B2 · GRAMMAR
Subjective meaning of modal verbs
In B2, modal verbs take on a second meaning: they show how certain the speaker is about something or where the information came from. 'Er muss krank sein' no longer means 'has to be ill', but rather 'must be ill'. These meanings appear very frequently in journalistic and exam texts.
In this lesson
1. muss / müsste
Certain guess (~%90): definitely ...
Er muss krank sein.
He is definitely ill.
2. dürfte
Strong probability (~%75): probably.
Das dürfte teuer sein.
This is probably expensive.
3. kann / könnte
Possibility (~%50): could / might.
Er könnte im Stau stehen.
He might be in a traffic jam.
4. soll
Hearsay: information coming from someone else.
Der Film soll gut sein.
The film is said to be good.
5. will
Own claim (speaker doesn't believe it).
Er will nichts gesehen haben.
He claims to have seen nothing.
6. Past
Modal + Partizip II + haben/sein.
Er muss den Zug verpasst haben.
He must have missed the train.
💡 Tip: If sein or Partizip II + haben/sein follows a modal verb, it is usually a subjective (guess) meaning.