Müssen is one of the six modal verbs in German. It is used to indicate that something is necessary or obligatory. It can translate to “must,” “have to,” or “need to” in English, depending on the context.
Key Points:
- Müssen is always followed by an infinitive verb at the end of the sentence.
- It changes form according to the subject (ich muss, du musst, er/sie/es muss, etc.).
- It appears in the perfect tense with haben (e.g., ich habe ... gemusst).
- It can be used in statements, questions, and negative sentences.
Conjugation
Present Tense
| Singular | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| ich muss | wir müssen | I must / we must |
| du musst | ihr müsst | you must (sing.) / you must (pl.) |
| er/sie/es muss | sie/Sie müssen | he/she/it must / they/you must |
Choose the correct German sentence for: 'You (singular) must finish your homework.'
Du musst deine Hausaufgaben fertig machen.
The correct conjugation for 'du' is 'musst'. 'Du musst' means 'you must'. The other options use incorrect endings for 'du'.
Simple Past (Präteritum)
| Singular | Plural | English |
|---|---|---|
| ich musste | wir mussten | I had to / we had to |
| du musstest | ihr musstet | you had to (sing.) / you had to (pl.) |
| er/sie/es musste | sie/Sie mussten | he/she/it had to / they/you had to |
Perfect Tense
| Form | English |
|---|---|
| Ich habe ... gemusst | I have had to |
| Du hast ... gemusst | You have had to |
| Er/Sie/Es hat ... gemusst | He/She/It has had to |
(Complete with correct infinitive at sentence end, e.g., "Ich habe gehen müssen.")
Usage Patterns
Müssen is always followed by an infinitive verb at the end of the sentence.
Affirmative Sentences
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Ich muss arbeiten. | I have to work. |
| Wir müssen früh aufstehen. | We must get up early. |
| Du musst deine Hausaufgaben machen. | You must do your homework. |
Negative Sentences
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Ich muss nicht arbeiten. | I don’t have to work. |
| Du musst nicht kommen. | You don’t have to come. |
| Wir müssen nicht gehen. | We don’t have to go. |
How do you form a negative sentence with müssen?
Insert 'nicht' immediately after the conjugated form of müssen.
'Nicht' is usually placed directly after the conjugated modal verb to negate the necessity (e.g., 'Ich muss nicht arbeiten.'). Other positions of 'nicht' can change the meaning.
Questions
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Muss ich gehen? | Must I go? / Do I have to go? |
| Müssen wir warten? | Do we have to wait? |
| Musst du arbeiten? | Do you have to work? |
Examples
Expressing Obligation
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Ich muss heute lange arbeiten. | I have to work late today. |
| Du musst zum Arzt gehen. | You must go to the doctor. |
Expressing Necessity
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Wir müssen den Zug nehmen. | We have to take the train. |
| Sie müssen mehr Wasser trinken. | They need to drink more water. |
Expressing Logical Conclusion ("must be")
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Er muss müde sein. | He must be tired. |
| Das muss richtig sein. | That must be correct. |
Tips
- Don’t use müssen with “um ... zu”: When expressing purpose with um ... zu, do not use müssen (use sein, haben, or another verb instead).
- Different from sollen: Müssen expresses necessity; sollen expresses a recommendation or duty given by someone else.
- Modal verb word order: The infinitive goes to the end, but müssen is conjugated in the normal verb position (usually second in main clauses).
Summary
- Müssen = must, to have to, need to
- Followed by an infinitive verb at the end
- Conjugated according to subject; gemusst in perfect
- Expresses obligation, necessity, or logical conclusion
- Use nicht to negate (muss nicht = don’t have to)
Flashcards (1 of 24)
- Singular: ich muss
- Plural: wir müssen
- English: I must / we must
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
