wollen

Modal Verb Wollen

Level 1

wollen = to want / to intend. It is a modal verb used for firm desires and plans. In a sentence, wollen is conjugated in the second position, and the main action (infinitive) goes to the very end.

How It Works

The verb wollen is one of the most important modal verbs in German. It follows specific rules:

1. Sentence Structure: Like all modal verbs, wollen takes the second position in a standard sentence, pushing the main verb to the end in its infinitive form. For example: 'Ich will Deutsch lernen.'

2. Conjugation: It is irregular in the present tense. The 1st and 3rd person singular (ich/er/sie/es) have no ending and change their vowel:

  • ich will
  • du willst
  • er/sie/es will
  • wir wollen
  • ihr wollt
  • sie/Sie wollen

3. Usage Nuance: Use wollen for personal goals, firm plans, or when speaking with friends. Avoid using it with strangers or service staff (like waiters), as it can sound like a demand. In those cases, use möchten instead.

4. Full Verb Use: You can use wollen alone if the action is obvious (e.g., 'Ich will nach Hause' implies 'going') or if you want a specific object ('Ich will einen Apfel').

Examples (5)

  1. Ich will heute Abend Pizza essen.

    I want to eat pizza tonight.

    Word by Word: I want today evening pizza eat.

    Notice how 'will' is in the second position and 'essen' is at the very end.

  2. Willst du mit mir ins Kino gehen?

    Do you want to go to the cinema with me?

    Word by Word: Want you with me into the cinema go?

    In a yes/no question, the modal verb moves to the first position.

  3. Er will nächstes Jahr nach Berlin ziehen.

    He wants to move to Berlin next year.

    Word by Word: He wants next year to Berlin move.

    This expresses a firm plan or intention for the future.

  4. Wir wollen nur ein Eis.

    We only want an ice cream.

    Word by Word: We want only an ice cream.

    Here, 'wollen' is used with an accusative object without a second verb.

  5. Was wollt ihr am Wochenende machen?

    What do you (plural) want to do at the weekend?

    Word by Word: What want you at the weekend do?

    The plural form 'wollt' is used for 'ihr' (you all).

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'will' to express the future tense (like English 'will').

    Ich will morgen kommen. (Meaning: I will come tomorrow.)
    Ich werde morgen kommen.

    This is a 'false friend.' German 'will' means 'want.' To express the future, use werden.

  • Adding a '-t' to the 3rd person singular form.

    Er willt ein Auto kaufen.
    Er will ein Auto kaufen.

    Modal verbs do not take a '-t' in the 3rd person singular (er/sie/es). The form is simply 'will'.

  • Using 'wollen' for polite requests in shops or restaurants.

    Ich will einen Kaffee.
    Ich möchte einen Kaffee.

    Using 'wollen' with service staff sounds demanding. Use 'möchten' to be polite.

How It Connects

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wollenLevel 1Modal Verb Wollen

Learn This First

To learn 'wollen', you first need to understand basic verb conjugation and sentence structure, as modal verbs introduce a second verb at the end of the sentence and follow a specific irregular conjugation pattern.

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