How to use German modal verbs in the past tense?

Like other German verbs, German modal verbs have two past tenses: the simple past tense and the perfect tense. Like other verbs, the meaning of the two tenses is more or less the same. However, when using modal verbs in German, you’ll usually use the simple past, whether you’re speaking or writing.

In this post we’ll talk first about how to form and use the past tenses of the German modal verbs (dürfen, können, mögen, müssen, sollen, and wollen). Then, at the end, we’ll talk a little about how to use them in a related construction called the “double infinitive.” Let’s have a look!

German modal verbs in the past tense have the same meanings they do in the present tense, but they simply refer to abilities, possibilities, desires, etc. that someone had in the past. Here are a few interesting points:

• In addition to its main meaning of expressing ability, use the past tense of können to express that something had a successful outcome:

  past tense modalmain verb

  Konntest du gestern mit dem Hund spielen?

  Translation: Were you able to play with the dog yesterday?

  This asks whether you succeeded in playing with the dog, not whether you had the ability to.

• In English, we often use “past tense” modals to make requests or discuss hypothetical situations, as in:

  • Request:

    Would you make me a cup of tea?
  • Hypothetical:

    Where would you travel if you could go anywhere?

  In German, these meanings are usually accomplished using subjunctive modal verbs instead. Check out the third part of our series on German modal verbs to learn more about subjunctive modal verbs in German!

German has two main past tenses: the perfect tense and the simple past tense. These tenses have the same meaning, but are used in slightly different social contexts, and are formed according to different patterns.

• The perfect tense is used for everyday conversation and informal writing. It’s usually formed by combining an auxiliary verb with a past participle:

  auxiliary verbpast participle

  Ich habe einen Hund gekauft.

  Translation: I bought a dog.

  Literally: lit. I have bought a dog.

• The simple past tense is found more commonly in literary texts and formal written narratives. It’s usually formed by adding the ending -te to the verb itself, though there are irregular forms too.

  simple past tense

  Ich kaufte einen Hund.

  Translation: I bought a dog.

Now, let’s talk about how to use modal verbs in each of these tenses!

When you’re using modal verbs, you’ll most often be using the simple past tense, regardless of whether you’re speaking or writing. However, there are still some circumstances where you might choose to use the perfect tense instead. Let’s go over how to create each form!

Most often, you will use the simple past form of modal verbs, as this form works in all cases. However, there are some cases where you might choose to use the perfect tense instead, even if it is less common. Follow these rules:

• When a modal verb is the only verb (i.e. there is no main verb) you can use either the perfect tense or the simple past — it’s just a matter of preference.

  • simple past modal

    Ich durfte das nicht.

    Translation: I wasn’t allowed (to do) that.

    more common
  • perfect tense modal

    Ich habe das nicht gedurft.

    Translation: I wasn’t allowed (to do) that.

    also allowed

• When a modal verb is used along with a main verb in the infinitive, you should not use the perfect tense. The simple past is a better choice.

  • perfect tense modalmain verb

    ❌Ich habe einen Hund kaufen gedurft.

    Translation: Intended: “I was allowed to buy a dog.”
  • simple past modalmain verb

    ✅Ich durfte einen Hund kaufen.

    Translation: I was allowed to buy a dog.

However, in cases like this you can sometimes use a related construction called a “double infinitive” which is a variation of the perfect tense.

In German, a double infinitive construction with modal verbs follows the formula below:

This construction might look a lot like we are using a modal verb in the perfect tense, but notice that the modal verb is in its infinitive form and not its past participle form. Therefore, this is not actually the perfect tense, but more like a “variation” on the perfect tense.

Unlike the perfect tense, you can use a double infinitive construction as a way to use a past tense modal with a main verb.

We can also use this construction as a way to use modal verbs in the past perfect tense or in the future tense. To do so, we simply change the form of the auxiliary verb appropriately:

• auxiliary verb (past tense)main verb (infinitive)modal verb (infinitive)

  Ich hatte einen Brief schreiben wollen.

  Translation: I had wanted to write a letter.
• auxiliary verb (present tense)main verb (infinitive)modal verb (infinitive)

  Ich werde ein Lama streicheln dürfen.

  Translation: I will be allowed to pet a llama.

Want to learn a lot more about double infinitives with modals, or other kinds of double infinitive constructions in German? Check out our overview of German double infinitive constructions!

Here’s what you should remember about using German modal verbs in the past tense:

• In most cases you can and should use the simple past of modal verbs, formed like this:

  1. Remove the umlaut and the -en from the infinitive.

  2. Add -te and then the agreement endings.

• You can optionally use the perfect tense of modal verbs, if the modal verb is the only verb in the sentence (i.e. there is no main verb).

• You can also use modal verbs in double-modal constructions, which work like perfect tenses except that both the modal verb and the main verb are infinitives.

Ready to practice? Check out our German past tense modal verb exercises. Or if you’re ready to keep learning, check out the last part of our series on modal verbs: German modal verbs in the subjunctive!