B2 · Modal verbs
Modals in the past
the double infinitive, and how to avoid it
Two infinitives at the end of the clause — correct, awkward, and usually replaced by the simple past.
A modal with a main verb has no ordinary participle in the perfect. Both verbs appear as infinitives at the end: Ich habe nicht kommen können. Grammars call it the double infinitive, and it is correct German that native speakers avoid.
They avoid it by using the simple past, which the modals kept in speech: ich konnte nicht kommen. That is what people actually say, and it is shorter, clearer and easier. The double infinitive is worth recognising when reading and worth not producing when speaking.
Where it becomes genuinely difficult is in a subordinate clause, because the conjugated verb has to jump in front of the two infinitives instead of standing last: ..., dass ich nicht habe kommen können. This is the only place in German where the conjugated verb is not final in a subordinate clause, and it is a reliable sign of careful written German.
Die Form
| simple past | Ich konnte nicht kommen. |
| perfect | Ich habe nicht kommen können. |
| modal alone | Ich habe es nicht gekonnt. |
| subordinate | ..., dass ich nicht habe kommen können. |
| with a second verb | Er hat gehen müssen. |
Die Regeln im Einzelnen
A modal with a main verb takes a double infinitive in the perfect.
Wir haben leider absagen müssen.Unfortunately we had to cancel.
A modal standing alone takes an ordinary participle: gekonnt, gemusst, gewollt.
Das habe ich nicht gewollt.I did not want that.
In speech the simple past replaces both.
Wir mussten leider absagen.Unfortunately we had to cancel.
In a subordinate clause the conjugated verb goes in front of the two infinitives.
Ich weiß, dass er nicht hat kommen können.I know that he was not able to come.
Genauer hingesehen
Why the conjugated verb moves in a subordinate clause
A subordinate clause sends its conjugated verb to the end, and a double infinitive already occupies that position with two words that must stay together in a fixed order. Something has to give, and what gives is the rule that the conjugated verb is last.
That makes dass ich nicht habe kommen können the single exception in the whole system, which is why grammars mention it and why so few learners produce it. Recognising it while reading is the realistic goal; the simple past does the same job in every other situation.
Ausnahmen und Sonderfälle (2)
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the verb is sehen, hören or lassen with a second verb
the same double infinitive appears: ich habe ihn kommen sehen.
Ich habe ihn kommen sehen.I saw him coming.
These behave like modals in taking a bare infinitive, so they inherit the same past.
-
the modal stands with no other verb
the ordinary participle is used: gekonnt, gemusst, gewollt, gedurft.
Ich habe das nicht gekonnt.I was not able to do that.
With nothing else at the end, the modal is the main verb and behaves like one.
Woran man es erkennt
- habe ... können
- hat ... müssen
- gekonnt
- gewollt
- konnte
- musste
Beispielsätze
Ich habe gestern nicht anrufen können.I was not able to call yesterday.
Sie hat den Termin verschieben müssen.She had to move the appointment.
Das hat er nie gewollt.He never wanted that.
Wir haben früher gehen dürfen.We were allowed to leave early.
Er sagt, dass er nicht hat kommen können.He says he was not able to come.
Noch 8 Beispielsätze
Wir haben lange warten müssen.We had to wait a long time.
Sie hat nicht mitkommen wollen.She did not want to come along.
Ich habe das nicht wissen können.I could not have known that.
Er hat sich entschuldigen müssen.He had to apologise.
Das hätte ich nicht sagen sollen.I should not have said that.
Wir haben die Reise absagen müssen.We had to cancel the trip.
Ich habe ihn nicht gehen lassen wollen.I did not want to let him go.
Sie sagt, dass sie nicht hat anrufen können.She says she was not able to call.
Besonderheiten (2)
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hätte plus double infinitive is the useful one
<z>Das hätte ich nicht sagen sollen</z> — "I should not have said that" — is a double infinitive in the subjunctive, and unlike the plain perfect it has no simple-past escape route. It is worth learning as a pattern, because regret and hindsight come up constantly and there is no shorter way to say them.
Du hättest früher gehen können.You could have left earlier.
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The order of the two infinitives never changes
The main verb comes first and the modal second: <z>kommen können</z>, <z>absagen müssen</z>, <z>warten müssen</z>. It is the reverse of the English order and it is fixed, which at least makes it one less thing to decide.
Wir haben früher aufstehen müssen.We had to get up earlier.
Die typisch deutsche Falle
Aufgepasst
With a main verb beside it the modal appears as an infinitive, not as a participle. The participle form gekonnt exists and is used only when the modal stands alone: das habe ich nicht gekonnt. The safest route in speech avoids the question entirely — ich konnte nicht kommen is what a German would say anyway.
Two verbs, two infinitives. In speech, use the simple past.
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