Modal Verb and Infinitive
Modal in second place, infinitive at the end: Ech kann haut net kommen.
How It Works
The frame
The modal and the infinitive form a frame around the rest of the sentence:
- Statement: Mir mussen elo goen.
- Time first: Muer muss ech fréi opstoen.
- Yes/no question: Wëlls du eppes drénken?
- Question word: Wat wëllt Dir iessen?
This is the same verb-second rule as in word order basics and yes/no questions.
Where net goes
Net usually comes just before the infinitive: Ech kann haut net kommen.
Separable verbs stay together
In the infinitive, a separable verb is one word at the end: Kanns du d'Fënster zoumaachen? (not maachen ... zou).
No ze
Modal verbs take a bare infinitive. Other verbs sometimes need ze, but kënnen, mussen and wëllen never do.
Coming later
In a subordinate clause, the conjugated modal usually comes just before the infinitive at the end: ..., datt ech muer muss schaffen. See modals in subordinate clauses.
Examples (6)
- Ech kann haut net kommen.
I can't come today.
Word by Word: I can today not come.
Net comes right before the infinitive.
- Mir mussen elo goen.
We have to go now.
Word by Word: We must now go.
- Wëlls du eppes drénken?
Do you want something to drink?
Word by Word: Want you something drink?
In a yes/no question the modal comes first.
- Wat wëllt Dir iessen?
What do you want to eat?
Word by Word: What want you eat?
Polite Dir; the question word is first and the modal second.
- Muer muss ech fréi opstoen.
Tomorrow I have to get up early.
Word by Word: Tomorrow must I early up-stand.
The separable verb opstoen stays in one piece at the end.
- Kanns du d'Fënster zoumaachen?
Can you close the window?
Word by Word: Can you the window close?
Common Mistakes
Putting the infinitive next to the modal.
Ech ka kommen haut net.Ech kann haut net kommen.The infinitive goes to the end of the clause; other words come between the two verbs.
Adding ze after a modal verb.
Ech muss ze schaffen.Ech muss schaffen.Kënnen, mussen and wëllen take the infinitive without ze.
Conjugating the second verb as well.
Hie ka schwëmmt.Hie ka schwammen.Only the modal is conjugated. The second verb stays in the infinitive: schwammen, not schwëmmt.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Modal Verb and Infinitive, learn Can: Kënnen and The Verb Comes Second.
Related Patterns
- mussenMust: Mussen
One of the modal verbs used in this pattern.
Level 1 - wëllenWant: Wëllen
One of the modal verbs used in this pattern.
Level 1 - Modal Verbs in Subordinate Clauses
Shows the order of both verbs at the end of a subordinate clause.
Level 3 - Separable Verbs
After a modal, a separable verb stays in one piece at the end.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
- däerfenMay: DäerfenLevel 2
- goen + InfinitiveGoing to Do Something: Goen + InfinitiveLevel 2
- loosst eisLet's: Loosst EisLevel 2
- sollenShould: SollenLevel 2
- géif + InfinitiveWould: Géif + InfinitiveLevel 3
- Modal Perfect: hunn + Two InfinitivesPerfect of Modal Verbs: Hunn + Two InfinitivesLevel 3
- wäert + InfinitiveFuture and Guesses: WäertLevel 3
- ze + InfinitiveThe Infinitive with ZeLevel 3
And 1 more in the full list.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Modal Verb and Infinitive in Bubblegum
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