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Ich will schlafen

Present-tense verbs and the modal verb frame

Regular present tense verbs

The present tense describes what happens now or regularly. German also uses it for plans when a word such as gives the time: means I will play tomorrow. The infinitive is the dictionary form, such as (to live), (to play) or (to sleep).

For regular verbs, remove the infinitive ending and add the ending that matches the person. In , the stem is ; in , it is . Compare , , and : the table highlights their endings. Polite uses the same form as plural . The verb still sits in position 2 in a statement.

Regular present endingsTap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Infinitive			· ·			·	Meaning
							to live
to live
							to play
to play

A vowel change in

Some verbs change their vowel only with and the 3rd person singular (, , ). With , the stem vowel changes: , . Keep the original stem vowel with , , , plural and polite .

A vowel change: Tap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Infinitive			· ·			·	Meaning
							to sleep
to sleep

Wanting and being able to do something

A modal verb adds a meaning such as wanting or being able to do something. means to want; means can or to be able to. Their singular forms are irregular. Notice that and the 3rd person singular use the same form: , ; , .

Want and canTap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Infinitive			· ·			·	Meaning
							to want
to want
							can · to be able to
can · to be able to

Two verbs: the modal and the infinitive

With a modal, change the modal to match the subject and put the other verb in its infinitive at the end. In a statement the modal is second: . In a yes/no question it is first: Time words go inside the frame. Do not change the final infinitive to match the person.

The two verbs form a frameTap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Start	Next	Middle	Final infinitive	Meaning
				I want to sleep.
I want to sleep.
				You can play tomorrow.
You can play tomorrow.
				Can you play tomorrow?
Can you play tomorrow?

Negating an action

For a negative action, use : (I am not sleeping). With a modal, put before the final infinitive when you deny the action: (I cannot sleep). The conjugation stays the same.

Ich wohne unten.I live downstairs.
Ich wohne unten.I live downstairs.
Jonas spielt oben Trompete.Jonas plays the trumpet upstairs.
Mikesch schläft hier.Mikesch sleeps here.
Ich kann nicht schlafen.I cannot sleep.
Ich kann nicht schlafen.I cannot sleep.

Wanting a thing

You can also say what someone wants by using with a thing: . Here there is no second verb. Compare that with an action: .

Practice 1/5 · Finding words

Find the two verbs

Tap every verb. In a modal sentence, tap the modal and final infinitive.

.
I want to sleep.
.
You can play quietly.
.
Jonas wants to play the trumpet.
.
We can live here.
.
You want to go to the café (several people).
?
Can you play tomorrow (polite)?
.
I am not sleeping.
.
You sleep upstairs (several people).

Practice 2/5 · The right form

People, habits and a vowel change

Choose the right word for the gap.

Ich unten.
I live downstairs.
Du hier.
You live here.
Greta oben.
Greta lives upstairs.
Wir hier.
We live here.
Ihr leise.
You play quietly (several people).
Hilde und Lotte hier.
Hilde and Lotte play here.
Ich unten.
I sleep downstairs.
Du nicht.
You are not sleeping.
Mikesch oben.
Mikesch sleeps upstairs.
Ihr hier.
You sleep here (several people).

What is possible, what is wanted?

Choose the right word for the gap.

Ich ins Café gehen.
I want to go to the café.
Du leise spielen.
You want to play quietly.
Jonas morgen spielen.
Jonas wants to play tomorrow.
Wir hier wohnen.
We want to live here.
Ihr schlafen.
You want to sleep (several people).
Ich nicht schlafen.
I cannot sleep.
Du ins Café gehen.
You can go to the café.
Jonas leise spielen.
Jonas can play quietly.
Wir morgen spielen.
We can play tomorrow.
Ihr hier wohnen.
You can live here (several people).

Only the first verb changes

Choose the right word for the gap.

Ich Trompete.
I play the trumpet.
Du sehr laut.
You play very loudly.
Wir wollen .
We want to sleep.
Ich kann leise .
I can play quietly.

Practice 3/5 · Fill the gaps

A noisy house

Fill the gaps with the words from the box.

Ich unten. Du oben.
I play downstairs. You play upstairs.
Jonas Trompete. Ihr unten.
Jonas plays the trumpet. You live downstairs.
Wir hier. Hilde und Lotte auch hier.
We sleep here. Hilde and Lotte sleep here too.
Du nicht. Mikesch schon.
You are not sleeping. Mikesch is already sleeping.
Ich ins Café gehen. Du auch ins Café gehen.
I want to go to the café. You want to go too.
Wir schlafen. Ihr leise spielen.
We want to sleep. You want to play quietly.
Du leise spielen. Jonas sehr gut spielen.
You can play quietly. Jonas can play very well.
Wir hier wohnen. Ihr auch hier wohnen.
We can live here. You can live here too.
Hilde und Lotte ins Café gehen. Jonas morgen spielen.
Hilde and Lotte want to go to the café. Jonas can play tomorrow.
Sie oben. Sie hier.
You live upstairs (polite). You sleep here.

Practice 4/5 · Building sentences

Use the verb frame

Put the words in order.

I want to go to the café.
Can you play tomorrow?
We cannot sleep.
You want to live here (several people).
You want to play tomorrow (polite).
You can live here (polite).
Jonas wants to play quietly.
I cannot sleep.
I live downstairs.
You live upstairs.

Practice 5/5 · In situations

A problem on the landing

Choose the right words for the situation.

The trumpet upstairs is keeping you awake. You have gone to Jonas’s door to explain why you are there.
You say:
The trumpet upstairs is keeping you awake. You have gone to Jonas’s door to explain why you are there.
You say:
Jonas realises it is late. You suggest postponing the music until tomorrow.
You say:
Jonas realises it is late. You suggest postponing the music until tomorrow.
You say:
You and Lotte are listening while Jonas plays. You both want quiet and sleep.
You say:
You and Lotte are listening while Jonas plays. You both want quiet and sleep.
You say:
After the interruption, Jonas promises a quieter way to play.
Jonas says: