Brottin

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Subjektive Modalverben

C1Subjective modal verbs
Der neue Chef soll sehr streng sein.

People say the new boss is very strict.

EXPLANATION

Subjective modal verbs express the speaker’s view, not obligation or ability. They tell us how certain, doubtful, reported, or concessive the statement is.

Subjective modal verbs do not describe real obligation, ability, or permission. They show the speaker’s judgment, distance, or source of information: muss = very sure, dürfte = probably, kann/könnte = possible, soll = reported information, will = the subject’s own claim, mag = concession.

In the present, they usually take an Infinitiv: Er soll krank sein. In the past, use the Perfektinfinitiv with haben or sein: Er soll krank gewesen sein. The meaning often changes from “now” to “had been” or “must have been” when the Perfektinfinitiv appears.

Do not confuse these uses with the objective meanings of modal verbs. Müssen can also mean obligation, können can mean ability, and sollen can mean advice or an order from someone else. In subjective use, the speaker is not talking about duty or skill, but about how likely, reported, or doubtful something is.

STRUCTURE

Modalverb (subjektiv, conjugated) + Infinitiv

Use this pattern for present or general assessment.

  • Er muss schon weg sein.He must already be gone.
  • Die Rechnung dürfte bald kommen.The bill will probably arrive soon.
  • Es kann auch ein Irrtum sein.It may also be a mistake.
Modalverb (subjektiv, conjugated) + Perfektinfinitiv

The Perfektinfinitiv shifts the statement into the past.

  • Er soll die Stelle bereits gekündigt haben.He is said to have already quit the job.
  • Sie will nichts davon gewusst haben.She claims not to have known anything about it.
  • Das mag früher gegolten haben, heute nicht mehr.That may have applied in the past, but not anymore.
Context indicating a subjective meaning + conjugated modal verb + infinitive

Context must make the speaker’s stance clear; the modal verb still combines with an infinitive, while the context distinguishes the subjective meaning from an objective one.

  • Er will das selbst gesehen haben.He claims to have seen it himself.
  • Der Bericht soll vertraulich sein.The report is said to be confidential.
  • Die Zahlen dürften nach oben korrigiert werden.The figures are likely to be revised upwards.

OVERVIEW

Subjective uses of modal verbs

ModalverbMain meaningTypical valuePast form
müssenvery surestrong conclusionmuss ... sein / gewesen sein
dürftelikelyprobable assumptiondürfte ... sein / gewesen sein
könnenpossibleopen possibilitykann ... sein / gewesen sein
sollenreportedhearsay / reportsoll ... sein / gewesen sein
wollenclaimedsubject’s own claimwill ... sein / gewesen sein
mögenconcessive“may be so, but ...”mag ... sein / gewesen sein

COMMON MISTAKES

  • Sie dürfte im Zug einschlafen sein.

    Sie dürfte im Zug eingeschlafen sein.

    dürfte is the correct form for a probable assumption about the past. The past reference needs the Perfektinfinitiv eingeschlafen sein here, not the bare infinitive.

  • Der Professor soll die Stadt schon verlassen sein.

    Der Professor soll die Stadt schon verlassen haben.

    With verlassen, the active Perfektinfinitiv takes haben. Verlassen sein does not work here in the reported-information use.

  • Das mag stimmt sein, aber ich bleibe skeptisch.

    Das mag stimmen, aber ich bleibe skeptisch.

    After mag, the main verb must be in the infinitive: stimmen, not the finite form stimmt.

USAGE NOTES

  • dürfte is often preferred in careful, educated speech when the speaker wants to sound cautious.
  • With sollen, the source is typically outside the speaker: reports, rumors, or official information.
  • wollen in this use often sounds skeptical or critical, especially in news reports and commentary.
  • For past reference, the Perfektinfinitiv is essential: compare Er soll krank sein and Er soll krank gewesen sein.

RELATED

Konjunktiv I und indirekte RedeKonjunktiv IB2Redewiedergabe in Berichten und NachrichtenReported speech in newsB2Infinitivkonstruktionen — erweitertAdvanced infinitive constructionsC1Konzessive und adversative Ausdrücke — vertieftConcessive and adversative expressionsC1
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