Dürfen is a German auxiliary verb used to express permission, allowance, or the possibility of doing something. It translates to may, to be allowed, or to have permission in English. It is a modal verb, which means it is used together with the infinitive form of another verb to modify its meaning. Dürfen is irregular in its conjugation.
Usage of dürfen
Dürfen is primarily used to ask for permission, to give or deny permission, and to express that something is allowed or forbidden. It can also be used to indicate that something might be possible.
- Ich darf gehen. – I may go. / I am allowed to go.
- Darf ich rauchen? – May I smoke?
- Du darfst hier nicht parken. – You are not allowed to park here.
- Wir dürfen spät bleiben. – We are allowed to stay late.
How is dürfen used in German?
It is used to express permission, allowance, prohibition, and possibility.
**Dürfen** primarily expresses whether someone is allowed to do something, whether an action is permitted or forbidden, and in polite forms, whether something is possibly allowed.
Conjugation of dürfen
Here is the full conjugation of dürfen in the indicative mood (present, simple past) and subjunctive II (used for polite requests), as well as the past participle used in the perfect tense.
| Pronoun | Present | Simple Past | Subjunctive II | English (I form) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | darf | durfte | dürfte | I may / was allowed / would be allowed |
| du | darfst | durftest | dürftest | You may / were allowed / would be allowed |
| er/sie/es | darf | durfte | dürfte | He/she/it may / was allowed / would be allowed |
| wir | dürfen | durften | dürften | We may / were allowed / would be allowed |
| ihr | dürft | durftet | dürftet | You (pl.) may / were allowed / would be allowed |
| sie/Sie | dürfen | durften | dürften | They/You (formal) may / were allowed / would be allowed |
- Past Participle: gedurft
- Auxiliary Verb: haben
- Perfect Tense Example: Ich habe gehen dürfen. – I have been allowed to go.
Examples in Context
Asking for and granting permission
- Darf ich das Fenster öffnen? – May I open the window?
- Ja, du darfst. – Yes, you may.
- Darf ich später kommen? – May I come later?
- Nein, du darfst nicht. – No, you are not allowed.
Expressing prohibition
- Du darfst hier nicht schwimmen. – You are not allowed to swim here.
- Kinder dürfen nachts nicht alleine draußen sein. – Children are not allowed to be outside alone at night.
Indicating possibility or polite suggestion (Subjunctive II)
- Dürfte ich Sie kurz sprechen? – Might I speak with you briefly? (formal, polite)
- Wir dürften um 20 Uhr fertig sein. – We should be finished by 8 pm.
Summary
- Dürfen means may or to be allowed.
- It is a modal verb expressing permission or prohibition.
- It is irregular: stem changes from dürf- but uses darf- in 1st/3rd person singular.
- Used with another verb in the infinitive (e.g., dürfen gehen).
- Can be formalized or softened using Subjunctive II (dürfte...).
- Past participle is gedurft, used with haben.
Understanding dürfen helps you navigate permission and rules in German conversation and writing.
What are the key points to remember about dürfen?
It means 'may' or 'be allowed'; is irregular; uses infinitive; past participle **gedurft**; expresses permission, prohibition, and polite requests.
These points summarize the usage, conjugation, and function of **dürfen** in German grammar.
Flashcards (1 of 6)
- Pronoun: ich
- Present: darf
- Simple Past: durfte
- Subjunctive II: dürfte
- English (I form): I may / was allowed / would be allowed
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
