A. VERBS. THE AUXILIARY VERBS dürfen, können, möchte(n). müssen, sollen, wollen
I. Summary and Review
These verbs show similarities, both in their forms and in the way they function in phrases. which justify treating them as a group. For the purpose of summary and review let us look at some of the sentences from recent units and note the forms and uses which they illustrate:
1. The auxiliaries usually occur in verb phrases with complementary or dependent infinitives. The infinitive may be omitted however when it is clearly understood from the rest of the sentence:
Darf ich um Ihren Namen bitten? Ist das alles, was ich haben muss? but also Wollten Sie nicht auch in die Buchhandlung Müller?
May I have your name please? Is that all I have to have? Didn't you want [to go] to Müller's Bookstore also?
2. In referring to past time the simple past tense - an irregular weak form is most frequently used. In the special perfect phrase and special pluperfect phrase with complementary or dependent infinitive the infinitive form of the auxiliary, not the past participle, occurs. Remember that in subordinate clauses the two infinitives come last:
Ich konnte leider nicht hingehen. Ich habe meine Abreise noch aufschieben können. Er hatte vergessen, dass er ihn mit ins ~teil hatte nehmen wollen.
Unfortunately I couldn't go. I was able to put off my departure. He had forgotten that he had intended to take it with him to the compartment.
3. These verbs are also used in phrases with perfect infinitives and passive infinitives (cf. p. 473). We have encountered only one example in the basic sentences so far, but many combinations occur:
Das Brandenburger Tor ~ man ja gesehen haben. Das kann ich gesagt haben. Dieser Artikel soll so schnell wie möglich übersetzt werden. Die Karten müssen zurückgegeben werden, wenn keiner zu der Aufführung geht.
Everyone has to see ('one has to have seen') the Brandenburg Gate. I may have said that. This article is to be translated as quickly as possible. The tickets must be returned if no one is going to the performance.
4. and we have accordingly listed it in this way. You are f~niliar with its use as a polite expression of desire, request or suggestion:
Up to now one Qf these verbs has occurred only in the special form möchte(~),
Zunächst möchte ich Ihre Personalien aufnehmen. Ich möchte nach Amerika auswandern. Möchten die Herrschaften etwas zu trinken haben? Sagen Sie ihm doch bitte, er mBchte mich sobald wie möglich anrufen.
First of all I'd like to note down your name and address and other personal particulars. I'd like to emigrate to America. Would you (ladies and gentlemen) care for something to drink? Please tell him I'd like him to call me as soon as possible.
This is by far the most common form and use of this auxiliary verb. However, it can be noted at this point that other forms of the verb also occur, although less frequently: the Infinitive and Present Tense wir-form is mögen; the Simple Past Tense and Past participle forms are mochte and gemocht. We will not deal with their uses here but list the forms only to complete the inventory.
11. UNREAL or SUBJUNCTlVE
Forms
1. UNREAL or SUBJUNCTlVE forms of most of these auxiliary verbs have occurred in the last four units. Let us review tha examples:
Ich könnte Ihnen unseren Hausarzt empfehlen. Meine Vergrösserungen mUssten auch fertig sein. Das sollte ich auch tun. Sie könnten die belegten Brötchen holen. Wären wir ohne Hut und Mantel gekommen, müseten wir dort nicht schon wieder anstehen.
I could recommend our family doctor to you. My enlargements ought to be ready too. I ought to do that too. You could be getting the sandwiches. If we had come without our hats and coats we wouldn't have to wait in line there again so soon.
We must add one further example, which has not occurred in the basic sentences:
Wann dürften wir zu Ihnen kommen?
When could we come to see you?
2. It may now be evident to you that the special form möchte(~) is actually an UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE form. Likewise the special form wollte(~). which occurred in the UNREAL WISH, can be identified as an UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE form.
Ich wollte. ich wMre nie Kandidat geworden.
