Meaning and Usage
The verb müssen expresses necessity or obligation and is translated as "must" or "to have to" in English. It is used when something is required or compulsory. For example, Ich muss lernen means "I must study" or "I have to study."
Basic Sentence Structure
In German, müssen is a modal verb and is usually followed by an infinitive verb at the end of the sentence. The structure generally follows:
Subject + müssen (conjugated) + other elements + infinitive verb.
Example:
Du musst früh aufstehen. – "You must get up early."
Conjugation of Müssen
| German Pronoun | German Conjugation | English Conjugation | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | muss | must | Ich muss zur Arbeit gehen. | I must go to work. |
| du | musst | must | Du musst dein Zimmer putzen. | You must clean your room. |
| er/sie/es | muss | must | Er muss morgen kommen. | He must come tomorrow. |
| wir | müssen | must | Wir müssen pünktlich sein. | We must be on time. |
| ihr | müsst | must | Ihr müsst leise sein. | You (plural) must be quiet. |
| sie/Sie | müssen | must | Sie müssen den Test bestehen. | They/You (formal) must pass the test. |
Modal Verb Characteristics
As a modal verb, müssen is often used with another verb in the infinitive form at the end of the sentence, and it modifies the main verb by adding the sense of obligation. It does not carry a future tense itself but is used to express necessity across various contexts.
Example Sentences
- Wir müssen jetzt gehen. – "We must leave now."
- Sie müssen das Formular ausfüllen. – "You (formal) have to fill out the form."
- Er muss jeden Tag arbeiten. – "He must work every day."
Related Modal Verbs
Other common modal verbs related in function are können (can), dürfen (may), sollen (should), and wollen (want). These verbs similarly affect the meaning of the infinitive verb they accompany.
