Could, Should, Would Have To

Level 3

Modal verbs have one-word conditionals: kéint (could), misst (would have to), sollt (should), dierft (might, would be allowed) and wéilt (would want). Dat kéint klappen. (That could work.)

How It Works

1. The forms

  • kënnen → ech kéint, du kéints, hie kéint, mir kéinten, dir kéint, si kéinten
  • mussen → ech misst, du miss (or misst), hie misst, mir missten, dir misst, si missten
  • sollen → ech sollt, du sollts, hie sollt, mir sollten, dir sollt, si sollten
  • däerfen → ech dierft, du dierfts, hien dierft, mir dierften, dir dierft, si dierften (also däerft)
  • wëllen → ech wéilt, du wéilts, hie wéilt, mir wéilten, dir wéilt, si wéilten

The plural forms follow the n-rule, as in mir kéinte gär and mir kéinten iessen.

2. Word order
Exactly as with the present modals: the conditional form comes second and the infinitive goes to the end. See Modal Verb and Infinitive.

3. What each one adds

  • kéint: a possibility or a polite request. Dat kéint klappen. Kéints du mech muer uruffen? See Polite Requests With Kéint.
  • misst: something that would be necessary, or ought to happen. Mir missten eigentlech elo goen.
  • sollt: advice, softer than solls. Du sollts méi schlofen.
  • dierft: very polite permission. Dierft ech eppes froen?
  • wéilt: a careful wish. Ech wéilt Iech net stéieren.

4. Sollt has two meanings
The conditional of sollen looks exactly like its simple past. Ech sollt just aus dem Haus goen, dunn huet den Telefon geschellt is past (I was just about to leave the house). Du sollts méi schlofen is advice. The context tells you which one is meant. See Simple Past of Modal Verbs.

5. Konnt is not kéint
Konnt is the past of kënnen (was able to), while kéint is the conditional (could, would be able to). Only kéint makes a polite request.

6. In the past
For should have or could have, use hätt with two infinitives: Ech hätt dat misse wëssen. See Should Have.

Examples (6)

  1. Dat kéint klappen.

    That could work.

  2. Du sollts méi schlofen.

    You should sleep more.

    Sollts is softer than the present solls.

  3. Mir missten eigentlech elo goen.

    We really ought to go now.

  4. Dierft ech eppes froen?

    Might I ask something?

    A very polite way to ask permission.

  5. Ech wéilt Iech net stéieren.

    I wouldn't want to disturb you.

  6. Kéints du mech muer uruffen?

    Could you call me tomorrow?

    The infinitive uruffen goes to the end, with its prefix attached.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the past konnt for a polite request.

    Konnt Dir mir hëllefen?
    Kéint Dir mir hëllefen?

    Konnt is the past and asks whether someone was able to help. Kéint is the conditional that makes a polite request.

  • Leaving the -s off the du form.

    Du kéint mir hëllefen.
    Du kéints mir hëllefen.

    The du forms end in -s: du kéints, du sollts, du wéilts.

  • Putting the infinitive before the time word.

    Mir misste goen elo.
    Mir missten elo goen.

    As with every modal verb, the infinitive goes to the very end.

How It Connects

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

Could, Should, Would Have ToLevel 3

Learn This First

Before Could, Should, Would Have To, learn Polite Requests With Kéint and Would: Géif + Infinitive.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

kënnenmussensollendäerfenwëllen