Modal verbs: kënnen, mussen, wëllen, sollen, däerfen
Modal verbs: kënnen, mussen, wëllen, sollen, däerfen
Can use modal verbs to express ability, obligation, and wishes
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Ech kann Lëtzebuergesch schwätzen.
I can speak Luxembourgish.
Du muss moie fréi opstoen.
You must get up early tomorrow.
Mir wëllen iesse goen.
We want to go eat.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
D'Modalverben am Lëtzebuergeschen:
| Verb | Bedeitung | ech | du | hien | mir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| kënnen | can | kann | kanns | kann | kënnen |
| mussen | must | muss | muss | muss | mussen |
| wëllen | want | wëll | wëlls | wëll | wëllen |
| sollen | should | soll | solls | soll | sollen |
| däerfen | may | däerf | däerfs | däerf | däerfen |
Sazstruktur: Modal + ... + Infinitiv um Enn: Ech kann Lëtzebuergesch schwätzen.
Common Error Patterns
Infinitive not at end of sentence
Modal verbs: conjugated modal in position 2, infinitive at end
Ech kann Lëtzebuergesch schwätzen.
I can speak Luxembourgish.
Modal verb kann in position 2, infinitive schwätzen at end of sentence.
Du muss moie fréi opstoen.
You must get up early tomorrow.
Muss + infinitive at end. Opstoen = to get up (separable).
Mir wëllen iesse goen.
We want to go eat.
Wëllen + double infinitive (iessen + goen). Goen = to go.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises