Müssen is a crucial German modal verb that expresses necessity or obligation—must or to have to. Like all modal verbs, it is conjugated according to the subject, and the main verb appears in the infinitive at the sentence’s end. Understanding müssen opens doors to talking about duties, rules, and essential actions in German.
- Expresses necessity or obligation: “must,” “have to”
- Is a modal verb requiring special sentence structure
- Main verb is placed in infinitive form at the end
'müssen' expresses necessity and obligation.
Conjugation of Müssen
Here is müssen conjugated in the present tense for all subjects:
| Subject | Conjugation |
|---|---|
| ich | muss |
| du | musst |
| er/sie/es | muss |
| wir | müssen |
| ihr | müsst |
| sie/Sie | müssen |
- The stem changes to muss- for singular and 3rd person, with endings for plural
- Umlaut (ü) appears in wir, ihr, sie/Sie forms
For 'wir' it's 'müssen' and for 'ihr' it's 'müsst'.
Using Müssen in a Sentence
Müssen is used with an infinitive verb placed at the end of the clause.
| Subject + Müssen + ... | + Infinitive (end) | English Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| Ich muss | arbeiten (inf.) | I have to work / I must work |
| Du musst | gehen | You have to go |
| Er muss | lernen | He must study |
| Wir müssen | kommen | We have to come |
| Ihr müsst | bleiben | You all have to stay |
| Sie müssen | zahlen | They have to pay |
- The infinitive verb is never conjugated; it’s always at the end
The main verb is used in the infinitive at the end of the sentence.
Examples
- Ich muss heute arbeiten.
I have to work today.
- Du musst mehr Wasser trinken.
You must drink more water.
- Sie müssen pünktlich sein. (für sie/Sie)
They/You (formal) must be punctual.
- Wir müssen das Projekt abschließen.
We have to finish the project.
- Ihr müsst leise sein.
You (all) have to be quiet.
'müssen' means 'must' or 'have to'.
Negative and Question Forms
- Negative: Add nicht after müssen (before infinitive).
- Ich muss nicht arbeiten. (I don't have to work.)
- Question: Invert müssen and subject.
- Musst du gehen? (Do you have to go?)
You put 'nicht' after the conjugated form of 'müssen'.
You invert the subject and the verb: 'Musst du...?'.
Conclusion
Müssen is your go-to for expressing duties, necessities, and obligations in German. Remember to conjugate müssen for the subject and move the main action verb to the end in its infinitive form.
- Müssen = to have to / must (for necessity/obligation)
- Conjugate müssen like a modal verb; place main verb as infinitive at sentence end
- Use müssen for both statements and questions about “must” or “have to”