“Wollen” and „möchten“ are a modal verbs and in combination with another verb the sense of the sentence is changed by the modal verb. The lesson is about the usage, conjugation, irregularities and examples of the modal verbs “wollen” and „möchten“.
Examples
Conjugation wollen
| Present | Simple Past | Subjunktiv 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ich | will | wollte | möchte |
| du | willst | wolltest | möchtest |
| er/sie/es | will | wollte | möchte |
| wir | wollen | wollten | möchten |
| ihr | wollt | wolltet | möchtet |
| sie/Sie | wollen | wollten | möchten |
* Actually „möchten“ is the subjunctive 2 form of „mögen“. But „mögen“ isn´t used as modal verb anymore. Only the subjunctive 2 form is still used as the polite version of „wollen“. The real subjunctive 2 form of „wollen“ is „wöllte“. This version isn´t used in modern German anymore.
Difference: Wollen / Möchten
“Möchten“ is the polite form of „wollen“
When talking about the past, we can only use „wollen“
- „Papa, ich will ein Eis (essen)!“ (Very demanding)
- „Papa, ich möchte ein Eis (essen).“ (Polite)
Use: wollen
As Wish or Intention
- „Ich will nach Deutschland umziehen!“
(I wish to move to Germany.)
- „Sie wollen ein neues Auto kaufen!“
(They plan on buying a new car.)
To refuse (with negation)
- „Ich will nicht in die Schule gehen!“
(A kid that has no desire to go to school!)
- „Jens will nicht nach Berlin fahren!“
(He has other plans or doesn‘t want to.)
As main verb (with a subordinate clause)
- „Max will, dass ich das Geschirr abwasche.“
(Max wants me to wash the dishes.)
- „Ich will, dass du jetzt gehst.“
(Ich what you to leave now!)
Further Information:
- More detailed information about the word order and irregularities of modal verbs in lesson Modal Verbs.
- the modal verb: „können“
- the modal verb: „dürfen“
- the modal verb: „müssen“
- the modal verb: „sollen“
- The verbs „werden“ and „lassen“ show similiar characteristics and can be used like modal verbs.
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