Modal verbs in the imperfect subjunctive The 'imperfect subjunctive' is just like the conditional - it means would like/would

be allowed to etc. Everyone should know 'mchten' (the most useful verb of all for making requests or suggestions). Higher candidates should also be familiar with 'sollten' and 'knnten'.

Would like to Pronoun Modal verb

ich/er/sie/es mchte du wir/sie ihr mchtest mchten mchtet

Would be able to (Higher) Pronoun Modal verb

ich/er/sie/es knnte du wir/sie ihr knntest knnten knntet

Should (Higher) Pronoun Modal verb

Pronoun

Modal verb

ich/er/sie/es sollte du wir/sie ihr solltest sollten solltet

Sentences with modal verbs in the imperfect subjunctive The 'imperfect subjunctive' is especially useful for making requests or suggestions, or for giving advice. Would like to Ich mchte ein T-Shirt kaufen -> I'd like to buy a t-shirt. Mchtest du schwimmen gehen? -> Would you like to go swimming? Would be able to/should (higher) Wir knnten einkaufen gehen -> We could go shopping. Man sollte nicht zu viel Fett essen -> One should not eat too much fat. It is important that you can pronounce mchten/knnten correctly - they are very similar to the past forms. If you mix the pronunciations up you will accidentally change the meaning, eg: Ich mochte (mo-ch-te) ins Kino gehen -> I wanted to go to the cinema. Ich mchte (mer-ch-te) ins Kino gehen -> I'd like to go to the cinema. Wir konnten (konn-ten) Tennis spielen -> We were able to play tennis. Wir knnten (kurn-ten) Tennis spielen -> We could play tennis. Common mistakes made by English speakers Getting the word order wrong (not putting the infinitive at the end). Pronouncing mchten/knnten like mochten/konnten. Adding a past participle when talking about the past.