mögen

Modal Verb Mögen

Level 1

The verb mögen is used to say you like something in general (e.g., 'I like pizza'). It is a modal verb, meaning it has a unique conjugation pattern in the singular.

How It Works

1. Conjugation
As a modal verb, mögen follows special rules in the present tense:

  • The stem changes from mög- to mag- in the singular.
  • The 1st person (ich) and 3rd person (er/sie/es) have no ending.

Present Tense Table:
• ich mag
• du magst
• er/sie/es mag
• wir mögen
• ihr mögt
• sie/Sie mögen

2. Usage with Nouns
We use mögen to express affection or taste for objects or people. It requires the Accusative case for the object being liked.

3. Mögen vs. Gern
A common point of confusion for beginners is how to say 'I like [doing something]'.
• Use mögen for nouns: Ich mag Tee. (I like tea.)
• Use gern for verbs/actions: Ich trinke gern Tee. (I like drinking tea.)

4. The 'Möchte' Connection
You may have learned möchte (would like). This is actually a form of mögen used to express a polite request or a specific wish in the moment, whereas mag is for general preferences.

Examples (5)

  1. Ich mag Schokolade.

    I like chocolate.

    Word by Word: I like chocolate.

    A simple statement of preference using the singular 'mag' form.

  2. Magst du Hunde?

    Do you like dogs?

    Word by Word: Like you dogs?

    A question using the 'du' form. Note that 'Hunde' is plural.

  3. Wir mögen unser neues Haus.

    We like our new house.

    Word by Word: We like our new house.

    Using the plural 'wir' form, which keeps the original 'mög-' stem.

  4. Er mag keinen Kaffee.

    He doesn't like coffee.

    Word by Word: He likes no coffee.

    Negation using 'kein' in the accusative case.

  5. Meine Eltern mögen klassische Musik.

    My parents like classical music.

    Word by Word: My parents like classical music.

    The plural form 'mögen' is used for 'meine Eltern' (they).

Common Mistakes

  • Adding a personal ending to the 1st or 3rd person singular.

    Ich mage Pizza. / Er magt Pizza.
    Ich mag Pizza. / Er mag Pizza.

    Modal verbs like 'mögen' never take an -e in the 'ich' form or a -t in the 'er/sie/es' form.

  • Using 'mögen' with another verb to express liking an activity.

    Ich mag schwimmen.
    Ich schwimme gern.

    In modern German, 'mögen' is mainly used with nouns. To say you like doing an activity, the natural way is the main verb + 'gern'.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

mögenLevel 1Modal Verb Mögen

Learn This First

To use 'mögen' (to like), you need to understand how to conjugate verbs for different subjects and how to use the accusative case for the object that is being liked.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

mögen