I wish I had never become a probational party member. ('Would that I had ... ')
3. The complete inventory of UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE forms of the auxiliaries dürfen. können. mögen. müssen, sollen and wollen is as follows:
4. are just like the Past Tense forms. The difference between the Past Tense and UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE forms of the other auxiliary verbs is a very important sound distinction in German however. Practice the pronunciatiun of:
It will be noted that the UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE forms of sollen and wollen
dürfte vs. durfte
könnte vs. konnte müsste vs. müsste
5. will not be included for further discussion here. The rather limited and special use of wollte(~) in UNREAL WISHES has already been dealt with in Unit 19 and needs no further comment either. Only dürfen, können, müssen and sollen occur frequently in the UNREAL uses discussed in Section 111 below.
Since the forms and specialized use of möchte(~) are already familiar. it
IIr. UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE Uses
PRESENT POSSIBILITY
1. Look back at the examples in paragraph 11, 1 above. or SUBJUNCTIVE forms of the auxiliary verbs are translated as "could" , "ought to", ''would have to". but note also that the same English verb or phrase occurs as equivalent to two different German auxiliaries. könnte(~) and dürften are given as "could"; given as "ought to". MEANING BETWEEN THESE GERMAN VERB PAIRS IN THEIR UNREAL OR SUBJUNCTIVE FORMS, OR THAT THEY ARE INTERCHANGEABLE~ careful in your mind to distinguish just what the English forms mean. ber that "could" may mean ''was able to", ''was allowed to", ''would be able to" or ''would be allowed to", and "ought to" may refer to an obligation or to an assumption or surmise. and "ought to" in at least two different ways. verbs or phrases with two or more different meanings. like these?
Notice that the l~EM, Both both sollte and müssten are THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN It does mean that you will have to be very Remem- Try making up some English sentences using "could" Do you know other English
2. Look at the sentences in paragraph 11, 1 again. You will see that the time reference he re is to PRESENT POSSIBILITY, actions or states which are at the present time hypothetical or possible of fulfillment. Now. keeping in mind the meanings of these four auxiliary verbs as we have encountered them previously, let us see if we can more exactly suggest the meanings of the UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE forms:
dürfte könnte - ''would be able to. might (possibly). could" müsste - ''would have to, should, ought to (of necessity or by surmise)" sollte - ''would be obliged to, ought to (under obligation or according to expectation), should"
''would be allowed to, might (with permission or by surmise), could"
3. Sentences and in simple sentences expressing PRESENT POSSIBILITY.
UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE forms of the auxiliaries occur both in Conditional
4. Just as we noted in Unit 18 with reference to the auxiliaries haben, sein and können we should note that a phrase with würde and the infinitive of some of the auxiliaries dealt with he re sometimes occurs also:
Er hat soviel zu tun, Sie würden ihn nicht vor vier Uhr nachmittags sprechen können. Würden wir nachm~ttags auch Schlange stehen müssen? Sie sollten mit der Taxe kommen, Ihren Wagen würden Sie sowieso hier nicht parken dürfen.
He has so much to do you wouldn't be able to speak to him before four o'clock in the afternoon. Would we have to queue up in the afternoon (i.e., for an afternoon performance) too? You ought to take a taxi; you wouldn't be allowed to park your car here anyway.
This phrase is generally less common of occurrence than the UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE form of the auxiliary.
IV. UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE Forms and Uses PAST POSSIBILITY
1. In the current unit we have also encountered other sentences containing some of these auxiliary verbs. Look at the following examples:
Das hatte ich wissen sollen. Wir hatten Platze nebeneinander bekommen können. Wenn wir das vorher gewusst hatten, hatte ich nicht für meine Karte Schlange stehen müssen.
I wish I had known that. ('Somebody should have told me that.') We could have gotten seats next to each other. If we had known that before I wouldn't have had to queue up for my ticket.
We shall add two more examples, not in the basic sentences:
hätte er uns dort treffen wollen, hatte er vorher anrufen müssen. Zu Hause hatte ich nie rauchen dürfen.
If he had wanted to meet us there he should have called first. I never would have been allowed to smoke ( 'could have s;;;;k;d~t home.
