Meaning and Usage
The verb mögen means to like in English. It is commonly used to express liking or preference for people, objects, or activities. In German, mögen can also be used in polite requests or to express general liking, similar to its English counterpart.
Conjugation Overview
Mögen is an irregular modal verb and changes form depending on the subject and tense. It is often seen in the present and subjunctive moods, and sometimes combined with infinitives of other verbs for expressing desires or preferences.
Present Tense Conjugation
The present tense conjugation of mögen is irregular and must be memorized. It is used to talk about what someone likes currently or generally.
| German Pronoun | German Conjugation | English Conjugation | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | mag | I like | Ich mag Schokolade. | I like chocolate. |
| du | magst | you like (singular) | Magst du Kaffee? | Do you like coffee? |
| er/sie/es | mag | he/she/it likes | Er mag Fußball. | He likes soccer. |
| wir | mögen | we like | Wir mögen Musik. | We like music. |
| ihr | mögt | you like (plural) | Ihr mögt Filme? | Do you like movies? |
| sie/Sie | mögen | they/you like (formal) | Sie mögen Bücher. | They/You like books. |
Past Tense Conjugation (Simple Past)
In simple past (Präteritum), mögen changes to mochte, which is also irregular. It is used less often in conversational German but appears in written texts.
| German Pronoun | German Conjugation | English Conjugation | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | mochte | I liked | Ich mochte den Film. | I liked the movie. |
| du | mochtest | you liked | Mochtest du das Essen? | Did you like the food? |
| er/sie/es | mochte | he/she/it liked | Sie mochte das Lied. | She liked the song. |
| wir | mochten | we liked | Wir mochten das Spiel. | We liked the game. |
| ihr | mochtet | you liked (plural) | Ihr mochtet das Konzert. | You liked the concert. |
| sie/Sie | mochten | they/you liked | Sie mochten die Ausstellung. | They/You liked the exhibition. |
Usage in Polite Requests and Subjunctive
The subjunctive form of mögen (möchte) is commonly used to make polite requests or express wishes, similar to "would like" in English. It is often combined with other verbs in infinitive.
Example:
- Ich möchte ein Wasser. (I would like some water.)
- Möchtest du kommen? (Would you like to come?)
This makes mögen highly versatile in daily conversation and polite language situations.
