel

First, what is it?

möchten (would like) and können (can) are . A modal verb is a helper verb. It adds a wish or an ability to another verb. It also changes the shape of the sentence: the other verb moves to the very end.

Kartoffel

And when do you need it? More often than you'd think:

Im CaféIn a café you hear and use them all the time. The waiter asks what you want (). You ask for the bill (). When the German is too fast, you ask for help ().

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