You see that the time reference here is to PAST POSSIBILITY, a possibility which now no longer exists althougn it existed at some time in the past. Note that the verb phrase which occurs in all these sentences, like the special perfect and pluperfect phrases, contains the infinitive form of the auxiliary verb; this infinitive also comes last in the sentences. Occurring with it is the UNREAL or. SUBJUNCTIVE form hatte(~). In every other respect the form and arrangement of this phrase is just like that of the special perfect and pluperfect phrases reviewed above in paragraph I, 2. PAST POSSIBILITY is thus marked by a verb phrase containing the UNREAL or SUBJUNCTIVE form hatte(~) and the infinitive of the auxiliary verb dürfen, können, müssen, sollen or wollen.
2. In sentences referring to PAST POSSIBILITY, just as in those referring to PRESENT POSSIBILITY, some overlapping of the English phrases given as equivalent to the German auxiliary phrases with dürfen, können, müssen and sollen occurs. Thus the English phrase "could have" plus past participle is found as equivalent to the German auxiliary verb phrases hätte ••• können and hätte .,. dürfen. However, just as we noted above in paragraph IlI, 1 and 2 the meanings of the Gerrnan verb phrases are distinct. Compare the following examples:
Ich hätte nicht ins Theater gehen können. Ich hätte nicht ins Theater gehen dürfen. Er hätte mehr Geld für sein Auto bekommen müssen. Er hätte mehr Geld für sein Auto bekommen sollen.
I couldn't have gone to the theater (i.e., because of lack of money, time, etc. I couldn't have gone to the theater (i.e., because of lack of permission). He should have got more money for his car (i.e., it was worth more and the market can be assumed to have been good). He should have got more money for his car (i.e., someone should have felt obliged to pay more, in the speaker's opinion) .
3. Remember that these phrases, like the special UNREAL or SUBJUNCTlVE forms of the auxiliaries, occur both in Conditional Sentences and in simple sentences referring to PAST POSSIBILITY.
B.
VERBS. THE UNREAL OR SUBJUNCTlVE PHRASES hätte gern + Past Participle and wäre gern + Past Participle
I. The phrase hätte gern was identified in Unit 18 as an UNREAL or SUBJUNCTlVE phrase expressing a polite request or suggestion:
Ich hätte aern einen leichten Anzug. Ich hätte qern Rumpsteak mit Röstkartoffeln.
I'm interested in a light-weight suit. I'd like steak with fried potatoes.
It has occurred in the present unit with a past Participle:
Ich hätte mir gern noch ein paar belegte Brötchen am Buffet geholt.
l'd like to get a couple of sandwiches from the refreshment bar before we go in.
You will notice that this phrase has the same form as the phrases discussed in Unit 19 referring to PAST POSSIBILITY. However, in this combination with gern the meaning of the reference may actually be PRESENT POSSIBILITY. use of ,the UNREAL or SUBJUNCTlVE phrase with the past participle is he re a politeness formula, expressing a less urgent desire or one more doubtful of fulfillment.
The
II. More common is the use of the phrase hätte gern + Past Participle with reference to PAST POSSIBILITY. Here are some further examples:
Wir hätten uns auch gern die Tannhäuser-AuffUhrung angehart, konnten aber keine Karten mehr bekommen. Sie hätten das Haus gern vor dem Ende des Sommers verkauft.
We would have liked to go to the ''Tannhäuser'' performance too, but couldn't get tickets any more. They would have liked to sell the house before the end of the summer ('they wish they had sold ••• ').
111. The phrase with the auxiliary ware + gern and Past Participle also occurs. Note that it too ~ay refer both to PRESENT and to PAST POSSIBILITY:
Ich ware gern um zwölf Uhr nach Hause gegangen, aber jetzt ist es schon halb zwei. Ich ware gern um zwölf Uhr nach Hause gegangen, aber es sieht nicht so aus, als ob das möglich sein wird.
I would have 1iked to go home ('wish I had gone home') at twelve o'c10ck, but now it's already one thirty. I would 1ike to go home ('I wish I could go home') at twelve o'c10ck, but it doesn't look as if that will be possible.
Here, too, in referring to PRESENT POSSIBILITY the use of this phrase with the past participle serves to increase the degree of doubt expressed as to whether the desire will be fulfi11ed.