The verb sollen is used to express that something should happen, often indicating duty, obligation, or what is considered the right thing to do. It can also be used to relay what someone else has said should happen (indirect speech).
Conjugation
Here is the full conjugation of sollen in the present, simple past (Präteritum), and present perfect (Perfekt) tenses:
| Pronoun | German Present | English Present | German Past | English Past | German Perfect | English Perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ich | ich soll | I should / ought to | ich sollte | I should have / ought to have | ich habe gesollt | I was supposed to |
| du | du sollst | you should | du solltest | you should have | du hast gesollt | you were supposed to |
| er/sie/es | er/sie/es soll | he/she/it should | er/sie/es sollte | he/she/it should have | er/sie/es hat gesollt | he/she/it was supposed to |
| wir | wir sollen | we should | wir sollten | we should have | wir haben gesollt | we were supposed to |
| ihr | ihr sollt | you (pl.) should | ihr solltet | you (pl.) should have | ihr habt gesollt | you (pl.) were supposed to |
| sie/Sie | sie/Sie sollen | they/you (formal) should | sie/Sie sollten | they/you (formal) should have | sie/Sie haben gesollt | they/you were supposed to |
Usage
Duty or Obligation
Sollen is often used to express that something should be done due to duty, social expectation, or moral obligation.
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Du sollst deine Hausaufgaben machen. | You should do your homework. |
| Wir sollen pünktlich sein. | We should be on time. |
| Man soll nicht lügen. | One shouldn't lie. |
Indirect Commands or Reported Speech
"Sollen" can also be used to report what someone else has said should happen, especially in news or rumors.
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Er soll heute kommen. | He is supposed to come today. |
| Du sollst deine Mutter anrufen. | You are supposed to call your mother. |
| Sie sollen das Paket schon erhalten haben. | They are said to have already received the package. |
Giving Advice or Recommendations
Though sollen is more about obligation than suggestion, it can sometimes be used to give strong advice.
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Du sollst mehr Wasser trinken. | You should drink more water. |
| Ihr sollt euch ausruhen. | You should rest. |
| Sie sollen weniger Zucker essen. | They should eat less sugar. |
Expressing Conditional Wishes or Hypotheticals (Past Tense)
In the past tense (using sollte), sollen can express something that was supposed to happen but didn’t.
| German Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Ich sollte gestern arbeiten, aber ich war krank. | I was supposed to work yesterday, but I was sick. |
| Du solltest das Buch gelesen haben. | You should have read the book. |
| Wir sollten früher gehen. | We were supposed to leave earlier. |
Common Errors
- Sollen is not used for personal willingness or ability (use wollen or können instead).
- Avoid using sollen to make polite requests; use möchten or würden instead.
- Don’t confuse sollen (should/ought to) with müssen (must/have to); müssen is stronger obligation.
Summary
- Sollen = should/ought to (duty, obligation, indirect commands)
- Used for reporting others’ instructions or expectations
- Past tense implies something was supposed to happen
- Not for personal desire or polite requests
The German modal verb sollen means "should" or "ought to," expressing obligation or duty, as well as indirect commands or reported speech.
Flashcards (1 of 18)
- Pronoun: ich
- English Present: I should / ought to
- English Past: I should have / ought to have
- English Perfect: I was supposed to
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
