Meaning and Usage
The modal verb sollen in German expresses obligation, advice, or expectation, similar to "should" or "ought to" in English. It is used to indicate what someone ought to do, often based on rules, duties, or recommendations. For example, "Du sollst lernen" means "You should study."
Present Tense Conjugation
Sollen is an irregular modal verb and its present tense forms vary from the infinitive. It is always used with another verb in the infinitive to complete the meaning.
| German Pronoun | German Conjugation | English Conjugation | German Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | soll | should | Ich soll pünktlich sein. | I should be punctual. |
| du | sollst | should | Du sollst das machen. | You should do that. |
| er/sie/es | soll | should | Er soll kommen. | He should come. |
| wir | sollen | should | Wir sollen helfen. | We should help. |
| ihr | sollt | should | Ihr sollt leise sein. | You (plural) should be quiet. |
| sie/Sie | sollen | should | Sie sollen warten. | They/You (formal) should wait. |
Usage Notes
Sollen often carries a stronger sense of obligation compared to möchten (would like) or wollen (want to). It can also denote reported speech or commands from third parties. For example, "Er soll krank sein" means "He is said to be sick."
Past Tense
The simple past (preterite) of sollen is frequently used in written German or formal speech, with the past participle "gesollt" used alongside the auxiliary verb "haben" to form perfect tenses.
| German Pronoun | Simple Past Conjugation | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| ich | sollte | I should/ought to |
| du | solltest | you should/ought to |
| er/sie/es | sollte | he/she/it should/ought to |
| wir | sollten | we should/ought to |
| ihr | solltet | you (plural) should/ought to |
| sie/Sie | sollten | they/you (formal) should/ought to |
Example: "Du solltest mehr schlafen" – "You should sleep more."
Summary
The verb sollen is essential for expressing ought-to or should-type obligations in German. Understanding its conjugation and nuance is key for accurate and polite communication.
