Modal Verbs: dürfen, sollen in German

Overview

The modal verbs dürfen (may / to be allowed to) and sollen (should / to be supposed to) are essential for expressing permission, prohibition, obligation, and advice in German. Along with können and müssen, they form part of the core modal verb system that you will learn at the A1 level.

Dürfen is used when talking about what is permitted or not permitted. If a sign says "Hier darf man nicht rauchen," you are not allowed to smoke there. Sollen expresses what someone is expected or supposed to do — often carrying the idea of advice, duty, or someone else's wishes. "Du sollst mehr Wasser trinken" means someone is advising you to drink more water.

Like all German modal verbs, dürfen and sollen are used with an infinitive that goes to the end of the sentence. Their present tense conjugations are irregular, so they need to be memorized individually.

How It Works

Conjugation of dürfen (may / to be allowed to)

Person	Conjugation
ich	darf
du	darfst
er / sie / es	darf
wir	dürfen
ihr	dürft
sie / Sie	dürfen

Conjugation of sollen (should / to be supposed to)

Person	Conjugation
ich	soll
du	sollst
er / sie / es	soll
wir	sollen
ihr	sollt
sie / Sie	sollen

Sentence structure: Subject + modal verb (conjugated, position 2) + ... + infinitive (end of sentence).

Example: Ich darf hier nicht rauchen. — I am not allowed to smoke here.

Key Differences

dürfen	sollen
Permission / prohibition	Obligation / advice / expectation
"Am I allowed to...?"	"Am I supposed to...?"
Often used with "nicht" for rules	Often implies someone else's wish

Examples in Context

German	English	Note
Darf ich hier rauchen?	May I smoke here?	Asking for permission
Du sollst mehr schlafen.	You should sleep more.	Advice
Hier darf man nicht parken.	You are not allowed to park here.	Prohibition with "man"
Was soll ich machen?	What should I do?	Asking for guidance
Die Kinder dürfen nicht so laut sein.	The children are not allowed to be so loud.	Rule for children
Soll ich dir helfen?	Should I help you?	Offering help
Man darf hier nicht fotografieren.	You may not take photos here.	General prohibition
Du sollst den Arzt anrufen.	You should call the doctor.	Someone's recommendation
Darf ich Sie etwas fragen?	May I ask you something?	Polite request
Er soll um 8 Uhr da sein.	He is supposed to be there at 8.	Expectation from others

Common Mistakes

Confusing dürfen with können

• Wrong: Kann ich hier rauchen? (when asking about permission)
• Right: Darf ich hier rauchen?
• Why: "Können" asks about ability, "dürfen" asks about permission. In casual speech Germans sometimes use "können" for permission, but "dürfen" is the proper choice.

Forgetting the infinitive at the end

• Wrong: Du sollst mehr schlafen du.
• Right: Du sollst mehr schlafen.
• Why: The infinitive must be the last element in a main clause with a modal verb.

Using sollen as a strong command

• Wrong: Treating "Du sollst..." as a direct order.
• Right: Understanding it as advice or expectation.
• Why: "Sollen" is softer than "müssen." For a strong obligation ("you must"), use "müssen" instead.

Practice Tips

1. Think of real-life signs and rules: "Man darf hier nicht rauchen. Man darf hier nicht essen." Practice dürfen with common prohibitions you encounter in public spaces.
2. Practice sollen by giving yourself advice: "Ich soll mehr lesen. Ich soll früher aufstehen. Ich soll weniger Kaffee trinken."

Related Concepts

• Modal Verbs: können, müssen — the first pair of modal verbs, covering ability and necessity